The Best Teas To Drink For Your Health
Calling all Tea lovers! This blog post is for you!
Mint tea was always a staple in my house growing up and still is today. Anyone raised in a Caribbean household commonly experienced the healing properties of herbs on various occasions. The more I dived into health and wellness, the more I learned about herbs' healing properties, culture, tea origins, and the best way to enjoy a hot cup.
Most teas in your grocery store or health store are from China, Japan, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Africa, and Indonesia; they provide the best care and climate for the plant to thrive (Yates, 78,83). East Africa was the first region outside Asia to grow tea, with Kenya being the most prosperous (Yates, 83).
Tea bags are great, but with loose-leaf teas, you can measure and customize what is going on in your cup. In 1368, during Ming Dynasty, Yixing teapots were invented. (Yates, 64). The Yixing teapots were made from unique clay from the Yixing region in China and developed explicitly for steeping loose-leaf tea (Yates, 64). This technique is how the Western world discovered tea, and the method is still used (Yates,64).
There are many variations of teas with numerous benefits; some are great for the morning, night, or midday. Depending on the kind of tea, it may aid digestion relief, relaxation, or invigoration.
These common teas - green, black, oolong, and white- are all made from the Camellia sinensis or tea plant. This naturally caffeinated tea plant can be mixed, flavored, or scented. There are many categories of tea, and below are a few that you probably already drink and love.
Black Tea - A full-bodied and hearty flavor; most common in the U.S. - 90% of all tea consumed.
Green Tea: High antioxidant content and unoxidized leaves contribute to the light color and taste.
Oolong (Black Dragon): A cross between black and green tea with a soft fragrance and longer steeping time.
White Tea - least processed and harvested, primarily from mainland China with disease-fighting antioxidants.
Flavored Tea contains dried fruits and flowers infused with aromatic oils.
Some teas contain antioxidants that help fight naturally occurring free radicals that may eventually deplete the body (Yates, 61). A good quality tea leaf (Camellia sinensis) contains minerals, vitamins, caffeine, and polyphenols (Yates, 90). Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds found in most plants. They can fight off free radicals in the body (Yates, 90). Herbal Tea is technically not “tea" as it does not contain the tea plant Camellia sinensis leaves and does not contain caffeine. Leaves, flowers, roots, and other parts of the plants make up most herbal teas (Yates, 56).
Medicinal teas utilize herbs, vitamins, and minerals to provide specific health benefits (Yates,57). Teas with intended health benefits such as digestion aid, anxiety, sleep, or energy are considered medicinal/functional teas. For example, the traditional South American drink Yerba mate provides certain minerals and vitamins. Yerba Mate naturally contains caffeine - proponents of the plant may cause a mild stimulant for the central nervous system (Yates,58).
Popular herbal teas may contain some common herbs that are robust with flavor and health benefits. Herbs like lemon, ginger, chamomile, hibiscus, licorice root, and peppermint are common ingredients in your tea bag (or steeper).
Rooibos is a South African tea known for its deep red tone and bold taste that may help stomach and digestion problems (Yates,61). This shrub-like bush is caffeine free and contains many minerals like calcium, zinc, manganese, etc. Relative to rooibos, honeybush is slightly sweeter and includes properties that may aid in tumor and osteoporosis prevention (Yates,61).
Kava is another interesting twist on your average cup of tea. The Polynesian practice of grounding the root of a South Pacific Pepper Plant into a fine powder is best when enjoyed as a tea (Yates,62). Kava can stimulate the nervous system creating a chill but lightly intoxicating effect.
There are over six million tea acres around the world which can yield up to 6 billion pounds of tea leaves annually. There are over 10,000 species of herbs, and their uses and methods date back into history. The next time your feel spontaneous, think about this article and try a new tea! Research your area and find a kava bar or cafe with teas and herbal infusions. Try out local health shops as they tend to have information in the store, and the owners are usually knowledgeable. Happy Tea Journey, and enjoy a cup today!
References
Yates, J. (2005) Tales of a-- tea leaf: The Complete Guide to Tea Cuisine. Garden City Park, NY, NY: Square One Publishers.
Join the MindTribe if you have not already and get access to exclusive content such as cooking videos, exercise videos, tea and talks, and more.
Until Next Time,
