I have not really tried green tea because I thought it contained a bit of caffeine, and I just have never done well with that.  I know it is beneficial for my type though and am wondering if the caffeine would be a problem?  Is it a prob for any of you?

It has a fat-burning component in it, I have read, so I wanted to try it.  But, I have read yerba mate is good too.  Is it okay for o-nonnies and does it have caffeine?

I find that Yerba Mate is much more stimulating than green tea.

I find that green tea is calming, but still still leaves me alert.

You should try green tea, Tina.

It's a great medicinial beverage for all ABO groups.  Yes, there's caffeine, but the health benefits of green tea outweigh any of the caffeine that it contains.  

Just try steeping the green tea for a short period.  It might also be helpful to buy green tea bags instead of whole leaf green tea leaves.  I purchase Organic Choice Premium Green Tea tea bags and love the product; I usually only drink one cup a day--in the morning a few hours after my breakfast.

The company utilizes tea bags that are unbleached.

xox,
Alia

Quoted from Tina

I have not really tried green tea because I thought it contained a bit of caffeine

I use decaffeinated green tea sometimes in the evening. There is some controversy about whether the beneficial affects of green tea are reduced or eliminated by the decaffeination process. Caffeine is not entirely eliminated, but is only reduced in the types that I use.

Amen to that...  I always buy naturally decaffeinated green tea, and it tastes the same to me as non-decaf.    No big deal.

Hi Tina,

I am sensitive to caffeine too... and to green tea as well, even the decaf varieties which I don't understand why... but oh well...

Anyway... I too wanted to find a way to incorporate it into my diet for the anti-oxidant benefits so I decided to start with white tea which is a "mild version" of green tea... mainly the new growth young tea leaves which have lesser amounts of caffeine. And I loooove  the white tea!!!... so mild and no over stimulation with the caffeine content. It has not affected my sleep either which other green teas seem to do. And I only steep it for about a minute and a half, max.  

So you might want to start with white tea to see how it affects you before moving on to a heartier green variety.

Quoted from Tina

I have not really tried green tea because I thought it contained a bit of caffeine, and I just have never done well with that.  I know it is beneficial for my type though and am wondering if the caffeine would be a problem?  Is it a prob for any of you?

It has a fat-burning component in it, I have read, so I wanted to try it.  But, I have read yerba mate is good too.  Is it okay for o-nonnies and does it have caffeine?

Tina, according to the comparison chart at this site (http://www.great-eastern-sun.com/shopnew/haikuteas.html), the brand and variety of green tea that I enjoy regularly has nine mg of caffeine per 8-ounce cup, versus regular black tea which contains 70 to 100 mg.  So the caffeine is low and remember that tea contains theonine, which works symbiotically with the caffeine to relax you and thus minimize the jitterizing (new word there) effects of it.

I LOVE the Haiku Organic Hojicha Roasted Green Tea.  It gives me energy and a jazzed feeling, but without any of the jitteriness of coffee or other caffeinated thaaangs, such as chocolate or cola.  That said, I have noticed recently that if I overdo it with my green tea during the week, then on the weekends when I don't drink tea, I get caffeine "withdrawal" headaches, just as I used to with coffee.  Of course, this has just been recently, when I was eating so many avoids, too, so who knows what is really going on.  I have been drinking that tea for ages with no headaches and suddenly, lately...so I don't know.  However, I am cutting back now to 2 to 4 cups of it per day (clarification:  only a max of 2 bags per day, but I allow myself to re-use the bag if I so desire, sometimes mixing it with peppermint on the second go-around...ummmmm, my fave).

I think like anything you can overdo it if you really apply yourself *lol*, but that green tea--unless you REALLY have an addictive personality like I do and go overboard--is really hard to drink to excess.  If you have around two cups per day, it is only beneficial (imho) by giving you a lovely energy and vitality (redundant, sorry), revving up your metabolism (buh-bye, fat!), tasting fab, and giving you all the coolio phytonutrients et al. inherent to tea.

Tea rocks!  Tea forever!  No tea, no peace!

Kristin-
Do you buy decaf white tea?   They sell both reg and decaf, so I was curious.  Thanks!

Boy, you gals must be super sensitive, I drink Green tea and Sip Right Tea because I like the taste and I know it is good for me.  I still like to have a good cup of coffee and I do at Sunday breakfast that we eat out.  In the long term I do believe that stoppin g coffee has had a good effect.  My biggest problem is over eating and during the holidays at parties over drinking, too.
I found some great green tea at Costco, from Japan.

Quoted from erictm998

Kristin-
Do you buy decaf white tea?   They sell both reg and decaf, so I was curious.  Thanks!

