ABSTRACT
Tea, the most popular beverage known to man, has phytonutritional and medicinal benefits whose secret lies in its rich catechins (polyphenols). Catechins possess powerful antioxidant properties with the least caffeine content and are known for their anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, antibacte-rial and antiviral properties. Green tea is also rich in amino acids (such as L-threonine and theogallin), succinate and gallic acid which give the tea its unique sweetness and umami flavor. This chapter details the chemistry of green tea, factors that influence the chemo-nutritional composition during processing, the pharmacokinetic properties of green tea, its detoxification activity and possible side effects and risks among others.
