A cup of tea is not an ordinary beverage, it also has many health benefits. From easing headaches to preventing cancer risks, a cup of tea offers more health properties. Read on to learn more.
A perfect cup of tea is serve with the right amount of tea and carefully adding the perfect leaves of your choice. Also, to attain the best taste, the perfect temperature must be meet, and the knowledge of how long to steep. Aside from the aromatic flavors and suiting effects it give, a cup of tea has various healing properties. Read on to learn more about this wonder leaf.
Black tea is a type of tea made from leaves of Camellia sinensis. Some popular varieties of black tea come from China (Lapsang souchong) – known for its strong smoky flavor, India (Assam, Darjeeling) – a full bodied and malty tea and Sri Lanka (Ceylon)- strong with tones of crisp citrus. Black tea is often mixed with other leaves producing blends or beverage. Among the world’s popular tea blends include Earl Grey, Irish Breakfast, English Breakfast, and Masala chai. In term of caffeine content,Black tea ranks first amongst the major varieties of tea. However, its level is just half the caffeine of coffee. Black tea is best served with a trace of honey or sugar, and a hint of milk or lemon.
Black tea is fermented, where freshly-picked leaves undergo oxidation process and develop deep flavors. Black tea is rich in polyphenols, (a type of antioxidant). Studies had shown that these antioxidants have health benefits such as cholesterol reduction, cancer prevention and protection against heart attack and stroke. Black tea is also packed with protein, potassium, manganese and some B-vitamins.
Unlike black tea, Green tea do away with fermentation process, thus it is considered a “pure” tea. Japan and China are two of the world’s largest producer of green teas. Green tea has many health benefits including reducing cancer risks, good for maintaining good health and weight loss. Since it contains minimal amount of natural fluoride, green tea is also good for the bones. For coffee lovers who wish to cut or go slow with their caffeine intake, switching to green tea is a good health alternative. Lastly, if you have a sore throat, try sipping a cup of green tea laced with honey.
Unlike other tea varieties, white tea is known for its delicate and soothing flavor because dried white tea contains ‘young’ tea leaves is included in the preparation. Thus, white tea is best served without sugar or honey. Because of its antiviral and antibacterial qualities, white tea is effective in controlling some diseases including common colds and flu. Studies have shown white tea is helpful in maintaining healthy skin, in lowering blood pressure, and boosts higher amounts of ‘good’ cholesterol.
Rooibos tea or “red bush,” is technically not a tea, but an herbal blend. This brew is prepared from fermented leaves of Rooibos or Honeybush plants local to South Africa.
Red tea has a refreshing flavor that can further be enhance by adding honey. Its health benefits are manifold – no caffeine, low tanin content, and high levels of antioxidants. Studies have shown that red tea has healing properties such as; boosting immune system, slow down aging process, effective against certain types of skin ailments, relieves headache, anxiety and fights against insomnia.
Herbal tea, just like red tea, is not actually tea. It is a mixture of several varieties of tea, known for their health properties and unique flavors. Totally caffeine-free, herbal tea is served best with no added sweetener or flavor enhancer. Its health benefits lean on what herb it is steeped – lemon and balm tea eases a headache, ginger and peppermint teas ease nausea and help digestion, lavender and linden flower teas promote good sleep, and raspberry tea is said to be bring on labor in late pregnancy.