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One tea, many colours
Tea provides us natural fluoride, manganese, potassium, calcium and Vitamins B1, B2, B6 and folic acid. Among the other benefits, flavonoids in tea help to protect the heart by reducing blood clotting, and also reduce both blood pressure and cholesterol.
True tea comes from an evergreen bush called Camillia sinensis, but the processes to create the different teas vary greatly. White tea receives minimal treatment, with the leaves simply being gently dried. As a result, white teas contain the most antioxidant flavonoids, particularly catechins. Green teas receive slightly more attention: leaves are briefly steamed or heated then dried. Thousands of studies on green tea are proving it to be a healthful elixir for everything from cancer prevention to protection from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Oolong teas are partially oxidized, giving them a flavour between a green and black tea. Black teas are the most processed: leaves are rolled, fully oxidized to develop a deeper flavour, and then dried. While oxidation does decrease catechin content, levels of theaflavins and thearubigins increase. These flavonoids play a role in arresting human cancer cells. Scented or flavoured teas combine other plants with the tea. Earl Grey, for example, is a combination of black tea with bergamot.
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Tea chest or medicine chest? Beverages made with anything other than the leaves of the tea bush are technically considered tisanes or herbal infusions – but don’t let that stop you from enjoying their delicious health benefits! Consider these brews for relief of what ails you.
Bagged or loose?
Aficionados agree loose leaf tea provides superior flavour, but tea-in-a-bag is a time saving convenience. Fortunately, advances in tea bag technology can give you better flavour with less hassle. You might choose to avoid the cheaper brands that use tea detritus or “dust” from many different sources, packed tightly into a paper pouch. These brands tend to release tannins more quickly, leading to a bitterer brew. Note that excess tannins can impair iron absorption, so have your tea between meals. For a better cuppa, choose brands containing tea leaf fragments in larger pouches and pyramidal bags that are spacious enough for leaves to unfurl during steeping. H&L
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