Herbal tea is the most consumed beverage in the world, based
on a published report in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
And according to studies, drinking it may help reduce one’s
risk of Alzheimer’s or heart disease, keep eye diseases away, maintain bone
mineral density and promote long life.
What You Should Know about Tea
Tea is a drink made by steeping the leaves, buds or twigs of
the Camelia sinensis plant for about five minutes. What determines its color is on how it is
fermented. The most fermented type is black tea, but fermentation stops on any
tea when it is fully dried.
It has no calories, yet it contains loads of phytochemicals
and methylxanthines, a chemical group, including caffeine (but much lower than
coffee has). It is why tea is considered
a healthier alternative than coffee, especially for its loads of
phytonutrients.
Hibiscus and green tea are two of the best antioxidant
sources, which may elevate its level in the bloodstream in almost just an hour.
But dandelion tea is what contains the most antioxidants among herbal teas.
Tea Information
Most teas come from Camellia sinensis, but there are so many
types of teas – each with a distinct aroma, taste and color. Just like coffee, each harvest changes
because of rainfall, climate and other weather factors. It is also the reason
tea coming from the same garden or plantation taste differently from year to
year. Also, a specific harvest may have
a different character based on how the leaves are processed.
There are also several tea categories, including red, white,
fermented, oolong, black and green. Categories refer to the level that the tea
is fermented or oxidized.
When a tea is less oxidized, the lighter and gentler it will
have regarding aroma and taste. Oppositely, those highly oxidized will result
to an earthy fusion or a dark deep reddish brown color.
On the other hand, white teas will normally produce a pale
or yellow green drink. However, there are also exceptions, such as in the case
of gyokuro, which is the highest grade in green tea that will produce an
intense flavor versus the toffee-like drink coming from the Sri Lankan black
tea.
But then, it must be noted that infusions, such as linden or
chamomile flower, are not real teas because they are not from the Camellia
sinensis.
Green Tea Nutritional Information
Until now, green tea’s nutritional value is highly debated,
but the experts agree of its awesome health benefits. Check out the following for more about the
nutritional value of green tea that you will love.
- It is high in alkaloid and antioxidant content. Its most essential compound is epigallocatechin-3-gallate, which is a more powerful antioxidant when compared to vitamin C and E.
- There are no calories in green tea provided it has no sweeteners or additives.
- It is a potent source of minerals, including selenium, chromium, zinc and manganese.
- Versus other sources of caffeine, green tea’s caffeine content is very low.
- It contains different vitamins, such as A, B, C, E, D, H, K and B5.
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