What do green tea leaves contain?
Let's get straight to the composition. Green tea is a beverage with beneficial properties for our health, but what does it actually contain?
Theine, a natural stimulant
Green tea naturally contains theine. Different in certain respects from caffeine, theine is responsible for tea's stimulating effect.
Antioxidants, with unsuspected benefits
Green tea also contains antioxidants such as polyphenols, flavonoids and catechins (EGCG). While all these words may sound complex, rest assured they only do you good. The polyphenol content of green tea provides several beneficial properties. These active compounds are renowned for their antioxidant effects as well as their role in supporting our immune system. They effectively promote immunity against foreign pathogens. Furthermore, it protects body tissues and cells from oxidative damage and helps fight the action of free radicals and the development of certain diseases. Finally, it also provides support for our metabolism. Want to learn more? Head over here, green tea: a powerful antioxidant. Did you know it is the tea with the highest antioxidant content?
Vitamins with multiple benefits
Finally, green tea leaves contain vitamins such as vitamin C, but also vitamin P, B-group vitamins, and minerals like potassium and fluoride.
Do green tea leaves really contain vitamin C?
Is green tea rich in vitamins? The answer is yes, green tea leaves contain vitamin C. However, the benefits and active properties of vitamin C are completely neutralised when brewed in water above 30°C. This applies to all green teas, even matcha. Plain green tea cannot therefore claim to provide a source of vitamin C. Moreover, plain green teas cannot be considered a primary source of vitamin C due to the low amounts they naturally contain (unlike other foods).
That was without counting on Kusmi innovation!
Matcha tea powder: also rich in vitamin C
What about matcha green tea powder? If "matcha mania" hasn't subsided, it's because matcha powder from Japan is well renowned for its many benefits (detox, soothing and antioxidant) and its delicious taste. We like to think matcha is different because it is ground into powder, yet matcha's properties are similar to those of green tea. So much so that matcha powder also contains vitamin C. Just like green tea, the vitamin C in matcha loses its potency in heated water. To make the most of its benefits, opt for a cold or iced tea. Remember that a properly prepared matcha is whisked into simmering water and beaten briskly with the traditional bamboo whisk. Yes, even for an iced matcha.
Discover Kusmi Tea matcha tea!
And what about black tea in all this?
Well no, it is indeed green tea that wins the battle for the highest vitamin C content. Why? Because it is not fermented! Black tea leaves have other virtues, but not this one.
Discover Rituel Défenses Immunitaires, the new organic green tea from Kusmi Tea, naturally a source of vitamin C
Kusmi pushes the boundaries of creativity with Rituel Défenses Immunitaires, a vitamin-enriched organic green tea naturally boosted with acerola, one of the fruits richest in vitamin C. The concept: for 4 weeks, enjoy a daily sachet of Sencha green tea naturally enriched with vitamin C and flavoured with orange. A pure delight that pleases our taste buds while activating our immune defences!
Why do a vitamin C treatment?
When it comes to vitamin treatments in general, patience is key! A duration of 4 weeks seems to us the minimum needed for the body to assimilate the vitamin. You can of course repeat this vitamin C routine as often as desired. The key is consistency.
Bear in mind that this vitamin C boost should be paired with a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet. As vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables, aim for 5 to 6 portions a day. You know the drill by now. Our vitamin-enriched tea will simply be the icing on the cake of your daily routine.
Everything you need to know about vitamin C
We designed a green tea naturally enriched with vitamin C because we know just how essential vitamin C is to our well-being and health. Humans only produce a tiny amount of vitamin C, meaning they rely on diet to meet their daily requirements. Health authorities recommend a daily intake of 110 mg of vitamin C for an adult. An insufficient intake of vitamin C can lead to daily fatigue. Beyond preventing sluggishness, consuming vitamin C is essential for the proper functioning of our immune system and our body. Boosted immune defences help us ward off winter chills. Furthermore, vitamin C is also said to aid iron absorption by the body. Note, however, that while widely accepted, empirical evidence on this remains mixed.
Find out everything about the role of vitamin C in our latest article.
Other foods rich in vitamin C
Did you know oranges don't have a monopoly on vitamin C? Indeed, vitamin C is found in many foods, including fruits and vegetables. Among the top 20 sources of vitamin C, you'll find: guava, bell pepper, papaya, kiwi, broccoli, strawberry… Our personal favourite? Acerola, one of the fruits richest in vitamin C. Acerola is a shrub native to tropical regions of the Caribbean, whose small red berries have the delicious advantage of being both tangy and packed with vitamin C. Truly packed: its consumption delivers nearly 30 to 40 times more vitamin C than an orange. Nature does things so well that we can't help but be inspired! Our Défenses Immunitaires vitamin treatment is enriched with acerola to help you contribute to your recommended daily intake of vitamin C.
Prefer herbal infusions? Try herbal blends with fennel, orange, ginseng, blackcurrant, cinnamon…
Convinced by all these benefits? We invite you to taste our Ritual blend crafted with sencha green tea and acerola. Just the thing for a boost upon waking or throughout the day!