Cranberries and Long Life (Twinings Green Cranberry)

Member Name: Zmugzy

Product:	Twinings Green Cranberry
Date:	30/04/09 (251 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Refreshing and healthy

Disadvantages: An acquired taste perhaps

I read on someone else's review of this tea that they started drinking green tea in the belief that it suppresses hunger. In my experience the opposite is true. After a cup of green tea of any sort I'm absolutely famished. But that's if I drink it before a meal. It is well known that drinking green tea after a meal can aid the digestive system.

It is the early growth of leaves from the camellia Sinensis shrub that provide the main ingredients to any green tea. These leaves once picked are quickly dried in order to retain their distinct light, green flavour. According to Twinings only the highest quality green tea leaves are chosen to create their subtle green tea blends.

Twinings claim to use only all natural ingredients and nothing else in their green and white teas as well as their range of infusions. They guarantee no artificial flavours. Therefore the one can assume that the cranberry flavouring in this tea has comes from a natural source along with the 1% of cranberry pieces.

Like all green teas, this tea should be brewed by boiling hot water then letting it settle just under the boil before pouring it onto the tea bag in the pot or cup. One way of assuring this is to throw in the teabags after you have poured the boiling water. The tea should be left to brew for about two minutes. Many people make the mistake of leaving the tea bag in the water too long and over-brewing the tea. This can cause bitterness. In fact it can be brutally bitter if you leave it stewing too long. Despite careful brewing and the addition of cranberry, some might still find this green tea a little harsh and therefore may feel the need to add a spoonful of honey or sugar.

When poured the colour is of a light partially transparent warm golden hew. The tea has a pleasant aroma dominated by the fruit ingredient. However, the cranberry aroma seems much more potent than the cranberry taste which is very slight but enough to add a subtle zest to the blend. This is not a fruity concoction by any means and remains very much a green tea flavoured drink but the hint of cranberry takes the sting away from the sometimes slightly bitter green tea taste.

Of course it's not just about flavour. Green tea is marketed as having extra health benefits in comparison to normal tea. Although the debate continues amongst 'experts' as to how much extra benefit there is in green tea, it is generally agreed that green tea is a natural source of antioxidants, the chemical compounds that inhibit oxidation and thwart free radicals. In particular green tea is said to be a strong source of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) an antioxidant that acts as an aid to fight disease and protects cells and DNA from damage.

So buying a box of 20 tea bags for £1.15 at Tesco might extend your lifespan.

Summary: Another Twinings green tea, this time with a hint of cranberry flavour.