How is the green tea plant grown?

Camellia sinensis is known as the green tea plant.

Green tea has been very fashionable for some time, especially for its multiple benefits for our body. Apart from being very tasty and warming us up on cold winter days, it has several very healthy properties. For lovers of infusions and gardening, planting and caring for the vegetables with which they are made is a fantastic idea. That is why we are going to explain in this article how the green tea plant is grown.

We will not only talk about its planting and its care, but we will also explain what is green tea and what are its properties and benefits. If you are thinking of planting this vegetable and taking advantage of it, do not hesitate to continue reading.

What is green tea and what is it for?

Green tea is very beneficial for health

Before explaining how the green tea plant is grown, we are first going to talk a little about what this infusion is and what its properties and benefits are. Well, green tea receives this name because the leaves of this infusion acquire a green color during the differentiating process, during drying and during fermentation. The most common vegetable when preparing this hot drink is Camellia sinensis, which is also known as green tea plant. This variety, which is the most common in the West, is made with the fresh leaves of the Camellia sinensis, but it can also be prepared with new shoots that have not yet oxidized or fermented.

As you probably already know, today we can find a great diversity of types of green tea. Each of them varies according to the way of harvesting and/or processing. What they do have in common is that they are of Asian origin. Here are some examples of Japanese green tea:

  • bench
  • Genmaicha
  • Gykuro
  • Hojicha
  • kukicha
  • Matcha
  • mugicha
  • sakurabach
  • Sencha

These Chinese green teas are also quite famous:

  • Gunpowder
  • lung ching
  • pi lo chun

Properties

We are now going to comment on the properties of green tea. These are related to the active ingredients it has. Among them, the xanthines stand out above all. These are substances that include theophylline, theobromines and caffeine. As you know, you are They help us fight fatigue, keep us awake and also stimulate the central nervous system.

The biologist specialized in Phytotherapy and medicinal plants, Antonio Blanquer, and the doctor and expert in nutrition, Caridad Gimeno, report that xanthines They also help relax smooth muscle., since they are bronchodilator substances. In addition, they produce vasoconstriction of the cerebral circulation, which is especially advantageous. to combat migraine. It should be noted that both are professors at the CEU Carden Herrera University, which is located in Valencia.

It is quite clear that the main use given to green tea is to help combat certain pathologies. It is widely used in natural therapies and healthy lifestyles. The most famous quality of this hot drink is that of being an antioxidant. This is thanks to its possession of substances called polyphenols, which provide large amounts of vitamins B and C.

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Green tea helps lose weight

Let us now discuss the Multiple benefits that contributes the ingestion of green tea. Surely some of you already know them, but we are going to list them all to get a clearer idea.

  • Cholesterol Treatment: Both green tea and black tea are capable of lowering the level of oxidation of the so-called "bad cholesterol". In addition, they greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to experts. So drinking green tea or black tea for cholesterol problems is a good idea.
  • Improve the digestive system and blood circulation: This healthy infusion has diuretic properties, which is beneficial for the digestive system and also for blood circulation.
  • Treatment of diarrhea: While it is true that all varieties of tea are generally antioxidants, green tea is the one with the highest content of substances called polyphenols, which are responsible for this property. That is why it is also usually the most recommended infusion when it comes to losing a few extra kilos.

Although some properties are somewhat questioned, such as the use of green tea to lose weight, the vast majority of experts agree that the way to make the infusion more effective is taking one mid-morning, another after lunch and a third at night.

Does green tea help lose weight?

A question that many people around the world ask themselves is whether green tea helps to lose weight or not. According to experts, this infusion exerts a lipolytic effect. What does this mean? Well, it can do the fat burning effect. Caffeine and polyphenolic substances are involved in this process. Since green tea is the one with the highest concentration of them, it is usually the most advisable to lose weight.

However, it should be noted that Green tea intake for weight loss should always be considered as an aid. It is important to keep in mind that the most effective, lasting and healthy way to lose weight is by exercising and following a suitable diet for each case. It is never a good idea to follow a diet based on a single product with slimming properties.

How is green tea grown?

The green tea plant takes 3 years to mature.

Now that we know a little more about green tea, let's see how we can grow the plant. When sowing it, it is important to take into account the location. The green tea plant needs a site in full sun or semi shade. In addition, the soil must be rich in organic matter and have good drainage. It is also important for this vegetable that the soil is not too alkaline, as it needs a habitat between neutral and acid.

When we have already chosen the ideal place for our green tea plant, we must acquire a small one. Once we have it, we have to dig a hole that should be approximately four times as wide as the diameter of the plant's pot and three times as deep. Then we will place the plant inside the hole and cover it with soil, but without pressing too much. To finish sowing it well, it is best to moisten the soil and cover it with a layer of organic mulch, whose height should range between 5 and 15 centimeters.

When harvesting the leaves of the green tea plant, we must choose the freshest and newest shoots. That is to say: Those in which we find a closed bud surrounded by six or five leaves. This harvest can be done once the vegetable is ripe. Until then, about three years can pass from its sowing, so you have to be a little patient. Of course, when the plant is ready we can harvest it about three times a year.

Green Tea Plant Care

Once the planting of the green tea plant is done, we must take good care of it so that it develops correctly and be able to harvest its leaves in the future. Let’s see what are the requirements of this vegetable:

  • Temperature: For Camellia sinensis, the optimal temperature ranges between 14 and 27 degrees.
  • Irrigation: The green tea plant needs a lot of water to avoid drying out due to sun exposure. The ideal is to water more frequently during the hottest and driest times of the year and when the vegetable is in bloom.
  • Fertilizer: You have to add dry fertilizer as this vegetable grows. In summer, it is best to pay approximately every sixty days.
  • Pruning: As for pruning, this should be done on a regular basis to control both the size and shape of the bush. In addition, this way we will get a better harvest.

Plagues and diseases

As with all vegetables, the green tea plant can also be affected by various pests. When it comes to insects, we can see dry, curled, deformed or bent leaves. In addition, they tend to lose their color and stains or stripes may appear. On the branches, the base of the plant and the trunks it is common for sawdust to appear. The pests that most often affect this vegetable are the following:

Regarding the diseases of the green tea plant, these usually affect the branches, roots, leaves and buds. Among the most dangerous, the Blistering Blight stands out, caused by the fungus called Exobasidium vexans. Another of the most common diseases of this vegetable is Anthracnose. This is caused by bacteria Pseudomonas spp. and various fungi. The symptoms of this phytopathology are ulcers on the branches and trunks and root rot.

Knowing all this about the green tea plant, we can venture into its cultivation. It is clear that if we like gardening and green tea, planting this vegetable is an excellent idea.


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