To some, there’s nothing better than a hot mug of tea to fend off a winter chill or a cold glass of iced tea on a hot summer day. No matter how you take your tea, studies have shown the brew is good for you.
The benefits of the Camellia sinensis plans species (tea) continue to mount and reports suggest tea lowers the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer; even halitosis. Although generally tea provides healthy bonuses, different kinds of tea work better on certain ailments and provide a different flavor. Here’s a guide to different types of tea and how they benefit you.
Green
Depending upon the altitude in which the plant is grown, a new tea plant may take from 2 ½ to 5 years to be ready for commercial picking, but once productive, it can provide tea leaves for close to a century. It’s processed by being dried as opposed to fermenting the leaves. It’s shorter processing gives green tea a lighter flavor and keeps all the beneficial properties in tact, which is why green tea is so good for the drinker. One of its most beneficial properties is an antioxidant called EGCG, which is linked to fighting cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants are dietary substances such as beta carotene, vitamins C and E, that can prevent damage to your body cells or repair damage that has been done.
The flavor of green tea is described as fresh, light, green or grassy. Some varieties of green tea have a bit of sweetness to them. The most popular of the green teas are called Sencha, Dragon well, Macha, Gunpowder, Jasmine, and Genmaicha.
White
White tea is similar to green tea, except it has gone through very little processing and no fermentation. Despite its similarities, there is a distinct difference in taste. Most green teas have a “grassy” taste to them, but white tea is described as light and sweet. Research also suggests the brew has antibacterial and antiviral properties and there’s less caffeine than other varieties.
Black
The compounds in black tea contribute to its color, which also add to its strong, full flavor. Like green and white tea, black tea also contains antioxidant benefits.
Researchers from the Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and the Environment also found that black tea contains 70 percent of flavonoids which are traditionally found in fruits and vegetables. Researchers also found the flavonoids in black tea helped reduce the production of LDL or bad cholesterol that can lead to stroke and heart attacks.
Furthermore, other studies have shown men who drank over four cups of black tea per day significantly lowered their risk of stroke. Black tea also improves the function of blood vessels, and can help reverse an abnormal functioning of the blood vessels that can contribute to stroke or heart attack.
Rooibos
Although Rooibos is not truly a tea, it is derived from Camellia plants that produces traditional teas. The name Rooibos comes from the Afrikaans word for “red bush” and the plant, really a small shrubby bush, only grows in South Africa. Rooibos tea has a distinctive red color has a very sweet and slightly nutty flavor. Rooibos has increased in popularity not only because of its color and taste, but because of its health benefits such as easing irritability, headaches, nervous tension and insomnia; it relieves stomach cramps and colic in infants; may be used to treat hay fever, asthma and eczema; and boosts the immune system.
Chai
Traditionally, Chai is a type of black tea blended with spices and has a digestion-promoting property. It’s growing in popularity and is served sweetened and lightened with milk. Some coffee houses prepare it from a powdered mix or concentrate, which can be loaded with sugar as well as creamers that are loaded with saturated or trans fat. Instead, look for freshly brewed Chai and add your own milk, sweetener or honey.
Herbal
Whether it’s chamomile, ginger, mint, or raspberry, herbal tea is known to provide powerful antioxidants, may soothe the digestive system, are aromatic, flavorful and most importantly can be found in grocery stores. Some suggest switching a morning cup of java with an herbal tea because most herbal teas don’t have caffeine in them.
