The artwork of making tea has been round for hundreds of years—utilized in conventional and ceremonial practices in addition to selling social interactions between folks.
Simply in time for Nationwide Tea Day, we spoke with Michael Duranko, tea knowledgeable and supervisor of Local Tea Company in Sarasota, to seek out out his high 10 favourite teas, together with ideas and tips for a way every sort might enhance your well being.
Black Tea
Black Tea comes from a plant referred to as Camellia Sinensis and has a bitter taste as a consequence of its oxidation course of. Oxidation happens when tea leaves are uncovered to air, which intensifies black tea’s taste.
“There are much less antioxidants in the sort of tea,” says Duranko. Nonetheless, black tea can preserve your tooth and bones sturdy, and enhance the look of pores and skin. Black tea additionally incorporates caffeine, so it is best to drink within the morning or everytime you want a pick-me-up.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is much like black tea—it’s caffeinated and in addition comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant. So, naturally, the perfect time to drink it will be morning or everytime you want a lift. Duranko says that oolong is simply semi-oxidized, making the flavour sturdy, however nonetheless filled with antioxidants—”greater than black tea,” he says.
Pu Erh Tea
Pu Erh tea falls beneath the black tea umbrella, which means it additionally comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant, is post-oxidized and is caffeinated. “Pu erh tea has a mushroom taste as a result of it’s plucked and saved in a cave for a number of years to boost its distinctive taste,” says Duranko. It is also reported to have the power to decrease ldl cholesterol, enhance digestion and assist relieve hangover signs.
Inexperienced Tea
Inexperienced tea doesn’t undergo the identical oxidation course of as oolong or black teas. As an alternative, tea leaves are plucked and crushed and the flavour is extracted from the leaves. A cup of inexperienced tea has nearly the identical quantity of caffeine as a cup of espresso, about 30 to 50 milligrams, so it is the proper different to a morning cup of joe.
Well being-wise, inexperienced tea is excessive in antioxidants and, like again tea, may help enhance your pores and skin, tooth, bones. The antioxidants are additionally reported to assist relieve cold-like signs when in poor health.
Matcha Inexperienced Tea
Matcha, one other sort of inexperienced tea, is created from leaves which can be crushed right into a superb powder for consumption. Matcha has additionally turn out to be an more and more widespread drink within the morning, as a consequence of its scrumptious taste, caffeine issue and skill to be blended with milk for a latte.
“Matcha is extraordinarily excessive in antioxidants as a result of the entire tea leaves are consumed,” says Duranko. “It has a extra grassy taste.”
White Tea
White tea can be caffeinated, nevertheless it’s not like all the opposite teas with regards to its preparation and selecting course of. Solely two leaves and a bud are plucked for every batch.
“The leaves are withered and dried; it tastes very, very mild as a result of it isn’t oxidized,” says Duranko. It is also the least processed sort, with the identical quantity of antioxidants and vitamins as superfoods like wheat grass. Duranko says white tea would possibly even have the potential to assist drinkers cut back the danger of coronary heart illness, reduce weight, enhance tooth and pores and skin well being.
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos is a caffeine-free tea, so that you might be eat it any time of the day with out worrying about these caffeine jitters. Enjoyable reality: it is also not technically a tea. It is derived from a plant grown in a really particular space of South Africa due to vitamins within the soil.
Rooibos is a perennial bush, which means it’s grown all year long. When ready, the entire bush is lower down, chopped into smaller sections and dried within the solar. Rooibos, like different teas, is excessive in antioxidants.
Honeybush Tea
One other unique, caffeine-free selection, honeybush, is created from a plant grown in Africa. It has an identical style to rooibos tea, however is sweeter in taste. Regardless of not being caffeinated, it has the potential to intensify consciousness, power and readability together with help digestion.
Yerba Mate
Yerba mate is one other Instagrammable tea that you could be discover Gen Z guzzling—particularly from the model Guayakí. It’s a caffeinated tea grown in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, the place the leaves are crushed into powder. It has a protracted ceremonial historical past in South America, the place folks drink it in teams, and a grassy, earthy taste. This tea has been reported to doubtlessly help longevity, burn energy and enhance digestion.
Natural Teas
Natural teas are caffeine-free. There are various varieties, all created from or infused with dried flowers, fruit and herbs. They’re divided into two classes: a tea or a mix.
“Natural teas are purely one taste, whereas natural blends have two or extra flavors mixed collectively,” says Duranko. Additionally they have a wide range of advantages. Chamomile natural tea promotes sleep, whereas pure peppermint natural tea can preserve you extra alert and hibiscus has been reported to decrease blood strain. Every concoction with supply its personal distinctive advantages.
New to the world of tea? Attempt the following pointers for excellent sips
Add candy flavors. Issues like sugar, honey, cinnamon or berries will improve taste.
Share your tea with household and mates. Gifting tea and consuming it in teams is a well-liked exercise in lots of cultures.
Test along with your physician if there are any teas it’s best to keep away from when taking sure drugs. Many individuals on the blood thinner Coumadin can’t drink inexperienced tea, for instance.
For extra info on teas, try the Native Tea Firm’s website.
