Aren't you tired of sipping your regular cuppa 'chai'? Move on to green tea, a more exciting, invigorating and healthier infusion, says Shruti Saraf

Imagine fresh green grass pressing up under the soles of your feet. A crisp, fragrant breeze wafting through your hair; and a plantation of tender tea leaves before you. Sounds soul soothing, doesn't it? That's exactly what green tea can do for you. From bath salts to ice cream, this traditional Asian beverage can be used in dozens of ways to relax the mind, strengthen the body, and raise the spirit.

So, What's Green Tea?

Made from dried leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant, green tea is steamed, rolled and dried, unlike the black and oolong tea that are fermented - the shorter process gives green tea a lighter flavour, while retaining powerful antioxidants and other benefits intact.

Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one - goes an ancient Chinese proverb. Here's a bit about this special tea, which might infuse similar sentiments in you as well.

Savour The Sip

It's fresh, light and grassy. However don't be disappointed as green tea doesn't taste like regular tea, but rest assured it's a good choice - very healthy and a taste not difficult to acquire. Different varieties of green tea have their own nuances - some have a tinge of sweetness while others are more astringent.

Brew Your Own Cup Of Green Tea

Follow a few pointers to ensure that you assimilate the best out of your tea leaves.

Do not over-brew green tea since it gets gassy. Adjust the temperature and brewing time to absorb flavour, sweetness and astringency - if steeped in too hot water, only about 25 per cent of the goodness of the leaves is extracted, and the tea gets bitter and astringent. Tarneja says, "You need to steep your tea for at least three minutes to get all the antioxidants in your beverage. However," she warns, "adding milk to green tea will dilute its goodness to a great extent, killing the natural antioxidants contained in it. White sugar and lemon can be added freely, though."

Beau-Tea Tips

Place two cool tea bags over the eyes for 10 to 15 minutes to reduce under-eye puffiness.

• Soothe the itching or swelling caused by an insect bite or cut by placing a green tea bag over the affected area.

• After a bad sunburn, try a tea bath. Hang four or five oolong, jasmine, or green tea bags under your bath spout as you fill your tub. Soak in the fragrant, warm water.

• Keep foot odour away with a foot soak in natural tea - the tannic acid present in tea kills odour-causing bacteria.