I have always appreciated the health benefits of drinking (and eating - see here) green tea, in fact I have two or three cups every day. Some people cannot start the day without a coffee, well I am the same with tea. Not that I do not like coffee because I do, I have one with my breakfast tostada at the local bar most mornings.

I am no expert of tea but I believe I know more than most having been one of the founding members of Tea Cargo in 2011 and a pioneer of tracking down wild tea trees in Yunnan province in South West China. Organic by nature, the broad leaves produce wonderful Oolong, Puerh and of course green tea.

Here I am testing the end product somewhere near Lincang close to the border with Myanmar (Burma).

Note the hand carved Yew table.

Tea contains Catechins which are powerful antioxidants, and laboratory studies have suggested that these compounds may inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Some experimental and nonexperimental epidemiological studies have suggested that green tea may have cancer‐preventative effects.

These are not my words but those of a study which can be found online here.

If this has you reaching for the green tea, my Green Tea and Lemon Granita is a good way to get a few extra cups in on a hot day. And if you want the full story of where this obsession started, Indiana Morrison in China has the wild tea trees, the mountains, and considerably more chicken's feet than you'd expect.

Find more recipes and food adventures here.

Wonky photos, proper food, genuine adventures – The Flexible Chef