In America, just about 90 percent of folks drink their tea brewed by tea bag. It is the same routine, pour hot water into a cup and dunk the bag for a few minutes until the water turns a dark red color, add sugar and enjoy.

My question is, what are these folks enjoying?

A few years back, I too was the victim of tea bag tea. I, being an American, remained ignorant of the true way tea was meant to be enjoyed. Not only would I have tea just when I was sick, but along with the 90 percent of Americans I would brew it using fannings.

Going back thousands of years, green tea has been enjoyed in both Japan and China, both as a wonderful tea to drink and for all its herbal healing properties. In recent times, green tea has also caught on in the West for the same reasons. Many scientific studies have been done to determine whether its therapeutic use is justified, and to learn just why green tea is so effective. Much has been learned, and one of the most exciting discoveries has been the link between green tea and losing weight.

Why is Green Tea and Losing Weight So Effective?

Jasmine tea is the most popular flavored tea in the world. Chinese tea gardeners have been producing this delicacy for at least 700 years. Though jasmine tea is already considered a blend, it is often used as the base for additional blends because of the popularity of the jasmine tea base. Jasmine tea is mild and slightly sweet, making it perfect for combining with other flavors, like vanilla.

Green tea benefits both physical and mental health for people looking to improve their lifestyle and general fitness. In Britain, green tea is virtually unheard of by much of the population; however a select few are already enjoying the wide range of benefits gained switching from the traditional ‘English cuppa’ of black tea and milk, to the medicinal properties of its more Eastern counterpart, green tea.

One variety of tea that is very popular in Asia but just gaining recognition in the US is oolong tea. Sometimes referred to as Wulong tea, as well, oolong literally means black dragon. Wulong, however, refers to the originator of the tea Wu Liang. According to Chinese legend, Wu Liang was busy collecting and processing tea leaves when he spotted a river deer. He stopped to kill and prepare the deer and it interrupted his tea processing for the day, and he forgot to dry out the leaves.

The vast majority of those who drink tea have tasted at least one variety of jasmine tea. However, vanilla jasmine tea, one of the most flavorful varieties of jasmine tea, is less familiar. But, you’ll not find a more delicious blend of tea than vanilla jasmine in terms of both flavor and aroma.

Jasmine is the most popular botanical for blending with tea, but combining it with vanilla is a logical, yet rare combination. Jasmine tea is China’s most popular flavored tea, and most jasmine tea is produced in China, typically using green tea leaves. However, jasmine tea, whether flavored with vanilla or not, is produced in every tea producing country in the world and can be made from any variety of tea.

Hot summer weather makes us thirsty. However, one must be selective in what he or she drinks to quench that thirst. Water is definitely the best body coolant that quenches thirst. But, what next to water? People often prefer having cola drinks. However, although it may appear that cola drinks or cold drinks as they are popularly known might appear to cool your body, they harm your body in more ways than benefiting you.

If you want to lose weight, you will find that drinking green tea can help. In fact, the beverage is fast becoming an alternative for dieters who prefer weight loss programs that help them lead a healthier way of life. Here are a variety of reasons why consuming green tea periodically can help you reduce your weight.

Cutting down on calories is one way to lose weight. Drinking tea in place of coffee and cream, a combination that’s abundant in calories, will greatly help in your quest for weight reduction. Aside from cutting back on your weight, green tea consumption is also good for your health since the brew comes with beneficial antioxidants like polyphenols and flavonoids.

Offering gift baskets for a tea lover is a priceless way to say “I treasure you” to your close friends and family members. In world wide consumption, tea ranks second only to water. People from Asia, Europe, India, and the Americas drink a considerable amount. Tea is a valuable source of potassium which regulates the heartbeat and manganese, useful to maintain healthy bones. When you share tea gift baskets with others, you show your thoughtfulness for another person’s well being.

If you love flavored teas, you’ve certainly realized that there is an endless variety from which to choose. No matter what flavor you like, there’s a tea for you. If you’d like to try a wide variety of flavored teas, you may find it difficult to find all the flavors in your local tea shop. But, by shopping online, you have access to nearly all the flavored teas in the world at the touch of a button.

Experimenting is critical, particularly for the tea novice. It may take you some time before you understand which flavors you like paired with which tea varieties. But, oh, how much fun testing them all out can be!