The Health Benefits of Various Tea Types

The Cultivation of Tea

The cultivation of tea is as old as the hills on which the tea tree, camellia sinensis, grows and in China it has been enjoyed for thousands of years.  It is supposed to have been introduced to western culture during the 17th century.  It is native to Asia but in fact it can grow almost anywhere and it is best grown in full sun with part shade. The tea bush is closely related to the familiar evergreen camellia garden shrub but it can grow to tree like proportions.  However it is generally kept around waist height for ease of plucking.   The leaves on the tea bush are dark green and it has delicate white blossoms.

Types of Tea

There are four mains types, classes of tea:

• Green Tea
• Black Tea
• Oolong Tea
• Black Tea

and they are all cultivated from the Camellia sinensis.   There is also a red tea, from South Africa and it is made from the Roobios herb, the leaves of this herb are naturally caffeine-free. Also there are herbal teas.  Herbal teas are more of an infusion of herbs and spices than original tea.

Green Tea

Green tea has many claims to fame some including the prevention and cure of certain types of cancers, lowering cholesterol, help in achieving higher mental alertness and even an aid to weight loss.  Green tea is high in antioxidants, minerals and vitamin C.  It is a tasteful beverage but due to different methods of processing it can taste quite different from country to country.  Green tea from Japan has a grassy flavour whereas green tea from China has a smoky flavour.  It should be drunk for its enjoyment as the answer from laboratory studies are a mixed blend indeed.

Black Tea

Black tea popularity has experienced a revival recently in the U.S. and it is frequently drunk nowadays as iced tea.   It may help lower blood sugar levels making it good for diabetics.  It may help enhance memory power.  It may even help asthma sufferers and it may help in reducing stress.  The claim to reducing stress may be genuine as a nice cup of tea relaxes a person to no end.  The other claims are open for interpretation and sufferers from any medical condition should seek proper medical advice first. 

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea or also known as Black Dragon tea is in between black and green tea as to taste and appearance.  It is neither one nor the other but it is the perfect tea to accompany Chinese food.  It should be brewed strong.  Like black and green tea it has a claim to medical benefits.  It is reputed to be an aid to controlling obesity.  Oolong means dragon in the Chinese Min-Nan language, spoken in The Fujian area of China.

White Tea

White tea, although a relative youngster compared to other teas it has been enjoyed by the Chinese for over 1000 years and it is probably more deserving of its medicinal claims as it is the least processed of all the teas. It is cultivated for several years before it is ripe for picking and then it is processed from the tiny silvery hairs on the unopened buds of the tea plant.  It is delicate in flavour and high in antioxidants.  It also contains less caffeine than any other tea.  It is cultivated in The Fujian area of China.