Spring is a beautiful time of the year and some of us are lucky enough to be able to enjoy it without suffering the adverse effects of pollen. For those who do find themselves struggling with allergies there’s a possible solution: Benifuuki green tea. While tea isn’t a medicine, studies suggest that drinking two cups of Benifuuki green tea a day – ideally starting a few weeks before the allergy season – can support your body during the high-pollen months may help reduce hay fever symptoms.
An insider tip for allergy sufferers and tea lovers alike, Benifuuki green tea is not just delicious, it’s a tea that seems to be packed with unique health benefits that really come into play during hay fever season.
In this article we explore which types of Benifuuki tea might help hay-fever sufferers and why.
Benifuuki is a Japanese cultivar of the tea plant Camellia Sinensis. Developed in Japan, it is a relatively new tea cultivar. Known for its resilience to frost and disease, it’s ideally suited for organic farming and is also popular for making black tea. But what truly sets the Benifuuki cultivar apart in its use for green tea is its remarkably high content of catechins, the valuable plant compounds that help strengthen our bodies immune systems and may help ease symptoms of allergies such as hay fever.
Benifuuki green tea comes in both loose leaf and powder form.
Benifuuki No.1 is a loose leaf tea, floral and fragrant, almost like an oolong. Benifuuki number 1 is high in L-theanine (the relaxing component in tea) and has a moderate amount of caffeine, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy the complex flavour profiles of Japanese green tea but want slightly less vegetal notes.
Benifuuki No. 2: A loose leaf tea, more bitter and vegetal than Benifuuki number 1, Benifuuki number 2 tea has the highest content of EGCG3 and caffeine, making it the healthiest version and ideal during the allergy season.
Benifuuki Powder: A blend of Benifuuki teas, Benifuuki powder has a rich, full flavour. It can be whisked in a bowl like matcha, prepared as a latte or added to desserts, smoothies, yoghurt, or even your breakfast cereal. To avoid bitterness or clumps, sift the powder first or blend with a little water to form a paste.
The health benefits in tea come from the catechins, and these are best extracted at higher temperatures, which is why studies on the health benefits of Japanese green tea often focus on preparation methods involving boiling water and extended infusion times. However, this approach rarely accounts for multiple infusions, and they tend to spoil the flavour, as the infusion is extremely bitter.
Handled gently, Benifuuki reveals its pleasantly floral character with just a hint of bitterness. To enjoy the tea, and still get the health benefits, we recommend using water at 70 – 80°C and enjoying several infusions. The cumulative effect of multiple brews helps release a comparable amount of beneficial compounds, while preserving the tea’s delicate taste.
Tip: To make the most of your tea, you can also repurpose the leaves after brewing, try blending them into a pesto or stirring them into muesli for an extra boost of nutrients.
While Benifuuki is usually used for green tea, it is also used to create a black tea that’s distinctly Japanese in both flavour and feel. Kawanabe Koucha for example brews into a soft, reddish-brown liquor with delicate notes of vineyard peaches and jasmine. The texture is smooth and lightly sweet, with a refreshing, clean finish. Quite different to strong black teas from India or Sri Lanka, Japanese black tea made from the Benifuuki cultivar offers a completely different black tea experience – subtle, aromatic, and perfectly balanced.
Call us during opening hours on + 49 (0) 711 518 74 006 or email us using the form below. We will get back to you as soon as we can.
