Impressive Health Benefits Of Black Tea
Apart from water, black teas are the second most consumed beverage in the world.
Derived from Camellia Sinensis, black teas have similar properties to that of green and white tea.
Black Teas are also often blended with other plants such as English Breakfast and Earl Grey giving it a diverse flavor and aroma.
They are also known for their caffeine content as they contain more caffeine than their counterparts such as green or white tea. However, the caffeine content in black teas are far less compared to coffee.
Caffeine In Black Tea
Like other teas, black tea also contains caffeine. According to the USDA, a cup of hot brewed tea contains 48 mg of caffeine. It is important to note here that the amount of caffeine also depends on the brewing time and its processing. So the brand you buy may also make a difference. For comparison, the same amount of green tea contains 28.8 mg of caffeine. Coffee contains double the amount with an average brewed cup containing at least 96 mg of caffeine.
For a clearer comparison, read our article Caffeine In Tea And Coffee: Which Is Healthier. To get a better understanding of its effects, read Caffeine In Tea: Top 12 Surprising Facts.
May Relieve Asthma Symptoms
Asthma is caused due to inflammation and swelling of the airway or bronchial tubes. This makes inhaling and exhaling difficult. Anecdotal evidence suggests that drinking black tea or green teamay help relieve asthma symptoms. Certain studies have also proved that the caffeine in teas could help in lung function . The flavonoids in tea were also found to benefit those with asthma .
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Black Tea And Oral Health
There are many folk tales about tea, freshening the breath and cleansing the mouth. It turns out that they are true. Research has found that black tea may reduce oral cancers. Additionally, teas polyphenols and tannins kill and prevent the bacteria that cause tooth decay, and to drastically reduce the oral bacteria that cause bad breath .
How To Make Iced Tea That Lowers Your Blood Pressure
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Last year I did some research on the health benefits of tea for a project, and I was excited to learn that several types of tea are great for your blood pressure. Since then, Ive been experimenting with different brands and flavor blends, and I hit on an iced tea recipe that I really love. Its my sparkling hibiscus green iced tea.
This is a cold-brewed iced tea . Its packed with antioxidants that are great for your heart and can reduce your blood pressure.
Did you know, next to water, tea is the most popular beverage in the world? I have to admit, Ive always been more of a coffee lover. Tea used to be something that I only had when I was sick. I think its because back in the day, I only knew about black tea, and I couldnt get past the astringent feeling it leaves in your mouth. Im the same way about red wine.
It turns out that astringent feeling, which some people describe as a bitter, dry taste on your tongue or in your mouth, is exactly why tea is SO good for you. Its caused by tannins. They belong to a larger class of antioxidant compounds called polyphenols. All types of true tea are packed with polyphenols.
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What Is Black Tea
Black tea is made from the leaves of a bush called Camellia sinensis. It has caffeine as well as other stimulants and antioxidants. Lots of people in the U.S. drink it either hot or cold. It should always be steeped in hot water before it is cooled.
A process called oxidation turns the leaves from green to a dark brownish-black color. Oxidation means the leaves are exposed to moist, oxygen-rich air.
Tea manufacturers can control the amount of oxidation. Black tea is a fully oxidized tea. Green tea comes from the same plant, but is not oxidized.
Black tea extract is sometimes sold as an herbal supplement. Sometimes, the supplement includes other types of herbs, vitamins, or minerals.
Black Tea Infused Irish Porridge With Acai Berry
Ingredients
- cup full-fat coconut milk
- ¼ cup roasted, shelled pistachios
How To Prepare
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The Effect Of Black Tea On Brain
The caffeine in black tea has been shown to improve mental focus and concentration by promoting blood flow in the brain. Unlike drinks with higher levels of caffeine and other stimulants , the caffeine in black tea is less likely to over-stimulate the heart and cause other unpleasant side effects.
Caffeine aside, studies show that L-theanine balances the effects of caffeine in a unique way, helping you concentrate more fully on tasks and act in a focused but relaxed manner. Furthermore, studies show that 1 month of four cups of black tea a day reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol enough to boost your memory function, and some studies suggest that regular black tea consumption may prevent Parkinsons disease .
May Act As Natural Dyeing Agent
Anecdotal evidence shows that the reddish black tinge of black tea makes it an excellent natural hair dye . Mix henna with black tea and apply it all over your scalp and hair. Leave it on for 1-2 hours and wash off with a mild shampoo. You can see instant results.
These are the benefits of black tea. Most of them are still being researched. But you can include the tea in your regular routine. In the upcoming sections we will further discuss black tea.
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About This Tea That Lowers Your Blood Pressure
I still dont love hot tea. But I realized I love iced tea its so refreshing! Ive started making a pitcher of cold-brewed tea every week. I keep it in the refrigerator, and Ill usually pour a glass over ice, and then top it off with water throughout the day. Ive found it really helps me drink more fluid. And, along with the other lifestyle changes Ive made, it also helps lower my blood pressure.
