The Way of the Lotus is Karma (Twinings Green Tea Orange & Lotus Flower)

Member Name: Zmugzy

Product:	Twinings Green Tea Orange & Lotus Flower
Date:	14/01/09 (215 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Many heath benefits

Disadvantages: May require practise

According to Chinese legend, green tea was discovered in 2737 BC by the Emperor Shen-nung when tea leaves from a nearby bush accidentally fell into an open kettle of boiling water. Before Shen Nung could retrieve the leaves, they began to brew. He smelled the sweet aroma of the mixture and found the resulting drink had a delicious flavour. It might surprise you to know that both green tea and black tea come from the same plant, Camelia Sinensis, found in tropical and sub-tropical regions like India and China. Unlike Black tea, which is dried, fermented and oxidised, green tea is not fermented, but only dried and steamed. As such, it is thought to retain greater health benefits.

In many ways green tea is an acquired taste that some may never acquire. Some might find green tea a little harsh and therefore may feel the need to add a spoonful of honey or sugar. Alternatively you can now buy flavoured varieties that combine the tea leaves with other flavours and ingredients. One option is to buy one of Twinings' flavoured green teas. Twinings Green Tea Orange and Lotus flower is part of the Twinings range of flavoured green teas that also includes Pineapple and Grapefruit, Pear and Apple, and Jasmine. The last time I looked a box of twenty tea bags cost about £1.20. As someone who initially struggled a bit to get used to the somewhat harsh flavour of green tea, I can honestly say that this flavoured green tea really is a pleasant and refreshing brew that can be drunk without anything added.

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 teabag/s 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.

When poured into a glass and held up to daylight the colour is of a light partially transparent warm golden hew. A subtle aroma of orange zest is immediately present. Correctly brewed the taste is light and fresh. The subtle citrus tang derived from oranges and lotus flower heads surprisingly produces a more mellow, less harsh green tea flavour. The result is a brew that is refreshing and, whilst bringing on some mild stimulation - green tea contains less caffeine than common black tea varieties - the overall effect induces a calmer more focused outlook: the mind becomes tranquil and the body relaxes, anxieties fragment and dissolve, tension subsides and as an individual you become once more connected with the world. And suddenly you realise that change is a simple truth with profound possibilities.

Apparently green tea is a natural source of antioxidants, those mysterious chemical compounds that inhibit oxidation. They wipe out nasty free radicals that do so much damage to the body. Although I have read that common black tea also has antioxidant properties, it is believed that green tea contains more antioxidants and is therefore more beneficial. There are also studies suggesting that green tea contains properties that thwart the onset of Alzheimer's disease and various forms of cancer. So even if you don't like the taste, think of it as medicine, hold your nose and swallow.

Green tea is usually recommended to drink after meals as it aids the digestive system. However, I also find that drinking it before meals is also good. From my experience it seems to stimulate hunger. Not long after a few mouthfuls you should be experiencing a touch of the old borborygmus - your intestines will be rumbling like the sound of an out of tune orchestra - so don't drink it in the library. Despite these minor tribulations I recommend green tea for its health benefits and its relaxing effects. After just drinking a glass of Orange and Lotus Flower Green Tea, I can honestly say I do feel cleansed and serene. The way of the Lotus is truly calmer.

Summary: A healthy uplifting brew