The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

• cancer
• rheumatoid arthritis
• high cholesterol levels
• cariovascular disease
• infection
• impaired immune function

What makes green tea so special?
The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

Other Benefits and Uses
New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

Studies have clearly shown that consumers of green tea whether as liquid or powder tend to be calmer and have a very well functioning digestive system. Green tea also helps to increase the memory.

Green tea powder can actually be used as a flavoring ingredient. This is what makes it easy to consume for those people who are not particularly fond of the taste of the green tea blend. They can make use of the powder to prepare delicious sweets and enjoy the treat as well as the benefits of green tea.

Green tea powder is also used to produce green tea ice cream (recipe below) which is now considered as a real delicacy on a global scale. Although the powder has a slightly bitter taste on its own, when it is consumed along with other ingredients it seems to blend in just fine.

Harmful Effects
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately 30-60 mg of caffeine in 6-8 ounces of tea, compared to over 100 mg in eight ounces of coffee.

How Much Green Tea Should You Consume?
There are as many answers to this question as there are researchers investigating the natural properties of green tea. For example, Herbs for Health magazine cites a Japanese report stating that men who drank 10 cups of green tea per day stayed cancer-free for three years longer than men who drank less than three cups a day (there are approximately 240 - 320 mg of polyphenols in three cups of green tea). Meanwhile, a study by Cleveland's Western Reserve University concluded that drinking 4 or more cups of green tea per day could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, or reduce symptoms in individuals already suffering from the disease.  And Japanese scientists at the Saitama Cancer Research Institute discovered that there were fewer recurrances of breast cancer, and the disease spread less quickly, in women with a history of drinking five cups or more of green tea daily. Given all the evidence, it is probably safe to plan on drinking four to five cups of green tea per daily. If you're a real devotee, by all means drink more; but whether or not you'll derive added health benefits remains to be determined by further research.

Recipes

Blended Green Tea (Makes 16 oz)
Into a BLENDER add:
5 oz of water or milk
3 oz of Green Tea Powder
Full cup of ice (16 oz cup)
Blend until smooth

Iced Green Tea (Makes 16 oz)
Into a CUP add:
2 oz of Green Tea Powder
5 oz of hot water
(stir until dissolved)
Pour into a cup full of 14 oz of ice

Shaken Cocktail (Makes 16 oz)
Into a COCKTAIL SHAKER add:
8 oz of water or milk
3 oz of Green Tea Powder
Full cup of ice (16 oz cup)
Shake vigorously (about 20 seconds)

Hot Green Tea (Makes 8 oz)
Into a CUP add:
2 oz of Green Tea Powder
6 oz of hot (180degF) or steamed milk
(stir until dissolved)

Green Tea Ice Cream
Total time: 25 minutes, plus freezing time
Servings: Makes about 1 quart

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons green tea powder
5 eggs
1/3 cup sugar

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream, milk and salt to a bare simmer. Whisk in the green tea powder until dissolved. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar.
2. Whisk 1 cup of the hot cream mixture into the egg mixture to temper the eggs, then slowly pour the eggs into the saucepan, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens to a custard (it will be thick enough to coat the back of the spoon).
3. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and strain the custard into a medium bowl set over a bowl of ice water. Stir the custard until it is cold. 4. Freeze the custard in an ice cream maker until frozen, then transfer to an airtight container and freeze until hardened.

Each one-half cup serving: 269 calories; 6 grams protein; 15 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 21 grams fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 198 mg. cholesterol; 115 mg. sodium.

Please choose from our selection of various forms for this herb, i.e. cut & sifted/fine cut is ideal for making tea bags, decoctions; Whole Loose leaf for bold brew teas, etc. Powders for mixing in liquids for beverages, baking or producing capsules. We also offer bulk capsules (575mg/cap) 1000 caps in canister. Standardized 100 VegCaps minimum 50% catachins and polyphenols. Liquid Extracts 1:4 (weight to volume ratio) in 18-20% USP grain alcohol with only organic, ecological or wildcrafted bio-active plants; If available, Tinctures are made in accordance with the Homepathic Pharmacopoeia of the US using fresh plants in 1:10 ratio with pure ethyl alcohol USP 190 grain.

Botanical Name: camelia sinensis
Origin: China
Notes: Kosher. Non-irradiated. 
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
* FDA Disclaimer

Reference
about.com
green-tea-powder.com 

Read More About It
Green Tea: 50 Hot Drinks, Cool Quenchers, And Sweet And Savory Treats by Mary Lou Heiss
New Tastes in Green Tea: A Novel Flavor for Familiar Drinks, Dishes, and Desserts by Mutsuko Tokunaga (Author), Jane Pettigrew (Foreword)
Green Tea Living: A Japan-Inspired Guide to Eco-friendly Habits, Health, and Happiness by Toshimi A. Kayaki