Smells like green spirit

In a world that is slowly foundering an affinity for the benefits of the natural environment, one of nature’s generous bequests has found a spot under the limelight and is enjoying a newly-revived popularity. Before you start entertaining visions of the just-released Martha Stewart, I’d like to clear, right now, that I am referring to green tea, the wonder herb of the 21st century that can be found everywhere from tea houses to coffee shops to household kitchens, and even beauty counters.

Since its discovery in the ancient times, green tea has been highly regarded as a curative agent. It first became popular in East Asia in 200 B.C, where it was a health drink for the Chinese. The drink was imported to Europe in the 17th century, where it was hailed as a medicinal and a "trendy" drink by the Dutch and English aristocracy. Come the 19th century, the tea arrived in Morocco, by way of the Mediterranean land’s ports, where it became a symbol for hospitality. Drinking green tea with one’s host, more than any other beverage, is a holy tradition in Mediterranean countries and offers an occasion to strengthen the bonds of friendship before one continues on his or her travels.

Choice beauty brand L’Occitane en Provence, known for its wide use of natural ingredients in its products, takes the history and legend of this touted miracle elixir to create a new line of fragrance and skincare products. Green tea extract is the key ingredient in L’Occitane’s new The Vert Green Tea eau de toilette and a supporting body care product line that includes perfumed body milk, bath gel, and bath soap.

Green tea, like the two other types of tea, black and oolong, are derived from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, an evergreen with white flowers. Following plucking, the tea leaves begin to oxidize and ferment, which imparts the tea’s unique color and taste. Green tea is the least processed. The leaves are steamed, roasted, or pan-fried almost immediately after harvesting, disallowing further fermentation and giving the variant its light green color. The minimal amount of processing enables green tea to retain more antioxidant polyphenols, notably a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG to avoid oral dyslexia). EGCG is believed to be responsible for the extensive list of health benefits attached to green tea.

Studies made in Asia and in the West provide evidence strengthening the miraculous characteristics of green tea. A study published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 1994 reports that regular intake of green tea reduced the risks of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by as much as 60 percent. Researchers from the University of Purdue also recently deduced that green tea prevents the growth of cancer cells. Another research discovered that drinking the wonder tea also lowers levels of LDL cholesterol (pinpointed as the "bad" cholesterol). These are all attributed to the EGCG component in the barely-fermented tea. People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, infections, food poisoning, and even tooth decay (green tea has components that kill plaque-causing bacteria) greatly benefit from drinking green tea. It even acts as a calorie burner, as stated on November 1999 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The antioxidants found in green tea have also been proven to combat aging, thus its addition to eye creams and moisturizers.

Green tea is also known to have aromatherapeutic and restorative properties. A whiff of green tea helps clear the mind, awakens the senses, and energizes your entire being. L’Occitane’s Green Tea fragrance strikes a double whammy combined with stimulating citrus notes and jasmine. A tiny spray is powerful enough to drive away negative vibes and impede fostering bad karma. Green tea also works as a powerful deodorizer, making it a perfect ingredient for fragrances. A variation of the fragrance, Green Tea with Mint eau de toilette, includes sweet mint essential oils in its head notes, providing a definite mind and body invigorator.

L’Occitane Green Tea fragrance is available at all L’Occitane boutiques in Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-la Plaza, Mandaluyong.

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