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Although black tea is commonly consumed in Iran, within the last years the popularity of green tea, especially green tea bags, has dramatically increased due to all scientific papers reporting that green tea has benefit impacts on human health. Considering the postulated role of increased dietary oxalate intake on calcium oxalate stone formation, this paper aimed to study the oxalate content of most popular green and black tea bags consumed in Iran.

Five green tea samples and ten black tea samples were purchased from various markets in Tabriz, Iran. The oxalate content of each sample after infusion for five minutes was measured in triplicate using an enzymatic assay. Statistical analysis used: the ANOVA with Tukey's post‐hoc test, and also an independent t‐test were used for statistical analysis.

The oxalate concentration in different brands of green tea bags ranged from 0.73 to 1.75 and from 3.69 to 6.31 mg/240 ml for black tea bags. There were significant differences in oxalate content of different brands, both in green and black tea bags (P<0.001). The mean oxalate content of green and black tea samples also differed significantly from each other (P<0.001).

From the oxalate point of view, consumption of green and black tea bags infusions several times per day may not pose significant health risks in kidney stone patients and susceptible individuals.

It is argued that COVID-19 patients show various neuropsychiatric symptoms, including fatigue, depression and anxiety. On the other hand, epidemiological and experimental evidence indicated that green tea could potentially have antiviral effects and ameliorate psychiatric disorders. However, there is a lack of clinical evidence. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether drinking green tea can clinically improve psychiatric complications of COVID-19 infection.

This study included 40 patients with laboratory confirmed mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disorder in the current randomized open-label controlled trial. Patients were instructed to include three cups/day of green tea (intervention) or black tea (control) to their usual diet for four weeks immediately after diagnosis of the disease. At the study baseline and after the intervention, the enrolled patients’ fatigue, depression and anxiety were assessed by the Chalder Fatigue Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaires.

A total of 19 COVID-19 cases in the intervention group (mean age = 52 years) and 14 cases (mean age = 50 years) in the control group completed the study. Analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline levels, and confounders revealed that those who consumed three cups/day of green tea compared to the patients who received black tea experienced significantly lower fatigue, depression and state and trait anxiety levels (adjusted means for fatigue = 12.3 vs 16.2 (P = 0.03), depression = 0.53 vs 1.8 (P = 0.01), 37.4 vs 45.5 (P < 0.01) and 37.9 vs 45.2 (P < 0.01)).

The open-label design may bias the evaluation of the self-reported status of fatigue, depression or anxiety as the main outcomes assessed. Moreover, as this study did not include patients with severe COVID-19, this might affect the generalizability of the present results. Thus, the recommendation of daily drinking green tea may be limited to the subjects diagnosed with mild-to-moderate type of infection or those with long-term neuropsychiatric complications owing to COVID-19. Besides, considering the ethical issues, this study could not exclude the drug therapy’s confounding effects; thereby, this point should be considered when interpreting the current results. Besides, it is worth noting that Guilan province in the north of Iran is recognized as a tea (and particularly green tea) producing region; thereby, it is an available and relatively inexpensive product. Considering this issue, the recommendation to consume this medicinal plant in adjunct to the routine treatment approach among patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 based on its beneficial effects may be widely accepted.

Green tea consumption could be considered an option to combat COVID-19 associated psychological complications, including fatigue, depression and anxiety among patients suffering from mild-to-moderate type of this viral infection.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, in this study, for the first time, the effects of green tea compared to black tea on COVID-19 associated fatigue, depression and anxiety status within an open-label controlled trial have been investigated.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the demographic and psychographic characteristics of older green tea consumers in the USA. By understanding this segment’s background, perceptions, and behaviors, health and marketing professionals can tailor messages to reach clients and consumers.

An online survey was completed in January 2014 with 1,335 older adult consumers (=55 years old). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binomial logistic regression.

