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Escarpment Magaz ine Spr ing 2012
escarpment
EPICURE
FRESH & HEALTHY TASTES OF SPRING
Tea has a long history and culture. When we hear about medicine
in China, we tend to think of Chinese herbal medicine. In fact, tea
was also part of Chinese herbal medicine — because of its bene-
fits, tea was regarded as very important. As time passed, it began
to be drunk as something that satisfies thirst and as a table lux-
ury. A Chinese classical pharmaceutical book called the "Bencao
Shiyi (The Compendium of Materia Medica)" clearly points out the
benefits of tea, "Drinking tea for a long time soothes the mind,
uplifts the spirit, and prevents obesity and aging."
There are also statements in numerous other books to the effect
that tea serves as an elixir and contributes to prolonging life.
OOLONG TEA
- The production of delicious oolong tea requires
time-honored tradition and outstanding craftsmanship. Tea leaves are picked
on the morning of a clear day. Black, green, and oolong tea grow from the
same leaf but different teas are produced by different production methods,
namely the difference in the extent of fermentation. Unfermented (green) tea
is produced without fermenting the leaves; semi-fermented (oolong) tea is
made by fermenting the leaves to some extent; while fermented (black) tea
is made by fermenting the leaves fully.
It has been known for some time that tea helps to control obesity. Among
other food items taken into your body through meals every day, sugar and
fat are synthesized into triglyceride in the liver and the small intestine, which
are then carried in the bloodstream into various other tissues in the body.
More triglyceride than any other kind of fat is contained in the human body
and it is used as a source of energy for life support and physical activities.
Excess amounts of triglyceride will be deposited within fat cells. This is the
mechanism of fat metabolism in which an excess accumulation of triglyceride
in the body causes obesity.
Polyphenol in oolong tea activates the enzyme that is responsible for dissolv-
ing triglyceride. It has been confirmed that the continuous intake of oolong
tea contributes to enhancing the function of fat metabolism.
According to research, it has also become clear that polyphenol is the ingre-
dient that generates the delicious flavour unique to oolong tea and also pro-
motes beauty and health.
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To enjoy a soothing cup of oolong tea, pop into Heavenly Sweets on Pine Street in
Collingwood (across from Loblaws).