Sencha - green tea leaves with two classic herbals, Egyptian organic spearmint and organic peppermint. A calming tea with pleasant aroma and refreshing cool taste. Take time for tea, enjoy the benefits of antioxidant catechins in green tea and spirit of mint.

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All true teas stem from the plant Camellia sinensis, an attractive perennial shrub about five feet tall with gentle rounded leaves and tender twigs. Tea becomes green, black, or other varieties depending upon the time of harvest and the way it is cured and handled. Tea begins to oxidize as soon as it is picked. Chinese and English teas allow oxidation to proceed as they dry, but with Japanese green tea, oxidation is skillfully halted by the steaming and rubbing process.

Herbal teas are not true teas and do not contain any tea leaves at all. They are infusions that are made from many types of plants or combinations of plants simmered in boiling water. Each herb has various beneficial attributes such as plant chemicals called polyphenols, volatile oils, and antioxidants.

Organic Eden Sencha Mint Green Tea is a delightful combination of both true tea and herbal tea - Sencha Green Tea and two herbal favorites, organic spearmint and organic peppermint. Expertly blended resulting in a cool, mildly sweet, uplifting mint melody with the delicate smooth undertones of soothing green tea. The best of both loaded with benefits from green tea's catechins and the volatile oils in mint.

Eden Sencha is organically grown on a remote, centuries old tea plantation near Uji, Japan, the Nagata Co-op. In early spring, the bushes are shaded with netting or traditional bamboo screens to protect new leaves from harsh sun. Most commonly, the first spring leaves are made into gyokuro jewel tea, Japan's rarest tea and also the one used to make ceremonial grade, powdered green tea matcha. At the Nagata Co-op these first, most prized leaves are used to make Eden Sencha green tea, also the foundation of Eden Sencha Blends.

The Nagata Co-op replenishes the soil only with vegetable quality compost. They do not use manure, chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. While commercial tea is sprayed with chemicals 15 to 20 times per year, the Nagatas completely rejected chemical agriculture in 1974. Chemically grown plants burn out in about twenty years, but the Nagata bushes produce for 40 years or more, some for as long as 100 years.

Our spearmint and peppermint are organically grown, hand harvested and naturally dried on a small farm in northern Egypt, and are of the finest quality. Both mint varieties were chosen for their exceptionally high levels of menthol, a volatile oil, responsible for mint's cooling effect and for the pronounced sweet flavor of spearmint. Mints are native to the Mediterranean and north Africa where they have been cultivated since ancient time.

According to Greek myth, the goddess Persephone became jealous over Pluto's affections for the beautiful nymph Minthe, so she cast a spell and turned Minthe into a lowly common plant. Pluto was unable to reverse Persephone's spell but was able to lessen the curse by giving Minthe a scent that grew sweeter and more uplifting the more it was tread upon. Over time the name Minthe changed to Mentha and hence the name for the family genus of mint - Mentha. Although there are many types of mint, the two main ones are peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata). We use more spearmint for sweeter tea.

The flavor of tea reflects the soil it is grown in, the season picked, and the curing process. Organic Eden Sencha Mint Green Tea is tended adhering to strict organic practices. The growers are dedicated to organic farming. This dedication is reflected in the use of skillfully executed traditional handling methods that preserve and enhance the tea's flavor, antioxidants, and volatile oils resulting in exceedingly fine organic tea.

Most tea bags contain a plastic that allows them to be heat sealed. We didn't think this was any way to treat good tea. Every part of an Eden tea bag reflects the highest care, from its unbleached manila fibers, to its crimped seal and pure cotton string. No whiteners or plastics used. Organic Eden Traditional Teas contain no added flavorings or dyes.

Green tea has been the focus of medical research in many countries over the past decade. These studies affirm green tea's healthful properties. Antioxidants, including epigallocatechins gallate, tannins and flavonoids, all collectively referred to as 'catechins' are cited. These polyphenols account for up to 40 percent of the tea's dry weight. Spearmint and peppermint have been known since ancient times to be beneficial to digestive and respiratory health.