About Green Tea

The main types of tea	Types of Japanese green tea
The components of green tea	Health benefits of green tea

Green tea news

Japan Broadcasting Corporation (known as NHK) has broadcasted the program about “Kakegawa Fukamushi Green Tea” on 12 Jan 2011. This TV program (Tameshite Gatten) features the “City of Kakegawa, Shizuoka, Japan” where has ranked one of the lowest cancer mortality rate in Japan. Consequently, the elderly medical expenses are over 20% less compare to national average. Scientists believe “Fukamushi Green Tea” keeps key roles of this interesting statistics...

All of Aya Green Tea "Sencha green Tea" products are grown and processed in Kakegawa and classified as a "Fukamushi Green Tea."

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Tameshite Gatten 1 (Japanese)
Tameshite Gatten 2 (Japanese)

	Kakegawa City has a low rate of the elderly medical expense. Not only cancer mortality rate but also stroke and heart disease mortality rates are remarkably low. Why elderly people tend to have a healthy long life there?

	Kakegawa residents have a habit of drinking green tea daily like water and it is always “Fukamushi green tea” which is Kakegawa City’s specialty! At home, school, work…green tea is necessary item as a daily part of life. Especially, elderly people have good habit of drinking green tea carries from their old lifestyle. Not a few people drinks green tea over 10 cups a day. “Fukamushi green tea” (deep-steamed) has fine particles as a result of this special technique. We drink to the last drop.

* With the geographical feature, Kakegawa green tea is grown at flat land which has a benefit of long daylight hours and enough sunlight for green tea plantation. However, this benefit makes tea bitter as a result of excessive sunlight. For that reason, Kakegawa green tea is steamed two to three times longer than normal green tea to extract sweetness and rich flavor. This long steaming technique allows the leaf to be heated to the core and that breaks up the leaves finer. Those particles contain good components of β-carroty, vitamin E and chlorophyll as well as catechins (antioxidant component). In particular, those three (β-carroty, vitamin E and chlorophyll) components are rarely found in non-fukamushi green tea.

	Is green tea really good for you?

	Recent research has been continuously revealing the health benefits of Japanese green tea such as: Aids fat burning, lowers cholesterol levels (LDL cholesterol), improves arteriosclerosis, antioxidant effect, lowers high blood pressure and many others.

* Research named “Kakegawa Study” has been implementing by Japanese national research institute, universities and local hospital since June 2009 in Kakegawa city to proof the health improvement effects of Japanese green tea. Achieving a healthy lifestyle with drinking green tea daily as part of life, what they call “Kakegawa Model” research is still in progress under the cooperation of research institute, universities and local hospital

Alternatively, we are also pleased to introduce you the Sencha green tea powder. This will be another item for your healthy life. The first picked tea leaves are ground into fine powder. Easily dissolves in water. The tea leaf is consumed in its entirely, providing more nutrients.

People, who want to start taking green tea in your daily life, BUT:

Not familiar with green tea.
I can't be bothered drinking many cups a day.
I don't have a tea pot.

Sencha green tea powder is ideal. It is never too late to start taking those positive facts in your health and well being. Enjoy your tea time and stay healthy!

> See sencha green tea

> See sencha green tea powder

The main types of tea

All types of tea (black oolong, green) are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant using different methods. Tea is usually classified into three groups according to the difference of processing.

①　Fermented Tea （Black tea）　
②　Semifermented Tea （Oolong tea）　
③　Unfermented Tea （Green tea）

Unfermented means that the fresh tea leaves are not oxidized during processing and the green color is retained. Immediately after being picked, the leaves are steamed to deactivate the oxidizing enzyme as quickly as possible and "kill" the leaves. Semifermented means that the leaves are "withered" in the sun and also indoors to reduce the moisture content. When oxidation has reached about 30 percent, the leaves are heated in an iron pan to prevent further oxidation. Fermented means that is the complete opposite of unfermented. There are two ways to stop the process of fermentation: one is by steaming tea leaves in a steamer and the other is by panning .

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Types of Japanese green tea

	Sencha - Japan's most popular tea Sencha is the most popular type of green tea in Japan. It has a delicate sweetness and a mild astringency. The first picking season of Japanese green tea takes place from mid April to the end of May. The second harvest season is in June (nibancha) and the third harvest season is in August (sanbancha). The tea leaves of later pickings, which have more astringency.

