For tea lovers and admirers, there is no better time than the present to drink their favorite tea. They enjoy the taste and aroma associated with tea, and it soothes their mind and makes them feel good. After all, is there a specific time where you want to feel good?
However, to maximize the health benefits associated with your tea, you must follow a strict routine and drink your tea at specific times of the day. Green tea is very beneficial to our health, and to make consumption effective, there are specific times of the day to increase its efficiency.
Traditional Japanese tea has a refreshing effect and the unique toasty flavor feels great after a meal. Green tea is a bit different, and doctors sometimes advise to not have green tea with a meal. Its sibling, white tea is a relatively newer variety but is fast gaining popularity which rivals green tea itself. White tea goes through minimal processing and contains a higher number of antioxidants than green tea. However, not many studies have been conducted on white tea, and green tea is the best organic health drink in the tea industry at the moment. However, it might not be long before we see a fight – White Tea vs Green Tea – to take over the market.
Let us see how a healthy and regular routine of green tea consumption can benefit us, rather than it haphazardly.
A Routine for Green Tea – Is it Important?
For people who have just decided to drink Green Tea for its benefits, it might come as a surprise. You might be asking – ‘Drinking green tea on time – isn’t this a joke?’, but it is not. To make sure that you reap the benefits of green tea, you have to follow a routine.
A question that often arises among regular tea drinkers is whether matcha tea is the same as green tea. You might be asking yourself or your doctor – “I drink matcha tea. Do I need to follow the same routine and be regular like Green Tea?”
Before you think so, let us clarify one thing – we do not mean matcha tea when we talk about Teaswan green tea. However, if we are discussing matcha tea, it is a type of green tea.
Is Matcha not Green Tea?
Matcha is a type of green tea. Unlike traditional green tea like Sencha and Hojicha, which we brew using leaves, matcha is in powder form. It is made from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Though matcha is a type of green tea, it is very much different from your regular green tea. Matcha is pure green tea powder and is more concentrated than your regular cup of Sencha or Hojicha green tea.
In contrast to your regular cup of green tea, you would be consuming the whole tea leaf when you drink matcha tea. Matcha has a richer and more buttery flavor. While most green teas are kept under the sun for processing, matcha bushes, much like the Gyokuro variety, are shaded varieties. This increases the chlorophyll and amino acid levels in the leaves. Matcha has a higher concentration of caffeine than green tea and benefits us differently.
Best Time to Drink Green Tea
Green tea has several benefits, like assisting in weight loss, boosting metabolism, and smoothening the skin among many more. You would have to follow a strict routine if you want to enjoy the benefits to their fullest.
1. For Weight Loss
Green Tea is a popular beverage for many who want to get rid of excess body fat and lose weight. If you have such a goal in mind, the best time to drink green tea is before your workout sessions. Studies have shown that EGCG and caffeine in green tea combine to increase the fat oxidation rate during exercise. For optimal results, drink green tea with a high EGCG concentration 90 minutes before your workout sessions.
With both EGCG and caffeine contributing a bitterness to your tea, be ready to have a slight bitter tinge to your green tea.
Some of the best green tea varieties for weight loss include Matcha, Genmaicha, Sencha, Longjing tea, and also Huangshan Maofeng tea.
2. For Boosting Metabolism
Green tea is extremely helpful for digesting meals and boosting metabolism. Though there are no specific guidelines, studies show that drinking green tea about 30-45 minutes before or after a meal can break down your food faster. For best results, have 3-4 cups of green tea daily.
Regulate your green tea consumption depending on the type of green tea as well as the amount of EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) in your tea. Most green tea varieties can help in boosting your metabolism. Matcha has been proved to be very efficient in boosting metabolism and promoting digestion.
3. For Glowing Skin
For glowing skin, every cup of green tea counts. It provides the hydration necessary to maintain healthy, smooth, and glowing skin. Besides, green tea also helps you get rid of fine lines and wrinkles, dark circles around the eyes and help in reducing sebum and acne.
There is no specific time for drinking green tea, such that it will help you with better skin. A weekly facial steam bath with green loose leaf tea can help you with better and more well-nourished skin.
Matcha green tea can help with skin cell recovery and give you glowing skin. The extremely rare Gyokuro green tea is second to none when we talk about glowing skin. It stimulates cell renewal and gives healthy skin. However, this green tea is incredibly expensive and very hard to come by. You may find it at online tea stores and a few tea sellers in your neighborhood.
Can I Drink Green Tea…
In the Morning?
Green tea is a great morning drink and has the perfect caffeine concentration to give a morning energy boost. Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid to prevent caffeine rush and gives sustained energy over several hours. Green tea varieties like gyokuro or kabusecha and Japanese sencha are the best morning teas.
In the Evening?
You can drink green tea in the evening too, but choose the variety of green tea carefully because of its caffeine content. The best evening green teas are made from old mature leaves with lesser caffeine. Kyobancha, hojicha, and kukicha are popular choices for evening green tea as they have a small quantity of leaf parts in the blend.
With Meals?
Many people drink green tea along with their meals, without realizing that it inhibits the absorption of minerals in our body. The caffeine and tannins in green tea act as obstructions and that is why doctors and nutritionists often advise against drinking green tea immediately before or after meals, or even with your meal.
On the other hand, drinking green tea about 30-45 minutes before or after your meal will be beneficial as it helps in metabolism.
Before Sleeping?
On average, one cup of green tea contains about 37mg of caffeine. This is a little over a third of the caffeine provided by a cup of coffee. However, it might still affect your sleep, especially for those who are sensitive to this stimulant.
Caffeine consumption can cause anxiety, fidgeting, high blood pressure, nervousness, and sleeplessness as well. It is better to avoid drinking before bed.
Try to stay away from Matcha, Gyokuro, and other shaded varieties as they contain a higher concentration of caffeine.
Precautions
It is a fatal human tendency to believe that overindulgence can work wonders. You should avoid drinking more than four cups (150-200 ml each) of green tea in a day. Uncontrolled and irregular consumption of green tea may lead to stomach problems, diarrhea, and may also lead to iron deficiency. You might also start suffering from bouts of sleeplessness, which may lead to insomnia.
People with liver or stomach problems should consult with a doctor before drinking green tea. Green tea has been proven to be a natural remedy for diarrhea, but in large amounts, it may also cause one.
Final Words
Regularize your green tea consumption to get the maximum benefits from this amazing drink. Scientists all around the world are trying to find out more about how you can make your tea consumption efficient.
For tea lovers, you can choose to drink green tea whenever you want to – it is a personal preference. However, for health enthusiasts, you should consult with a nutritionist for the best time to drink green tea. Each of us is unique, and we are built differently. Though we, at TeaSwan, believe there are a few times which can suit all our needs, your nutritionist knows better. Caffeine and other components of green tea may reduce mineral absorption and induce sleeplessness. It is recommended that you avoid drinking green tea during meals and before going to bed.
References
https://simplelooseleaf.com/blog/green-tea/6-best-times-to-drink-green-tea/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-time-to-drink-green-tea
https://www.nourishedlife.com.au/article/154906/difference-between-matcha-green-tea.html
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/matcha-green-tea#what-it-is
