Green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, although the processing of these leaves also plays an important role in the creation of this beverage. green tea is characterised by minimal oxidation during processing, and has a number of anti-oxidative and anticarcinogenic health benefits. Green teas is made from the same plant material as the common black tea that is used in the west. Green tea originally comes from China, although it also has a long history of use in other Asian nations like Japan, South Korea, and many countries in the Middle East. Some of the purported health benefits of green tea include weight loss, lowering the chance of heart disease, and lessening the chance of getting cancer. While many of these claims are unsupported by scientific evidence, there is a long history of its use throughout Asia for well being and health purposes.

Green tea contains a number of salubrious polyphenols, including catechins and epigallocatechin gallate. It also contains carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid or vitamin C, and minerals such as chromium, manganese, selenium and zinc. Green tea certain phytochemical compounds as well, and has excellent antioxidant properties that far outweigh black tea. A number of tests have taken place in animals, where the ingestion of green tea has been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney stones, dental cavities, and cancer, while also improving bone density and cognitive function. While tests on humans have been inconclusive, millions of people from around the world use green tea on a regular basis and swear by its health giving properties and effects.

The consumption of green tea has been associated with reduced heart disease in a number of epidemiological studies, where it has been found to reduce cholestorol and improve fat oxidation. Many people also swear by its weight loss properties, due to its ability to speed up metabolism. In one recent study on the eating habits of over 2000 women, the consumption of mushrooms and green tea was linked to a 90% lower occurrence of breast cancer. There have also been a number of more controversial claims into the health benefits of drinking green tea, including stopping neurodegenerative disease, treating multiple sclerosis, spreading free radicals, and weight loss. Green tea is a healthy beverage by anyone's standards, although the exact nature of its health giving properties is still a matter of debate.