Green Tea originates from the same plant as black tea – Camellia sinesis. The difference is in how the tea leaves are processed i.e. green tea is not oxidized fully and hence retains high amounts of polyphenols, the most active of which are catechins and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). These powerful antioxidants help protect the body against free radicals, which are known to damage cells resulting in health ailments, ageing etc.
Most people consume the tea that is readily available in the local supermarket for convenience, unaware that a lot of these teabags are manufactured in bulk, may sit on the shelf for a long time, become stale and in the process lose its flavour and benefits.