Truth or Myth about tea
Tea has been around for a good 5000 years, drank around the world, making it the most popular beverage next to water. It is not surprising that many stories, claims and myths have emerged about tea. With growing awareness of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, you will hear of many health claims about consuming tea. Are they true or myth?
TRUTH OR MYTH
*HERBAL TEA IS TEA - TRUTH OR MYTH
What is referred to as true tea comes from the plant Camellia Sinensis. There are 6 categories of teas, Black and Green being the 2 best known categories but there are also 4 more, White, Yellow, Oolong and Puerh that are also pure teas and share the same plant origins called Camellia Sinensis. Herbal teas are made from the leaves, roots, stems, flowers and bark of other plants that are not from the Camellia Sinensis plant. A more accurate nomenclature for herbal tea is "Tisane".
*THERE IS NO CAFFEINE IN TEA - TRUTH OR MYTH
Caffeine is a compound found naturally in the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, therefore all 6 categories of tea contain caffeine. The level of caffeine found in tea differs from one tea to another and the brewing method will affect how much caffeine is being released from the tea leaf. The hotter the water and the longer the brewing time, the more caffeine is released from your tea.
*BLACK TEA HAS MORE CAFFEINE THAN GREEN TEA - TRUTH OR MYTH
Caffeine content vary with each tea. We cannot assume that one category has more or less caffeine because it is Black or Green or White, etc. The caffeine levels are affected by how it is grown and terroir, the size of the leaves picked, and the exact processing style (single roasting, double roasting, steamed, pan fried, aged, fermented, etc.). These variables can affect the caffeine concentration in brewed tea. A green tea may have more caffeine than a black tea, and two black teas from the same region can have totally different caffeine levels.
*CAFFEINE CAN BE REMOVED BY STEEPING THE LEAVES - TRUTH OR MYTH
Rinsing tea leaves with hot water for a few seconds may slightly reduce some of the caffeine in your tea and a 3 minute steep can reduce the caffeine levels by 70 percent. Unfortunately you are also losing all of the flavours and many of the healthy components of tea at the same time with a 3 minute steep.
*ADDING MILK TO TEA NEGATES TEA HEALTH BENEFITS - TRUTH OR MYTH
As it stands today, the jury is still out on this one. Some research has shown that mixing milk with tea may reduce or block the tea's beneficial antioxidants while other studies have found no effects or even positive effects.
*GREEN TEA HELPS BURN FAT -TRUTH OR MYTH
Green tea can help to lose or maintain weight. All teas can, but the key is to incorporate tea with a healthy lifestyle of regular physical activity and a good diet.
*TEA DEHYDRATES - TRUTH OR MYTH
Quite the opposite, tea keeps you hydrated. Despite the fact that tea is a diuretic, it is also mostly water, hence hydrating. Drink more tea, stay hydrated.
*SLURPING TEA IS RUDE - TRUTH OR MYTH
To sip or to slurp. Tea should be slurped. Slurping tea not only exposes the flavours to all the taste buds but also allows the aromas to vaporize and be experienced at the back of the mouth to reach the olfactory senses.
DID YOU KNOW
The origin of the word "tea" comes from the trading days in the early 17th century when the Dutch played a primary role during the tea trade export. They borrowed the pronunciation of the word "tea" from the Chinese Min or Malay language ("te") and the pronunciation was subsequently adopted by the Europeans, including English (tea), French (thé), Spanish (té), and German (tee).
The true benefits of tea comes from drinking it daily with intention and pleasure.
Pleasure relieves stress, boosts creativity, strengthens the immune system and protects your heart.
The best tea for you is the one you enjoy the most. It is the tea that calls you first thing in the morning and throughout the day.
Yes, tea is good for our health. Each sips offers an opportunity to relax and enjoy the fascinating world of tea in all of its diversity and complexity. Drink and slurp tea!