Few beverages are as tradition-rich as tea. Brewed and enjoyed the world over, tea has been consumed for its medical benefits and soothing properties for thousands of years.
Many people may be surprised to learn that all teas are made from the leaves of the same plant species, according to The Tea Spot. However, weather and soil types can influence the final tea product.
Tea originates from the camellia Sinensis plant and produces white, green, black, oolong, and Pu-erh teas. The variety is determined by how much the tea leaves are allowed to oxidize.
· White tea: White tea leaves are oxidized the least and are the closest thing to a fresh tea leaf. According to research published in the Tea and Coffee Trade Journal, 20 percent of white tea is made up of catechins, which can help people fight the flu, lower their cholesterol and maintain a healthy blood pressure. Research at Pace University has indicated that white tea can retard the growth of bacteria that causes infections.
· Green tea: These leaves are oxidized more than white tea, but less than black tea. According to Lipton, this produces a light, fragrant tea. The lack of oxidation will contribute to the low caffeine content of green tea. Like white tea, the catechins in green tea are potent microbial and may even inhibit cancer growth, according to The National Cancer Institute.
· Oolong tea: Falling between green and black teas, oolong tea is created when the oxidation process is halted just as the leaves start to turn brown. Oolong tea is high in polyphenols. According to Healthline, polyphenols may improve or help treat digestion issues and help people maintain healthy weights. Polyphenols also can help people with diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular diseases.
· Black tea: Black tea is the world’s most common tea. It has higher levels of caffeine per cup and can stimulate mental alertness and raise energy levels. Black tea also has high levels of antioxidants.
· Pu-erh: Pu-erh teas are aged and fermented, and in Asia, these teas have long been touted for their medicinal benefits. Pu-erh black tea has more caffeine than regular black tea. In China, Pu-erh tea is commonly consumed as a detox tea, and some people regard it as a safe dieter’s tea.
· Chai tea: Chai tea is not a variety of tea leaf, but a means of preparing black tea. Chai tea traces its origins to India and is typically a spiced milk tea made with rich black tea and spices like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and pepper, as well as heavy milk, states Chai-Tea.org.
Many tea aficionados say that loose teas typically have more antioxidants than tea bags, which may contain more tea “dust” due to over-processing. Loose teas use the whole leaf. Anyone can enjoy loose tea by investing in an inexpensive tea infuser.
