Comparative study of the antioxidant activity of green teas marketed in Morocco and China

Abstract

Tea is made from the processed leaves of Camellia sinensis, and is the most consumed beverage
in the world and in Morocco after water. It is also one of the staple foods in Morocco and is consumed by all
social classes. It is therefore essential to study its effects on health. This work contains a literature review that
sums up the current body of knowledge concerning the composition of tea, its preventative and curative effects
on different pathologies, and the potential risks associated to its consumption. The second part consists of
a study of the antioxidant activity conducted on samples of commercially available green teas in Moroccan
supermarkets and how they compare to green teas bought in China. The main observation of this study is
that there is a large variability in the antioxidant activity of the commercialized teas. We hope that consumers,
authorities and importers can make efforts to raise the quality of the imported and consumed teas so as to
maximize the potential benefits of this beverage on the population.