Tea is the best in an afternoon of relaxation. Aside from an afternoon of relaxation, tea is best also for those who love a hot drink that is not as caffeinated as coffee. The authentic tea is derived from a plant called Camellia sinensis and has only four variations namely black, green, white and oolong tea. Other tea variants like herbal teas are derived from another plant and thus cannot be classified as a real one.
THE TYPES OF TEA (REAL)
Black Tea
This is the type that has undergone full oxidation which means that the leaves used are processed to turn its green color to a dark brownish-black. This happens when those leaves are exposed in moist and in air rich in oxygen. Two varieties of Camellia sinensis are used in the making of black tea - the Chinese variety which has small leaves and the other one is Assamese type that has large leaves. Black tea is slightly bitter in favor because it contains the most caffeine among the other types.
Green Tea
Unlike black tea, this type has undergone barely oxidation process. It also contains a lot more of Vitamin C compared to black, around 50%. This also has a lot of variations that one can find from strong taste to the mild one. The most common variation is the Sencha. Sencha is a type of green tea that is intended to be infused. This has a rich flavor that comes from the cultivation of the use of only top leaves. It gives off a flowery taste and a feeling of freshness. Green tea is also known to be the second most consumed drink globally next to water.
White Tea
White tea uses the buds and young leaves of Camellia sinensis. Unlike the previous two, this type is either steamed or fried thus deactivating oxidation and then dried. This minimal process makes the white tea the most delicate among the four types. Its white color came from the white hairs present in the buds of the plant source. If the green tea has lower caffeine content than black tea, then white tea has a much lesser compared to the two tea types.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is the type that aside from leaves, it uses also the buds and stem of Camellia sinensis. It has oxidation process is classified to be a partial one since it is more oxidized than green tea, but is less than black tea. It could be more like the black tea or green tea depending on the tea master's way of processing oolong tea. This type is rolled into thin strands or compact balls. The rolling technique helps in the altering of the color and aroma. Its taste varies from what type of tea, green or black is followed during the production process. It could be sweet or toasty and floral or grassy.
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF TEA?
Endurance. Tea is a good booster of endurance during exercises. Green teas most especially are best for this due to the antioxidants called catechins that increases the ability of the body to burn fat thus also a good drink for weight loss.
Diseases prevention. Drinking tea helps in the reduction of the risk of heart attack and other degenerative and cardiovascular diseases. The antioxidants found in tea can also protect the body from some cancer kinds including colon, breast skin, lung, liver and prostate cancers. Also, it helps lowering risk of Parkinson's disease for both men and women.
Hydration. Even the caffeine content, tea is a good source for hydrating.
Sunscreen. Green tea is an effective substitute for a sunscreen with its ability to provide protection against UV rays.
Smoking effects. Black tea, in particular, helps in eliminating some of the negative effects of smoking into the human body.
With these, it could be seen that tea doesn't only give taste satisfaction but also several benefits of health for the human body. Start your tea habit now.