I drink the regular white tea, not the decaf. And no problems so far...  

Awesome, thanks!  I'm gonna go buy some now.  I just read a report that white tea is so much more beneficial than green tea anyway...   I wonder if Dr. D's gonna update typebase on that.  (And while he's at it, he can put agave nectar on there too, even though we all know it's ok)

Quoted from Kristin

I too wanted to find a way to incorporate it into my diet for the anti-oxidant benefits so I decided to start with white tea which is a "mild version" of green tea... mainly the new growth young tea leaves which have lesser amounts of caffeine. And I loooove  the white tea!!!. And I only steep it for about a minute and a half, max.  

I have the white tea as well, from Republic of Tea. It is pineapple guava flavored. I really like it too. Mine says to steep 3-60 seconds (bold lettered) and to use water just short of boiling. It has a milder flavor also. If you give it a go, hope you love it!

I've been told that you should use water that is 180 degrees when making coffee or green/white tea. A meat thermometer works well in the pour spout of a typical tea kettle.

Quoted from outdoordrea

I've been told that you should use water that is 180 degrees when making coffee or green/white tea. A meat thermometer works well in the pour spout of a typical tea kettle.

Prob a good idea Drea, as white tea is very delicate. Tho it seems such a waste to only steep for 60 sec. .  I do as I'm told tho. It will be very interesting to see if white tea winds up being more or less bennie than green.

Quoted from pkarmeier

Prob a good idea Drea, as white tea is very delicate. Tho it seems such a waste to only steep for 60 sec. .  I do as I'm told tho. It will be very interesting to see if white tea winds up being more or less bennie than green.

I think it would have the same rating as green tea because white tea is actually green tea... just the very young leaves are used. It might not have the same level of antioxidants as the mature green tea leaves... but I don't know about that...

Thanks for the suggestions on white tea, I've never tried it because it sounded like it wouldn't be as flavorful as green tea...I mean, white tea sounded to me like warm water!  I tried it and love it.  I think I like it better than green tea, though the complexity and subtle bitterness of green tea is appealing at times.  Since caffeine inhibits calcium absorption, I figured it might be good to switch.

Is there a lot of taste difference between brands, like there is with green tea?  I bought Republic of Tea, since I know that's a good brand, though it was much more expensive than the other brand.

Apparently, white tea has more antioxidants:

http://www.republicoftea.com/pages/whitetea.asp

http://www.englishteastore.com/loose-leaf-white-tea.html

I really like Emperor's White Tea, by The Republic of Tea!

My friendly tea specialist at the health food store told me that neither green nor white is superior.  She said that each have benefits that are unique from the other and the best idea is to rotate them so as to get the best benefits of both.

Hey Victoria, thanks for that info!! I do use both teas but did always wonder if the white had more goodies. So now, I'll just continue to rotate, but not while I'm on the rebounder.

Quoted from pkarmeier

I'll just continue to rotate, but not while I'm on the rebounder.

What's wrong with a little sloshing while you jump?  

   

Victoria, I know you did some research a while back on the caffeine content of genmai cha...if I'm using   2 TBSP of tea to 6 cups of water, and drink the entire pot throughout the day, how much extra water should I be drinking to compensate the amount of caffeine?

Ugh.

This is not scientific, buy I'd probably go for an extra 1/2 C water per cup of tea.  Your tea is not too strong at that rate.  If it was really strong tea, I'd go for an extra cup of water per cup of tea.

I gave up the green tea.  I tried it for a week or so, but I began to be very achey and not feel that good.  Caffeine has just never gone well with me in ANY amount.  I am not sure why its that way, since it was a decaf green tea.  It had a tiny amount of caffeine, but I could feel it.  Oh well...

Some decaf tea is not processed in a healthy way (chemicals).  Hopefully you didn't get a tea that was chemically decaffed.  Also it's important to make the tea carefully, water not too hot and don't steep too long.
There is also a wide range of green teas, some strong and bitter, some mild and smooth.  Generally Japanese teas are more mild and gentle and chinese teas can be bitter and stronger.

I buy loose green teas directly from Japan. The difference from what you get here in the States is amazing. The caffeine content is about 30 mg per cup. All the caffeine is in the first infusion. The Japanese process green tea by steaming, while the Chinese pan fry it. There is a Chinese Tea Master in Tucson from whom I've bought some very expensive green teas, but I like the Japanese better. It's way more green. There are many different types, all tasting a bit different. For some reason the caffeine in the green teas is "gentle", and I feel clear headed and calm, with no buzz at all. I have a Japanese tea pot especially made for green tea and look forward every morning to having my tea ritual. Yes, temperature and the length of steep is super important. It's a great way to start the day.