People around the globe love drinking tea. It is a delicious and excellent alternative to coffee. Humans have consumed this beverage since ancient times, and the habitual consumption of tea can be traced all the way back to ancient China. You will be surprised to know that there are many benefits of drinking tea.
Although the type of tea you choose to drink from so many options depends on your personal preferences, it is good to be aware of their health benefits. Given below are some of the popular types of teas and their health benefits:
True Teas
True tea is a term usually used to refer to different types of teas made from the same plant, Camellia sinensis.
Black Tea
Black tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant. During the production of this type of tea, the leaves of the plant are crushed, torn, curled, or rolled. After this, the tea leaves are allowed to oxidize. Once they have been dried, the end product is used to make tea.
Black tea is the most commonly consumed tea type. It is also usually considered to be much stronger than the other types. However, the taste can be affected due to various factors, such as when the tea leaves were harvested and where the plant was grown.
As black tea is fully oxidized, it is much darker in color. It also has a very high caffeine content. Some studies show that the consumption of black tea might have an impact on type 2 diabetes risk, blood pressure, and cholesterol profile, although most of the research done remains inconclusive.
Studies also show that the consumption of black tea may help reduce the risk of stroke. The caffeine found in black tea can help raise mental alertness and awareness.
Green Tea
Green tea is also produced from the Camellia sinensis plant. It originated from China, and from there, it spread throughout the world. The leaves of the plant are heated or steamed to stop the process of oxidation during the production of green tea. Like black tea, the location where the plant was grown, the time of harvest, and the process of manufacturing the tea can affect how it tastes.
Green tea is also quite popular due to its delicious taste and fine aroma. It boasts a lot of health benefits and has been researched heavily with positive results. Green tea promotes mental alertness due to the caffeine content found in it.
Studies show that green tea may promote brain and heart health. It might also counteract oxidative stress on the brain and be quite beneficial for fasting. Although many studies have been done, the health benefits of green tea are not yet conclusive.
There has been insufficient evidence to support the claim that green tea can help prevent cancer and promote weight loss.
White Tea
White tea, harvested mostly in China, is known for its delicate flavor and beautiful aroma. It is made using the young leaves and new buds from the Camellia sinensis plant. White tea is made by stopping the oxidation process of these buds and leaves by frying or steaming them as soon as they are harvested. After the leaves and buds have dried, they can be used to make white tea.
White tea does not contain much caffeine. It is named “white tea” due to the silvery-white hair found on the new buds.
White tea helps protect against oxidative stress. It contains fluoride, which can help strengthen your teeth. White tea might also promote brain health. It contains catechins and tannins, which may help manage plaque bacteria.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is a semi-oxidized whole leaf tea. The caffeine content found in this type of tea is somewhere between black tea and green tea. The oolong tea can vary a lot in terms of color and flavor as well as the aroma.
The tea’s color depends on how oxidized it is, as more oxidation gives it a darker color. Oolong tea, just like many other true tea types, helps in countering oxidative stress and promotes the health of your heart and your brain. However, this type of tea is not very well known and popular.
Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh is a type of fermented tea that can cost a bit more than the rest of the true teas on this list. Made from the leaves and stem of Camellia sinensis, the plant leaves are dry roasted in a “Wok” to halt the oxidation process. After that, it is aged in a humid environment. The flavor of the tea can vary depending on how long it has been aged.
Pu-erh is usually sold in the form of bricks or cakes. As with all other true teas on this list, Pu-erh also contains caffeine content that can help raise mental awareness.
It also boasts anti-oxidant properties and helps promote the health of your heart. Some studies also indicate that Pu-erh tea might be good for your skin.
Herbal Teas
As herbal teas are usually made from herbs, fruits, spices, or flowers, they do not classify as true teas. But they are still enjoyed by people around the world, so it is a good idea to discuss some of the more popular herbal teas and their health benefits.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is one of the popular tea types among people around the world. Chamomile tea is made using dried flowers of its plant. Studies indicate that chamomile tea might help promote healthy sleeping habits and counter insomnia.
Moreover, studies conducted on rats and mice have found preliminary evidence that chamomile tea might help against stomach ulcers and diarrhea.
Rooibos Tea
Not a fan of caffeine? Rooibos tea is for you. Rooibos tea, also known as red tea, is made using the leaves of Aspalathus linearis. Not only will it make your taste buds happy, but it also contains calcium, manganese, and fluoride, which might help promote strength in teeth and bones. It may also help keep your heart healthy.
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is made using the roots of the ginger plant. Although ginger is mostly used as an ingredient in foods, it can also be used to make delicious tea with many health benefits. Ginger tea can help against nausea and motion sickness. There are many more health benefits of ginger as a tea, but further research needs to be done.
Conclusion
Teas have a long history of being used as a therapeutic medicine. Many benefits of teas are not yet confirmed by research, so further research needs to be done to determine their real potential. If you are a fan of organic and healthy drinks, you should defiantly go for them in the morning, such as green tea, lemongrass tea, and all the teas mentioned above.