Sencha ShotThe shot heard ‘round the world: EGCGs are good for your heart and have many other health benefits. Photo by Melody Lan | THE NIBBLE.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

KAREN HOCHMAN is a lover of green tea and a convert to Sencha Shot.

 

 

August 2006
Updated November 2008

Product Reviews / Main Nibbles / Beverages

Ito En Sencha Shot & Oolong Shot

Powerhouse, Healthy Tea In A Can

Page1 : Health Benefits

 

 

CAPSULE REPORT: High-antioxidant sencha green tea in a can is the Japanese equivalent of an espresso—quick, strong and invigorating. But espresso doesn’t have green tea’s health-giving catechins. This green tea has such depth of flavor, body and mouthfeel, even espresso-loving Italians may become fans. Oolong Shot has a more mild flavor and is just as promising in terms of health benefits. This is Page 1 of a two-page article. Click on the black links below to visit Page 2.

 

Overview

It used to be folk medicine that an apple a day would keep the doctor away. Now we know scientifically that a few cups of green tea will more likely do the trick. 

Ito En, the leading tea company in Japan, has already helped Americans get their EGCGs with a delicious line of bottled iced teas called Teas’ Tea. To this they have added the Sencha Shot, 6.4 fluid ounces of brewed, unsweetened sencha* tea in a can. Success followed, and Oolong Shot was introduced two years later. (The can is steel, by the way—many Japanese soft drinks are in steel cans because Japanese consumers prefer the higher quality, feel and aesthetic of steel.)

*Sencha was invented in the 18th century by a Japanese tea producer who used a method of steaming, drying and rolling the tea called sencha. It is made from the young leaves of uncovered plants.

Tea Health Benefits

Powerful antioxidants (including catechin and polyphenols) in green and oolong tea help maintain a healthy heart and neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. Ito En is known for its pioneering brewing methods. Sencha Shot and Oolong Shot are made with an advanced, deeper brewing method that yields both a high content of natural tea antioxidants and a more full-bodied tea taste.

Just four inches high, the cans hold enough tea to deliver a powerful load of antioxidants. Sencha Shot has 152 mg of the cancer-fighting catechin, EGCG. That’s five times more EGCG than almost any ready-to-drink Sencha Shottea on the market, and roughly the amount that studies have shown is beneficial to reduce the potential for prostate and breast cancer and is heart-healthy. Not to be outdone, Oolong Shot has 172 mg of polyphenols. (Read more about antioxidants.)

These teas also contain 140% and 130%, respectively of the USDA-recommended amount of Vitamin C. There is 40 mg of caffeine—less than coffee, slightly more than most sodas. The naturally-occurring amino acid theanine allows for the slow release of the caffeine and produces a calming effect rather than jittery energy. The green tea saponins work against obesity, allergies and inflammation, and fluoride strengthens teeth and bones. The oolong polyphenols are believed to abet cardiovascular health and the healthy digestion of fats.

The teas are unsweetened and have zero calories. They taste good chilled and even at room temperature. If you want your tea hot, you can pour the contents into a cup or mug and microwave them.

 

Continue To Page 2: Sencha Shot & Oolong Shot

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