In Asia, Green Tea in its brewed form has been a staple of the population, having been consumed for over 4000 years.
As the world modernized, the speed at which we move and communicate has grown with it.
Green Tea and all of its health benefits became known in virtually every culture.
And, while it is ritualized in Asia, around the world not every culture embraces sitting down to a relaxing cup of tea every day, and in some cultures multiple times per day.
Some cultures do not move at a pace that permits these relaxing breaks throughout the day, nor do they provide a place or the time to brew this tea.
And, as in almost everything we consume, there are different tastes.
So, not everybody likes the taste enough to sit down to some 10 cups per day (the suggested amount per day to derive the advertised benefits) Throughout the modern world, there is the desire to control weight, and, it is reported that Green Tea aids in more serious health issues: cancer, colon problems, diabetes, heart problems, skin problems, hypertension, and more.
The problem was how to make Green Tea available and palatable to the masses so not only those seeking the comfort of a tea break, could benefit from its wonderful properties.
Green Tea in the form of a pills is an obvious answer.
Now, we have hundreds of companies producing the Green Tea Pill.
Easy to consume even while driving.
A pill, a bottle of water of some other kind of drink, and it is easy to get the green tea fix for the day without being inconvenienced.
Are the pills the same as liquid tea? Pretty close in all but form.
The primary source is the Camellia sinesis plant, predominately grown in China and the mountains of Taiwan.
Polyphenol flavenoids from epigallicatechin gallate(ECGC) are the main source of the antioxidants responsible for the metabolization of the accelerated fat burning that has made the tea, and the green tea so desirable.
The difference between the pills and the tea is control of the actual tea content, and the quality of the tea leaves used.
And, the possible addition of some additives in the pills.
With these questions arises the issue of safety.
When from a quality manufacturer, supposedly they are safer than the actual tea, and measurement of amount consumed can be more closely measured.
What is a cup? In Asia, a cup is small, vs.
the United States where a cup is whatever the manufacture decided to make it.
Some American coffee mugs may be up to 5-7 times larger than a cup in Asia.
Likewise, how much actual EGCG is in a pill? Are all manufacturers governed to be the same in actual content? What is the quality of the leaves used? It would be difficult to measure the potency in a pill, vs.
measuring the potency in a cup of tea.
Where is the tea from.
Again easier to know with the actual tea and not so easy with a pill.
So, the answer is difficult to know.
Pros and cons with tea or pills.
Safety is another issue.
Again, the same issues exist.
The answer lies more with the user than the source.
The tea which has been around for over 4000 years has history behind it.
The pill is relatively new.
And, there are no regulating bodies governing it.
It is safe to say that the consumer has the responsibility of choosing the product, and knowing the manufacture, not simply looking for the least expensive pill available.
So far, no negative reports about health problems from using the Green Tea Pill.
A good sign.