"Tea is nothing other than this: Heat the water, prepare the tea and drink it with propriety. That is all you need to know."
- Sen Rikyu, 16th Century Oriental Tea Master

Recent studies have indicated that green tea's reputed cancer fighting properties may be due to its ability to obstruct a protein involved in igniting the growth of tumor cells.

While green tea is believed to shield people against some forms of cancer like those attacking the breast and liver, researchers have not been able to pinpoint exactly how it does this.

Now, researchers in the laboratory of toxicologist Thomas Gasiewicz at the

University of Rochester in New York State, have found that a chemical in green tea called EGCG attaches itself to a protein called HSP90, which is present at elevated levels in cancer cells.

EGCG prevents the protein from activating a cell receptor that plays a role in turning on harmful genes.

EGCG is a member of the flavonoid family, a group of chemicals also found in broccoli, cabbage, grapes and red wine.

Gasiewicz says the discovery could help researchers develop a cancer drug based on.the green tea ingredient. Drug companies are already searching for compounds that target HSP90, but to date none has come to market