Hot Beverage to Make for Immune Support
Green Tea
Within hours of being plucked, this whole leaf organic green tea is gently steamed and then rolled into small tight pearls. When steeped, the leaves unfurl, releasing a well-rounded, full-bodied flavor.
Green Tea has been regarded to possess anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral effects. Drinking green tea is beneficial for blood pressure and is good for the brain
With all these fantastic benefits we can boost our health by enjoying a nice cup of organic green tea regularly.
Green tea leaves are not oxidized and therefore have the highest amount of EGCG. Oolong tea and Black tea will have less EGCG.
Bags or Loose Leaf?
Info from Mountain Rose Herbs:
LOOSE LEAF TEA IS MORE SUSTAINABLE
The most obvious difference at first glance is the packaging. Boxed tea often comes in not only a box but also with each tea bag in individual wrappers. For those of us looking to cut back on excess packaging and waste in our lives, that’s a huge drawback. Buying my teas in bulk allows me to avoid that nagging question that we are all asking ourselves lately; “So, how much of this packaging is actually recyclable?” Plus, I love being able to put my tea directly into a cute jar of my choosing where I know it will stay fresh.
BULK TEA OFFERS BETTER FRESHNESS AND QUALITY
The other big difference between loose leaf and pre-packaged teas, and the one that I found out firsthand when I brewed my own loose tea for the first time, is quality. Boxed teas tend to sit in warehouses until they are shipped, and then on store shelves until they are purchased, and that is after the loose tea was harvested, shipped, blended, bagged up, and then packaged. There really is no way to tell how old the material inside those bags is. Freshness can be a real issue for those of us who are looking for a delightful herbal beverage. The increased aroma and flavor of a cup of freshly brewed loose leaf tea is unmatched. And, for folks looking to use herbal teas as medicine, the quality and freshness is even more paramount to make sure they are getting all the benefits possible.
HOW TO STORE TEA
At Mountain Rose Herbs we often get asked about bulk herb and tea storage. The ideal storage for any dried plant material is in a sealed glass jar and somewhere with minimal light and heat exposure, such as a cupboard that is not super close to your stove top. With ideal storage conditions, bulk tea can have a shelf life of up to 24 months. We do not necessarily recommend storage in the freezer or refrigerator, as those environments can sometimes introduce moisture into the material.
EGCG content in tea degrades over time. Choosing fresh tea is key. If you want more EGCG, use more tea and increase the the time that you steep the tea.
How to Brew Jasmine Green Tea
- Fill 1 teaspoon of tea in a cloth tea bag or mesh basket and place in your favorite mug.
- Pour 8 ounces of boiling water over the tea and allow to steep for 3-5 minutes.
- These guidelines are from Mountain Rose Herbs for Jasmine Green Tea. Longer steep times will increase the bitterness of the tea.
Recipe
- 1 cup brewed organic green tea
- 1/4 tsp organic turmeric
- 1/4 tsp organic cinnamon
- 1 tsp MCT or Butter (fat helps with the absorption of curcumin in Turmeric)
- 3 drops SweetLeaf Stevia
Brew 1 tsp organic green tea with 1 cup boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients. Use an immersion blender to mix.
Antiviral Benefits of the ingredients in this beverage
Several nutraceuticals have a proven ability of immune-boosting, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects. These include zinc, vitamin D, vitamin C, curcumin, cinnamaldehyde (the major active constituent in cinnamon), probiotics, selenium, lactoferrin, quercetin, etc. [source]
Green Tea
Study: Antiviral activity of green tea and black tea polyphenols in prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19: A review [source]
- Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is one of the most abundant polyphenolic catechin found in Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (tea plant), especially in green tea.
- EGCG has been tested for its antiviral activity against several viruses and found to be a potential treatment option.
- EGCG is recognized as a multi-functional bioactive molecule exhibiting antitumorigenic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidative, and antiproliferative properties in addition to its antiviral effects.
- Green tea possesses a broad range of antiviral spectrum on both enveloped and nonenveloped viruses. Polyphenolic compound catechins, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin from green tea, were observed to have an antiviral effect on the influenza virus by altering the physical properties of the viral membrane. [source]
Turmeric (with curcumin)
Curcumin is a yellow polyphenolic curcuminoid from Curcuma longa (turmeric) that has a broad spectrum of bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-viral activities. [source]
A study has shown derivatives of curcumin exhibited antiviral activity against enveloped viruses. Curcumin also exhibited antiviral properties against dengue virus and hepatitis C virus. [source]. A recent study showed that curcumin blocks the virus from entering cells.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon can be effective in SARS-CoV-2 improvement and treatment through its anti-obstructive, diuretic, tonic and antidote effects. In addition, there is evidence on anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, organ-o-protective and anti-depression effects of Cinnamon that are in line with the therapeutic functions. [source]
This tea will be a fantastic addition to your daily wellness plan.
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