More than half (n=682, 51.2 percent) of respondents drank green tea. Most green tea consumers in this sample are college-educated and employed female home owners. The odds for green tea consumption are greater if a respondent is in good health, was informed about diet and health, or made a health-related dietary change in the past year. There are greater odds of consumption if the respondent is familiar with the relationship between drinking green tea and the reduced risk of cancer however, the importance of health statements on product labels are not predictive of consumption.

This study was conducted in the USA and with older adults. Future research should explore characteristics of younger consumers, i.e. 18-54 years old.

Health educators, regulators, and marketing professionals may use this profile to tailor messages that speak to consumers and client’s values and motivations.

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first profile of older adult green tea consumers in the USA.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder that exacerbates the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus; some studies have indicated the beneficial effects of green tea on human health. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of green tea consumption on the MetS indicators in women.

A randomized clinical trial was carried out on 70 eligible women with confirmed diagnosis of MetS who visited Shabani Diabetes Clinic (Isfahan, Iran). Participants were randomly divided into two groups. Participants in the Green Tea Group were asked to consume three 200 cc of green tea in the morning, at noon and at night for eight weeks, while people in the control group were asked to take identical amount of lukewarm water at the same schedule. Anthropometric indicators, blood pressure, blood sugar, lipid profile, diet and physical activity were assessed at the beginning and the end of the study.

An independent t-test showed that weight (p = 0.001), body mass index (p = 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.001) and waist–hip ratio (p = 0.02), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.04), fasting blood glucose (p = 0.01) and low density lipoprotein (p = 0.03) changed significantly more in the Green Tea Group than in the control group; but no such inter-group difference was observed in diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) values (p > 0.05).

Regular consumption of green tea for eight weeks significantly improved anthropometric indices, blood pressure, blood sugar and lipid profile in women with MetS. Therefore, this beverage can serve as part of an effective dietary strategy to control MetS.

The purpose of this paper is to describe a project designed with the aim of developing a black and green tea processing technology for Nigerian farmers and evaluate the conformance of the quality of the processed tea to the recommended international standard.

Locally processed and graded black teas were collected from Kakara and Bangoba for analysis. Different grades analyzed were Dust 1, Pekoe fanning (PF), broken pekoe (BP) and Fibre. Green tea was also processed from 21 tea clones selected from the Cocoa Research Institute, Kusuku Station tea plantation located at 1,840 m above mean sea level and analyzed for quality characteristics. The methods used for the quality of black and green teas analysis were in accordance with ISO standard: ISO 9768 method (revised) was used for determining % water extract, ISO 5498 for crude fibre, ISO 1575 for % total ash, and ISO 1577 for acid insoluble ash. Other additional quality parameters evaluated for black tea were theaflavins (TF), thearubigins (TR) and colour brightness (C Br) from another set of 17 clones using flavonost methods. Conformance to ISO standard were assessed in all tea locally processed by the farmers, in comparison to the ones processed under controlled conditions.

The results obtained in this study revealed that 59.2 per cent of the tea analyzed conformed to ISO 9768, 81.5 per cent to ISO 5498, 77.8 per cent to ISO 1575 and 96.3 per cent to ISO 1576 and 100 per cent conformed to ISO 1577 and 85.2 per cent to ISO 1578 respectively. In all, only 33 per cent of the processed tea conformed to international standard for black or green tea physical parameters. As for black tea, clones which conformed to correct TF, TR, CBR are UNK, 367, 19, 74, 354, 368, 369, 353, 357, 143, 14 and 108 respectively.

The paper shows that production of green tea and black tea can be done locally without loss of quality if good manufacturing practices and hygiene practices are followed.

The use of clonal materials sourced locally that conformed to ISO standard from Nigeria could create new products (black and green tea) with high economic values to the farmers.

In conventional discourses on sustainability, the relationship between economics and ecology is central. A number of nations' economies benefited from responsible tourism following these conferences. By supporting local businesses and attractions, ‘green’ tourism helps communities achieve their natural and cultural objectives while also preserving their limited resources. In terms of sustainable travel, Kerala was an early leader. This study looks at RT initiatives in various stages, with an emphasis on green tourism's sustainable responsible travel practises. The green economic development bottom line method was used for this descriptive research. These results highlight the difficulties inherent with RT implementation. Our review of secondary data shows that the first rollout of RT was unsuccessful, but that subsequent stages showed great promise. In order to create sustainable tourism on a worldwide scale, the study also highlights the necessity for more research in other culturally distant places.

