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Methylated catechin, an ingredient in green tea, is effective in relieving allergy and hay fever (pollen allergy).
In this article, I’m going to introduce the basic information and efficacy of methylated catechins, as well as green tea cultivars that contain a lot of methylated catechins.
Green tea health benefits: the effect of anti-allergy
Green tea has various health benefits, but some tea has an effect of anti-allergy and good effect for hay fever (pollen allergy).
Green tea has such effects because it contains an ingredient called “methylated catechins”.
What are methylated catechins?
“Methylated catechins” are a kind of catechins.
Green tea contains several kinds of catechins, such as “epigallocatechin gallate” and “epicatechin”.
Methylated catechins refer to compounds in which the “epigallocatechin gallate” contained most in green tea has changed.
Efficacy of methylated catechins
Methylated catechins have the effect of preventing the release of histamine and other substances that cause allergic symptoms.
This is because methylated catechins prevent the brain from receiving signals that trigger allergic reactions.
For example, there is even an experimental data showing that when green tea containing methylated catechins is given to animals with allergies, nasal discharge, tears, edema, etc. are improved (SAITO Kieko (2018) ‘Characteristics of Tea Catechins and Their Effective Utilization’ Agriculture and Horticulture. No.932, pp.108 -115).
In other words, if you take green tea that contains a lot of methylated catechins, you can effectively relieve allergic symptoms.
Green tea containing methylated catechins and its drinking method
Green teas that contain a lot of methylated catechins include “Benifuki”, “Benifuji” and “Benihomare”.
All of cultivars were originally developed for black tea, but when processed into black tea, methylated catechins change into other compounds.
For this reason, in order to take methylated catechins efficiently, you should buy those labeled “green tea” instead of “black tea”.
When having these green teas, it is best to brew them for about 5 minutes before drinking them to take in more methylated catechins.
Aren't methylated catechins water-soluble?
Methylated catechins are not water-soluble, so it has no effect unless you take in whole tea leaves into your body.
For this reason, most of the Benifuki available on the market as a “measure against hay fever (pollen allergy)” is made from powdered tea leaves.
Does "Yabukita" contain methylated catechins?
"Yabukita" is a representative cultivar of green tea, but it does not contain much methylated catechins.
I recommend you to choose a different tea such as "Benifuki" because you can't expect much effect on allergy and symptoms of hay fever (pollen allergy).
Green tea has a good effect for hay fever
I have introduced “methylated catechins” which are effective in alleviating the symptoms of allergies and hay fever (pollen allergy).
Why don't you have green tea containing methylated catechins in the season when you are suffering from hay fever?