Articles ¬ Eating In ¬ Special TeaTea was discovered more than 5,000 years ago by a Chinese emperor named Shen Nong. Over time the popularity of tea has increased so much that it can be said to be the most popular beverage in the world, second only to water. According to a 1999 Angus Reid survey, nine out of ten Canadians drink some type of tea.
All forms of tea ( except for herbal ) originate from the same plant, camellia sinensis. Teas can be broken into three main types; black, green and oolong. Teas are mainly categorized by how they are prepared and what flavoring is added to them, but can be further broken into groups by the climate and season the leaves are being picked.
In the black tea family Ceylon is one of the best known kinds and is used mostly for blends like orange pekoe Black tea is used primarily in Western countries and accounts for about 78% of tea consumed worldwide. To produce black tea the leaves are spread out to wither making them soft and pliable for rolling which allows the essential oils to rise to the leaf surface. It is these essential oils which are responsible for black teas aroma. Once rolled, the leaves are brought into a cool, humid room to begin oxidation or fermentation. It is oxidation that mellows the natural bitterness of tea and also brings out the different characteristic flavors. When oxidation is over the leaves are fired in large ovens to stop the process and they are then ready to be sorted.
Green tea is consumed mainly in China, Japan, India and a few countries in North Africa and the Middle East, but its popularity is quickly growing in other locales. To make green tea the freshly harvested leaves are immediately steamed or heated to inactivate enzymes and prevent fermentation. Green tea is a much lighter color than that of black and the taste is delicate in comparison. Gunpowder is the most popular of this type of tea and jasmine leaves are a common additive to offer more of a floral flavor.
Oolong which means "black dragon" is the other main category of tea types and is very popular in China. Oolong tea is made by partially oxidizing tea leaves which combines the taste and color of both black and green tea.
Although tea drinking is very popular most people who drink it are not aware of what is contained in it and its therapeutic qualities. Most previous studies that have been performed to determine medicinal effects of tea have only used the green form. Since all forms of tea originate from the same plant, it seems safe to assume that the three main types of tea basically have the same therapeutic function.
The tea leaf contains a number of chemicals, of which 20-30% is tannic acid, 5% is caffeine (tea has two to three times less caffeine than coffee), aromatic oils that may aid in the digestion of meat and fat, flavonoids and a small amount of fluoride (just enough to help strengthen teeth and bones).
One of teas most important medicinal ingredients are its very potent antioxidants. Antioxidants are very important for the prevention of early aging, atherosclerosis and many forms of cancer. A research study recently completed showed that the antioxidants in tea are actually stronger than the action of vitamin C and E combined! Decaf tea seems to contain less antioxidant activity, thought mostly due to the decaffeinating process and to the surprise of researchers it seems that even packaged ice tea even has enough antioxidants to be of benefit.
Polyphenols are the main antioxidants in tea and of these, flavonoids are the most important. The type of flavonoid in green and black tea are different due to the processing that black tea goes through. Epicatechins are the main polyphenol compounds in green tea and theaflavin and thearubigin are the main types in black tea. Experiments done on mice have shown that not only does tea contain its own antioxidant compounds but it seems to be able to stimulate the production of antioxidants that our own bodies are capable of making. A growing body of research indicates that the tannins in tea also have strong antioxidant properties. Tannins are the reason why the old folk remedy using a steeped tea bag will cure pink eye (tannin is anti-inflammatory and a germicide).
Studies are currently under way to see if there is a link between daily drinking green tea and the low cancer rate in Japan. The Japanese people traditionally drink green tea with their meals which is being found to inhibit the formation of nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are formed when nitrites, such as those used in curing bacon and other smoked meats, bind to amino acids. Nitrosamines can encourage the formation of some cancers, especially gastrointestinal.
Recently at the American Society for Microbiology meeting in Orlando Florida, it was stated that the polyphenols in tea seemed to prevent bacterial growth, especially of the bacteria in the mouth that can cause plaque build up on the teeth which can eventually lead to cavities and gum disease.
A few studies have just been finished showing that tea may actually destroy certain human viruses like herpes simplex type I and II. Adding tea extract to mouthwash and toothpaste can enhance their antiviral effect. Also, research done specifically on Green tea has shown that it has thermogenic effects on the body which can help a person to burn fat faster. For this effect you would want to drink two cups daily.
Here are a few things that you need to know to make a great cup of tea. At most let tea steep for 10 minutes. Many of the compounds in tea that are beneficial are water soluble, which means that if it sits for too long these will be lost to the air. Also, tea is best served either with milk, a milk substitute or food as the tannic acid contained in it can irritate the stomach otherwise.
Whether you prefer your tea black, green or oolong, loose or in bags, tea is a natural and pleasant way to increase dietary intake of antioxidants and fluid. Perhaps next time you want to meet a friend out somewhere, you could ask them out for a tea; as the Chinese proverb goes "I would rather go without salt for three days than without tea for a single day."
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