I attended the interesting event which was to promote Japanese green tea from Shizuoka (静岡). There, a doctor works for a hospital in Kakegawa-city (掛川市), Shizuoka prefecture, presented observation by him and colleague doctors in the city and he implied cause-effect between intake green tea and wellness.
Although it is not yet proved scientifically with clear human testing, at least it is true that in Japanese cities of great consumption in green tea, citizens' average life is longer than ones of less consumption.
Followings are some statistics and finds from medical reports and/or observations as the health enhancement effects of green tea.
Doctors' findings from residents' health conditions in Kagegawa city where residents often have tea through out a day.
- the lowest mortality of cancer, female ranked on top, male the second top among all cities in Japan with more than 100,000 populations
- City average length of life male 80.4 / female 86.4, higher than average of Japan
- while annual medical cost spent for elderly citizens is three quarters of national average cost and doctors/nurse and cancer departments much less required by the city compared with a typical city in Japan
- elderly people in the city overally look younger than actual age by 5 to 10 years
- their artery is less aged than average human in Japan
It is not specific for tea made in Kakegawa-city, as general effects, those who often have green tea is less likely to get diseases compared with others who do not have or less.
- dementia: among 1000 people of over 70's, the ratio of those have more than two cups of green tea per day is a half of those who have less
- obesity: when samples keep taking 500mg "tea catechin" per day for 8 to 12 weeks, their body mass index(BMI), visceral fat rate and abdominal girth are improved
- arterial sclerosis: those who have 5 or more cups of green tea per day got disease related cardiac blood vessels at less ratio by 30% compared with ones who have less than one cup per day
As "kakegawa study", the doctor and medical specialist team will keep their research for clearer scientific evidences with human testing data and whether there is any variance in wellness effect among different species of tea leaves.
Kakegawa study (Japanese only) http://www.kakegawastudy.jp/
Following the medical insights, we tasted green tea from Shizuoka prefecture and dessert specially made with green tea.
To serve nice cup of green tea...
Amount of tea leaves - 5g per person (one tea-spoonful)
Pour 70 degree C of hot water into a tea pot (that is better than boiled water)
Maccha sherbet and jelly included with vanilla ice cream
Sorry, it was exclusive for the event...
Well, where we can get green tea from Shizuoka?
It can be available even at super markets and major department stores, because over 40% of Japanese tea leaf is produced in Shizuoka prefecture.
To be surer, at tea special shops or Shizuoka Plaza, the unit in Tokyo specialized in promoting products from Shizuoka.
Otherwise, an online shop specialized in Japanese green tea from Shizuoka,
Chamichami.com was launched this year to introduce Japanese green tea to be enjoyed in casual manners. They source their green tea products directly from tea farmers in Shizuoka. The website is in Japanese so far but they are happy to receive orders in English and to ship them abroad from Japan.
Chamichami.com - Japanese green tea online shop
Website: http://www.chamichami.com
Shizuoka Plaza (in Yurakucho, Tokyo)
Address: Basement 1st floor Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan, 2-10-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
*The building Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan (東京交通会館） is just in front of JR Yurakucho station.
Shizuoka prefecture reported the result of radioactivity test on tea. It shows there is no negative health influence on consumption of tea from Shizuoka.
For more information, please visit the link.
