The traditional Vietnamese drink is green tea. All meals there begin with him and end with him. There is no tea ceremony, as in China or Japan, in Vietnam, but each guest is sure to be treated to green tea, business negotiations and friendly meetings are held over a cup of this tea. It is not customary to refuse the offered tea, it’s like not answering a handshake.

Vietnam has a high life expectancy, with an average of about 80 years. But you can often meet more respectable old people trading in the market or riding a motorcycle, rather than sitting on a bench near the house. Unfortunately, the comparison is not in favor of our older people. One of the factors contributing to longevity is undoubtedly green tea. Of course, it is not a panacea for all diseases and even has contraindications, but it has so many useful properties that its positive role in the life expectancy of the Vietnamese is obvious.

Benefits of green tea

People who drink green tea rarely have strokes, heart attacks, or cancer. This tea is a good antioxidant, it perfectly fights viruses, microbes, inflammations, therefore, it is useful for colds, flu, strengthens the immune system. Tea helps with a hangover, poisoning. It is useful for those who have a sick thyroid gland or have problems with the nervous system. Green tea is recommended for pregnant women. It speeds up the metabolic processes of the body, removes fats. If you drink it before a meal, the feeling of satiety comes sooner. So, green tea is an assistant for those who want to lose weight.

Do not think that green tea is a special plant. No, this is the same tea we are used to, but it has not gone through the fermentation process, which turns green tea into yellow, red, then black. This process destroys many of the beneficial substances in tea. In Asia, black tea is very rarely consumed. Tea has been grown there for centuries, and they know all the intricacies of growing, preparing, drinking, and appreciate it for its benefits.

Who is green tea contraindicated for?

Green tea is contraindicated in rheumatism, arthritis. Too much green tea can “wash out” calcium from bones. You should not drink green tea if you have heart disease due to the caffeine that is present in this drink. Strong green tea can lead to insomnia, weakness, irritability. As with everything, moderation is important here.

Making tea the right way

Green tea is brewed hot water, but not strong boiling water. So it tastes better and retains useful properties better. Water is poured a little more than fits in the kettle. To do this, the kettle is on a dish. The warm water in the dish warms the bottom of the kettle. By the way, the kettle, as before any tea leaves, should be rinsed with hot water. The first water from the kettle is drained. It was just washing the tea leaves from dust, from the hands of the picker. Tea must be allowed to settle. It requires 3 times more time to brew than black. You can brew green tea three times, in each subsequent brewing there are fewer useful substances. Sometimes the first and second tea leaves are poured together in a special bowl, which is included in the tea set. Then from this bowl they pour into cups. Some pour hot water over a closed kettle during brewing, resulting in a richer taste. In extreme cases, you can brew tea in a thermos. Of course, the first water must be drained.

Tea is drunk in small mugs, about 100 ml. Faience mugs are preferable, as they save heat better. It is advisable to drink no more than 3 cups per day. Green tea is drunk without sugar or milk, they destroy its benefits. Honey is well compatible with green tea.

Teas with additives of various colors are popular – these can be flowers of chrysanthemum, magnolia, jasmine. Teas are flavored with real plants, not chemicals, of course, you should bring them from Vietnam. Just do not buy cheap teas on the market, they will not be natural. Tea with lotus additives is especially expensive. Lotus gives the tea a sophisticated aroma. All these teas with additives have been known for hundreds of years and are very useful.

If you are in Vietnam, you should also buy milk oolong – this is a well-known means for losing weight, it breaks down and removes fats well. In addition, it has a pleasant taste.

In Vietnam, tea from the north of the country, from the province of Thai Nguyen, is considered the best.

Green tea can be used to make ice cubes for cocktails. It is useful for women to wipe the skin on the face and neck with these cubes. The result will not be slow to tell.

It is worth making a habit of drinking green tea daily. This is a good help to the body and a means to stay healthy longer. Of course, if the tea is natural, and it is better if it is from Vietnam. He appeared there even earlier than in China.