It is no surprise that health conscious students such as Miami University senior Megan Law find teacups piling up in their sinks. Tea is the second most commonly consumed beverage in the world, with water being first, according to a 2007 study by the American Botanical Council.
"I love green tea and so do my housemates," Law said. "We drink it every morning."
Tea becomes trendy
"There is no doubt that green tea is a popular item," said Scripps Gerontology Center special projects coordinator Elizabeth Hanna. "It is all around us."
Hanna admits seeing green tea not only on beverage menus but also in hair products, makeup facial cleansing products and yogurt.
Starbucks' line has developed to carry Tazo green tea, iced green tea and even a green tea latte and frappuccino.
Lipton, Law's favorite brand, attributes the growth to "worldwide consumer trends in health and stress awareness and the desire for a more balanced lifestyle," according to the company's Web site.
Miami's director of Dining and Culinary Support Nancy Heidtman thinks because of its health benefits green tea is here to stay.
"I think that students are very interested in nutrition and what they are eating and putting in their bodies," Heidtman said. "They want to know where it comes from and I think we are going to see more of that as a society, especially in a food service direction."
Although Law usually drinks at home, she's noticed the popularity dispersing through Oxford.
"We have all different flavors in our house and it seems to be getting more popular in restaurants and especially around campus," Law said.
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The Culinary Support Center even makes a green tea cookie. Heidtman would like to even see more on campus availability.
"We aren't nutritionists, but we try and offer a wide variety of products to give our customers," Heidtman said. "We like to give our customers healthy and nutritious options. Green tea seems to be the one right now that is very prevalent."
Heidtman's personal favorite is the green tea smoothie offered at Hydrations and currently on promotion at Bell Tower Place.
"It's very tasty, and very, very good for you," Heidtman said. "I get it without whip cream and blueberry syrup to reduce the calorie count."
Green for good health
To Heidtman, the word about green tea is spreading.
"It is one of the super foods you keep hearing more and more about," Heidtman said.
Due to this popularity the drink has been used as a marketing tool for Miami's Green Tea Day since the event began in 2001. The event's theme of "Aging and Longevity Around the World" kicked off with a green tea reception from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 29 in Shideler Hall.
The event, which occurs each spring semester, promotes a lifetime of well-being through informative booths around campus ranging from students and professors who have done some form of study or work in the field of aging. It serves as a way to publicize the department of gerontology's work to students and community members as they stroll through the different exhibits.
Green tea is available to sample at all the exhibits and served in on-campus dining halls all day long.
"Once you start organizing an event like this you get all the articles e-mailed to you," Hanna said.
From the information she has compiled, Hanna said there are studies showing green tea may lower one's risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and prevent cavities, among other benefits.
Law understands this and drinks green tea for both taste and health reasons.
"I know it boosts your metabolism and has antioxidants," Law said.
Still need the coke and coffee?
The latest green tea to hit the market is Enviga, made by Coca-Cola and Nestle. It is a carbonated green tea that is already available around campus. It includes 100 milligrams of caffeine and 90 milligrams of green tea's main antioxidant, EGCG, per 12-ounce can and claims to burn 60 to 100 calories a day, as stated on the side of the can.
While the energy and calorie burning aspects of this drink caught Laws attention, she won't be switching over.
"I think its really pointless because you have to drink three cans a day to burn just a few extra calories, so I think that it's unhealthy to have that much caffeine." Law said. "And it has phenylalanine, which makes it seem no better for you than Diet Coke."
Hanna drinks green tea herself and even recommends it to her kids when they are sick.
"I would never say go drink a cup of coffee to my kids if their throat hurts and I think it is good for anyone trying to reduce their coffee intake too," Hanna said.
But Oxford's Starbucks barista Jessanne Schriever doesn't think it will be rivaling their coffee sales anytime soon.
"People will try anything that is new," Schriever said. "People try it because it is supposed to be good for you and then they find they don't like the taste."
At Kofenya, senior Nicole Ayres feels the customers she is serving are getting green tea for the taste.
"We offer a tropical green tea, it has a little bit of pineapple and is one of our most popular drinks," Ayres said. "We definitely noticed we have been selling a lot more tea this winter than in the past, so I think that tea is a market that is growing for sure."
As news of green tea's health benefits and share of the beverage market continue to expand green tea will become even more available, and Heidtman is already working on a potential solution to Law's piling teacup problem.
"We are waiting to for Lipton iced green tea to come in a form that we can add to our vending machines," Heidtman said. "Then we can offer that as an option for students to take green tea on the go."
Far East meets Midwest
• Green Tea Forest Berry Smoothie at Hydrations: $3.69
• King Tazo Tea at King Cafe: $1.70
• Medium iced green tea at Koffenya: $1.75
• Grande Green Tea Frappachino at Starbucks: $1.85
• Arizona Green Tea in a bottle at any Miami market: $1.70
• Enviga sparkling green tea can at any Miami market: $1.65
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