Seven Types of Tea -- Including Five That Most People Don't Know Of -- and Their Health Benefits
by www.SixWise.com
Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, other
than water, according to the Tea Association of the USA. Even
in the United States, which is typically thought of as a coffee-drinking
nation, tea is a mainstay in close to 80 percent of households.
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About 85 percent of tea consumed by Americans is iced.
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On any given day, about half of the U.S. population -- or
over 127 million Americans -- drink tea. In all, this amounted
to over 55 billion cups of tea consumed in the United States
in 2007 alone, the Tea Association says.
There are thousands of different types of tea out there,
each of which, like wine, has its own unique flavor depending
on where it was grown.
Interestingly, ALL tea (except herbal tea) comes from the
same plant, a warm-weather evergreen called Camellia sinensis.
(Herbal teas are made from leaves, roots, bark, seeds or flowers
of other plants, and technically are "infusions"
or "tisanes," not "teas.") It's the way
the plant is processed that makes the varieties take on their
characteristic color and taste. Green tea, for instance, is
not exposed to any oxygen, and its leaves are simply steamed,
rolled and dried. Black tea, on the other had, is exposed
to oxygen, or oxidized, for two to four hours.
But there is a whole world of tea out there beyond the familiar
green and black varieties, most of which are not only tasty
but excellent for your health.
1. Black Tea
Of all the tea Americans drank in 2007, 82 percent of it
was black tea. Studies have shown that regularly drinking
three or more cups of black tea a day can reduce your risk
of heart disease and stroke. A study in the European Heart
Journal also found that drinking black tea improves the ability
of arteries to relax and expand to keep blood pressure healthy
(but adding milk to the tea blocked this impact!).
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Tea can help you get energized for a big meeting at
work or relax before bedtime; it all depends on which
type you choose!
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2. Green Tea
Green
tea accounted for 17 percent of Americans' tea consumption
in 2007. It is one of the most talked about "healthy"
teas, as it's a rich source of catechin polyphenols, namely
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is a potent antioxidant.
Here is just a short list of some of the conditions green
tea is supposed to help:
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Cancer
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Rheumatoid arthritis
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High cholesterol levels
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Heart disease
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Infection
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Impaired immune function
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Obesity, overweight
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High blood sugar levels
3. Oolong Tea
Oolong tea comes from leaves that are withered, rolled, semi-fermented
and fired, resulting in a rich flavor and aroma. Oolong tea
is especially rich in polyphenols and studies have found that
it can help to reduce obesity, prevent tooth decay and improve
atopic dermatitis. Research has also suggested that drinking
oolong tea after a high-cholesterol meal may reduce the uptake
of fats into your bloodstream.
4. White Tea
White tea is the least processed form of tea; the leaves
and buds are only steamed and then dried. It is similar in
health benefits to green tea, but in some cases may be even
healthier. For instance, a study by the Linus-Pauling Institute
found that white tea was more effective than green tea in
inhibiting mutagenicity, an early step in the process leading
to cancer. White tea also contained certain polyphenols in
levels higher than in green tea brewed under the same conditions.
5. Matcha Tea
Matcha is a high-quality green tea in which the leaves are
ground into a powder. The tea particles are therefore added
right to the water, rather than being steeped and strained
like typical teas, resulting in a strong, somewhat bitter
flavor. Matcha is the only type of tea in which the whole
leaf is consumed, so very high-quality leaves are used. It
is said to be one of the healthiest green teas out there,
known for helping to prevent cancer and heart disease and
slow the aging process.
6. Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh tea is processed, fermented, formed into bricks or
"cakes," and then aged (in fact, it's the only type
of tea that is aged). Named for the town in Southwestern China
where it is grown, pu-erh tea has been enjoyed by the Chinese
for decades and is said to lower cholesterol, aid digestion
and cure hangovers. This tea is known for its strong, earthy
taste, and can be quite expensive the older it gets.
7. Red Tea
Red tea, also known as rooibos, is an herbal tisane grown
only in South Africa. Like green tea, rooibos is rich in polyphenols
and flavonoids that may help to boost your immune system and
protect you from free radical damage. This naturally caffeine-free
infusion is also rich in healthy minerals such as iron, potassium
and copper.
Recommended Reading
Why
Green Tea Would be Healthy EXCEPT for This One Dangerous Issue
Kvass:
What is This Popular Russian Drink, Is It Good for You &
Why is Coca-Cola Getting In the Act?
Sources
Tea
Association of the USA
BBC
News January 9, 2007
Linus
Pauling Institute at Oregon State University