By Heather Schiffke
use of tea began between four and six thousand years ago.
Today, tea is the most commonly consumed beverage in
the world (after water) and with good reason. In addition to being a
delicious, low-calorie beverage, research has shown that tea has
numerous health benefits.
What is tea? We tend to call many beverages “tea”.
Technically, tea is the dried and processed leaves of Camellia sinensis,
a tree indigenous to Asia. There is also herbal tea - which is not
really ‘tea’ at all, but rather an herbal infusion or tisane made from
various herbs. Herbal teas may be consumed simply as beverages or for
their medicinal properties. Herbal decoctions, as are dispensed from Tao
of Wellness, differ from herbal infusions in that they are cooked for a
longer period of time and are formulated and consumed specifically for
their medicinal, rather than culinary, properties.
There are four main types of actual tea (Camellia
sinensis): black, oolong, green and white. Black tea is the strongest in
flavor and highest in caffeine content. Black tea is produced when the
tea leaves undergo an oxidation process which causes them to turn black.
Oolong tea is slightly less oxidized than Black tea and has less
caffeine. The term ‘red tea’ may refer to either black or oolong tea, or
to Rooibos - which is another plant altogether. Rooibos or ‘red bush
tea’ comes from the South African plant Aspalanthus lineari. Green tea
is steamed, rolled and dried immediately after harvest so that the
oxidation process is halted - allowing the leaves to retain their green
color rather than turning black. White tea is the least processed - the
young tea buds are simply picked and air-dried.
Tea, like all plant materials, contains numerous
chemical compounds called phytochemicals. The health benefits of tea
have been mainly attributed to a particular group of phytochemicals
called flavonoids. Flavonoids have wide-ranging beneficial effects on
the body. They act as antioxidants, meaning that they deactivate free
radicals that can cause cellular damage. Other mechanisms for their
health benefits are currently being studied. Researchers believe that
compounds in tea may reduce cancer promoters and neutralize enzymes that
are necessary for tumor growth. In addition, it is also believed that
tea contains anti-inflammatory compounds.
Recent research has found that tea may protect against
heart disease and many types of cancer, reduce inflammation, reduce
blood pressure, increase bone density and boost the immune system. There
is enough evidence to become a moderate tea drinker even if only half of
these benefits pan out with further research. Which type of tea is the
best for your health? It has been speculated that the less processed
forms of tea (green and white) contain more beneficial compounds than
However, some prominent tea researchers believe that
black tea may have different, but equally beneficial compounds. Studies
should clarify these issues in the years to come.
What about caffeine? On average, a cup of black tea
contains about one third of the caffeine you would get from the same cup
of coffee. Green tea contains about one sixth of that amount. The
caffeine content will vary with the particular tea and the brewing time.
To get the most health benefits out of your tea, brew
it fresh from loose leaves or tea bags. Instant and bottled teas contain
less active compounds. To extract the most beneficial compounds from the
tea leaves or bags, let them steep for three to five minutes. Beware of
bottled, sweetened teas that contain added sugar and extra calories.