This paper aims to clarify the functions of tourism interpretations of consumer products in a tourist-generating region (TGR) as a means of marketing the tourist destination region (TDR) through tea tourism.

This is a case study of the Thai Shizuoka Green Tea brand working to promote tea tourism in Shizuoka, Japan. It is used to identify the functions of tourism interpretations of consumer products in a TGR related to the concept of brand identity. This paper assessed Thai consumers’ opinions on the efficiency of tourism interpretation through a sample of 404 questionnaires and with interviews of ten young females, the primary respondents.

Tourism interpretations of the TGR’s consumer products are important for promoting the TDR through five premises: 1) motivating visitors to visit the destination, 2) communicating the place’s meaning, 3) targeting potential tourists, 4) differentiating the destination from other sites and 5) activating value co-creation. Premises 1 and 2 were assumed to stem from visitors’ enjoyment of the tea; the packaging motivated their visit to Shizuoka, its origin. Premise 3 concerns young women who view the product as a premium healthy drink. Premises 4 and 5 are based on the brand’s essence, implying the tea company’s partnership between Thailand and Japan.

Tourism interpretation plays a significant role in TDRs’ success; however, it can be implemented with other consumer products and an efficient brand identity, to create an image of a destination.

The purpose of this paper was to determine total polyphenols (TP), total flavonoids (TF) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in five commercial tea extracts and in their infusions at various temperatures (95-60°C) and brewing times (5-30 min).

TP was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, TF by the aluminium chloride colorimetric method and EGCG by HPLC method.

The results showed that White tea – Silver needle had the highest content of TP and EGCG when extracted, but its infusions had very poor concentrations of these compounds. Green tea infusion was better source of TP and EGCG than white or black tea, although its extract did not contain a very high amount of TP compared to the latter two types. Black tea extract had a relatively high content of TP and TF in its extract. Its infusions as well contained higher concentrations of TP than white tea, but lower concentrations of EGCG than all studied teas.

Increasing infusion time and temperature does not necessarily increase the concentration, according to the results. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report on comparing these types of tea, especially the white tea, with other well-known teas under various infusion conditions. The extraction of the white tea leaves was also not found in previous works.

This study was designed to investigate how the material properties of the tea-drinking receptacle interact with a participant's motivation and preference for extracting and using information obtained via haptic perception, namely the need for touch (NFT), to influence his or her tea-drinking experience.

72 blindfolded participants were instructed to sample room temperature tea beverages served in a cup that was made of ceramic, glass, paper or plastic. They were then asked to rate how familiar they were with the taste of the beverage, to rate how pleasant the taste was and to specify how much they would like to pay for it (i.e. willingness-to-pay ratings).

The material of the receptacles used to serve the tea exerted a significant influence over the pleasantness ratings of the tea and interacted with the participants' NFT, exerting a significant influence over their willingness to pay for the tea. Specifically, high-NFT participants were willing to pay significantly more for the same cup of tea when it was served in a ceramic cup rather than in a paper cup, whereas the low-NFT participants' willingness to pay for the tea was unaffected by the material of the receptacles.

Our findings suggest that consumers may not be equally susceptible to the influence of the receptacle in which tea, or any other beverage, is served. Our findings also demonstrate how the physical properties of a receptacle interact with a consumer's motivation and preference to influence his or her behavior in the marketplace.

Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. The economic importance of an annual world production of tea estimated to be in the region of 1–1·5 million tonnes has resulted in considerable attention being paid to the understanding of the chemical and physical changes which take place during tea manufacture. The three main types of tea, black, green and instant tea, are made by processing the young shoot or flush, comprising the terminal bud and two adjacent leaves of the tea plant (Camellia sinesis), shown opposite.