Zen in a Cup: Gyokuro Tea Boosts Alpha Waves
Noel Peterson, ND
On my desk at the Center I have a favorite mug that belonged to my grandfather. I remember him drinking from it when I was a child, and for the last 15 years, I have brewed and enjoyed my daily Gyokuro tea in that mug. I have a secret to share: that mug of tea is more than just a ritual. It's like a cup of Zen to start my day.
Americans love to start their work day with a cup of strong coffee, and most would agree that the habit serves to amplify the frenetic pace of the work day. Could you ever imagine stopping at Starbucks for an espresso before your morning meditation? I haven't tried it, but I would imagine that it would certainly make for a restless experience. Is it any wonder that most of us find the words "work" and "stress" used in the same sentence?
Gyokuro green tea, on the other hand, may be just what you need to calm your mind and start your day on a clearer note. It's no substitute for meditation, but it can be a vast improvement over the effects of coffee.
After water, tea is the most frequently consumed beverage in the world, and has been for over a thousand years. Gyokuro grade tea is the finest grade of the leaf of Camellia sinensis. It's Japanese name can be translated sa "precious dew". Gyokuro is cultivated and harvested in a manner that greatly reduces it's bitterness. (The leaves are protected from the sun by bamboo mats, concentrating many of the phytochemicals in the leaves)
The primary reason for Gyokuro's brothy non-bitter taste is it's exceptionally high content of L-theanine, an amino acid that prevents bitterness. L-theanine has another benefit: this amino acid stimulates alpha brain waves, creating a deep state of relaxation and simultaneous mental alertness similar to that achieved in meditation. L-theanine has also been shown to improve hypertension, enhance learning performance, heighten mental acuity, promote concentration, support the immune system, and reduce the addictive effects of caffeine.
Our fine Gyokuro contains up to 2,500 mg of L-theanine per 100 grams of leaf, while Sencha grade can contain only 652 mg. Our Gyokuro gives you more Zen per cup than any other tea we know of.
That's not all. Gyokuro tea is also the richest source of compounds called catechins, These compounds have remarkable anticancer effects. In mice, Gyokuro tea extracts have been shown to reduce the incidence of breast tumors by 70%, and skin cancer by 80%. Catechins prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol, the form of cholesterol that causes heart disease. Catechins in Gyokuro stimulate liver detoxification enzymes that detoxify many toxic compounds. Can coffee make the same claims? So next time you are at the Center, pick up a bottle of Gyokuro, and try a cup of Zen.