	Fukamushicha- A sweetness and a rich flavor The processing of Fukamushicha is the same as for sencha, except that for fukamushicha the leaves are steamed two or three times longer. Therefore, the shape of leaves are slightly fine. It has sweet, rich and mellow flavor.

	Konacha - Variety of usage Konacha is known as "Agari" such is served at shush restaurant. It consist of the tea powder and buds sorted out from the processing of sencha. It is reasonably priced and has a strong color, aroma and flavor, making it an ideal cooking ingredient.

	Kukicha - A refreshing aroma and a light flavor Kukicha consists of stems and stalks removed during the processing of sencha, gyokuro and match. Kukicha produced from the stalks of gyokuro is called "cardigan" and is highly valued. Kukicha made from either sencha or gyokuro are served in the same way as it is. A refreshing aroma and a light flavor are suite for morning tea.

	Bancha - A tea refreshes you after meals Bancha made from mature leave and stalks and with in flat shape. Bancha has characteristics of astringency and bitter flavor. It contains more fluoride than other teas, it is effective against tooth decay and halitosis.

	Hojicha - A mild tea for children and those with a delicate constitution Hojicha made from bancha or sencha by roasting over a high heat. This makes savory aroma. Hojicha contains less caffeine and tannin (astringency component), it is suitable for children and person who with a delicate constitution. It is a good way to serve cold in summer.

	Genmaicha - The perfect follow-up to a rich meal Bancha or middle grade sencha mixed with well roasted and popped brown rice (genial). A mild and light flavor matches oily food, such as deep fried meals or Chinese cuisine.

	Green tea powder - Easy to serve without tea pot Funmatsucha made from sencha. It is ground into powder. Funmatsucha is easily dissolved in water. It can be served cold with water, liquor and use for cooking. A hole nutrients of tea can be consumed.

	Gyokuro - Mellow flavor make you feel relaxing Gyokuro is known as high quality tea. Bright color, sweetness and mellow flavor are features of gyokuro. Gyokuro is cultivated under the reed screen before the picking leaves to intercept the sunlight and result in increases theanine (sweetness flavor). Gyokuro contains high amount of caffeine (stimulates the brain and the nervous system) and chlorophyll (stimulates tissue growth).

	Matcha (Tea powder) - Enjoy elegant moment Necessary for Japan's formal tea ceremony. High quality matcha is a bright green color. It is sweet if the green color is lighter and the darker ones more astringent. Matcha is made form "trench" which is cultivated and produced almost same as gyokuro, it is ground into powder with a stone mill at the end of process. Matcha completely dissolves in the water when well mixed and thus the leaf is consumed in its entirety, providing more nutrients.

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The components of green tea

Q. Why is Japanese tea good for you?
A. Japanese tea contains these nutrients.

1. Catechine
Antioxidation, antimutagen, anti-cancer, reduces blood cholesterol levels, decreases blood pressure and blood sugar levels, reduces platelet aggregation, cavity protection, anti-virus, improves intestinal flora, anti-allergy, odor elimination.

2. Caffeine
Helps prevents central nervous system excitation, reduces sleepiness. Cardiac stimulation, diuretic effects, metabolic stimulation.

　3. Theanine

Decreases blood pressure, adjusts cranial nerve functions.

4.Vitamin C / E
Antiscorbutic, antioxidation, anticancer, helps prevent colds, helps prevent cataracts, boosts immune function.

　5. Dietary fiber

Helps prevent lifestyle-related diseases such as cancer and cardiac diseases.

6. β caroten (Beta caroten)
Antioxidation, antimutagen, boosts immune functions.

7. γ aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Decreases blood pressure, adjusts cranial nerve functions.

8. Saponin
Anti-astham, antibacterial, decreases blood pressure. and more...

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Health benefits of green tea

Science has been continuously revealing the benefits of tea. The green tea drunk daily in Japan is now touted as one of the healthiest drinks in the world. Listed here are some of the benefits.

　1. Helps healthy skin tone

　2. Slows the aging process

　3. Removes fatigue

　4. Inhibits carcinogens

5. Lowers cholesterol levels
6. Lowers blood sugar levels

　7. Lowers high blood pressure

　8. Prevents food poisoning

　9. Protects against colds

　10. Prevents tooth decay

　11. Act against allergies

12. Aids weight loss

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