Green tea is basically a variant of black tea, which is produced from Camellia Sinensis plants and buds which have not gone through the same long and thorough oxidation and withering process that is used to turn black tea into green tea. Green tea's production originally originated in China, though its manufacturing and export have spread to many other regions in East Asia. One of the main reasons for the spread of green tea production is the desire for an antioxidant called catechins that is present in the tea. Catechins are known to inhibit the formation of free radicals (those molecules that cause disease) in the body. In addition to this, catechins are also said to be capable of protecting the body from a range of oxidative stressors, and are therefore instrumental in the prevention of cancer. thistea.com