Rather than worrying about whether Im drinking the best or healthiest tea, I put a blend of different teas, and other polyphenol-rich ingredients into my pitcher and let it brew on a sunny windowsill for a few hours. That way, Ive got a little bit of everything and a whole lot of healthy in each and every glass.
I like to make my tea fairly concentrated, so it holds up to a full cup of ice. I also realized if you add a splash of seltzer to your glass, it takes your iced tea to a whole new level of refreshing and delicious.
One important thing about tea: Try to buy organic whenever possible. Many teas are high in pesticides.
And heres a money-saving tip when youre buying green tea. Theres no need to spring for fancy designer brands. One of the most highly rated by the independent testing lab ConsumerLab, was Trader Joes Organic Green Tea. It had had significantly higher levels of the antioxidant EGCG compared to other brands.
What Is Probiotic Tea
Probiotic tea is any dietary supplement that contains tea and living bacteria or other microorganisms. It works by increasing the beneficial bacteria in your gut, or at least thats the theory behind it.
Commercial teas marketed as probiotic tea are a recent invention from mass-market tea corporations who have caught onto the popular wellness trend of using probiotic supplements to support gut health.
In essence, these teas amount to adding a single, industrially manufactured bacterial strain to normal herbal tea. And other than the novelty factor, they dont offer anything special that you couldnt obtain from taking regular probiotic capsules.
But if you know your tea history, youve already guessed that probiotic tea is anything but a recent invention.
As well cover in the next section, there are several traditional ways of making tea that not only result in multiple natural strains of beneficial microorganisms, but also transform tea itself in delicious and delightful ways in the bargain.
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Aids In Disease Prevention
Since black tea contains catechins at a high level, enrich with powerful antioxidants that will help you in preventing diseases such as heart and cancer. Furthermore, black tea contains complex flavonoids , which has polyphenols that may aid to prevent disease. Most of the doctors suggest consuming 600 mg of flavonoids per day to have a high range of health benefits.
How To Select And Store Black Tea
Selecting Black Tea
- The tea leaves should not contain any moisture.
- Choose tea with long leaves with silver or golden tips.
- Choose Chinese black tea for a lighter variant, and Darjeeling or Assam black tea for a stronger variant.
- The color of the brew must be bright and should smell great.
- Choose CTC black tea if you wish to have strong black tea with milk.
Storing Black Tea
- The best way to store black tea is to keep it away from moisture and air. Prevent overexposure to sun or temperature fluctuations.
- Store the tea in tin containers.
- To store black tea for a year, add it to a ziplock bag and put this bag into a tin. Place the tin in the refrigerator.
- You can also store black tea in a vacuum flask.
- Wrap a piece of charcoal in a cloth and put it into the tin containing the tea. It will help absorb the extra moisture.
- Store black tea in an earthen pot with a small bag of lime powder. This also helps absorb the extra moisture.
Now you know how to select and store black tea. But what is the right method to prepare it? Find out next.
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How Should I Store My Black Tea
Storing black tea is no different than storing all types of tea. Our tea tins are airtight, keeping out things tea doesnt like such as moisture, oxygen, absorbable odors, and light. Weve got all kinds of helpful tips for storing tea and keeping it fresh in our Does Tea Go Stale? blog post. When properly stored, black teas have a fairly long shelf life, certainly more so than some delicate green or white teas. In general, however, we recommend you drink your tea instead of keeping them tucked away in a tea cabinet theyre made for enjoying!
Bonus: Prebiotics In White Green And Black Tea
Prebiotics are special compounds that may help support a healthy gut microbiome by feeding beneficial bacteria strains.
Camellia sinensis tea contains several important types of prebiotics. Here are some examples:
Actually, polyphenols and other natural prebiotic molecules found in tea may be responsible for many of the health benefits of drinking tea thanks to their ability to support healthy gut bacteria.
And some gut health researchers even argue that prebiotics are more important to include in your diet than probiotics, so dont discount the value of obtaining prebiotics by drinking high-quality tea.
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How To Select And Store
- It is better to buy organic black tea bags or loose black tea leaves to avoid adulteration with chemicals.
- Choose Chinese black tea for light and Darjeeling black tea for strong flavor.
- Black tea is a wide classification and includes many different teas, such as Darjeeling, Ceylon, and Kenyan tea. The flavor of the tea changes accordingly. So, check the label before buying it.
- Store the leaves in a tin container. Keep them away from sunlight and moisture.
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Other studies have shown teas can help protect your teeth and your heart, as well as possibly even helping to stave off cancer. At the very least, drinking tea is a flavorful way of getting enough fluid into your body each day.
Which type you drink can make a difference. All non-herbal teas are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The amount of time the leaves are processed determines whether you end up with a green, black or oolong tea.
The green teas are the least processed and tend to have the highest amounts of polyphenols, and the only type that contain the polyphenol, catechin, which is why many studies have been done using only green teas. Certain herbal teas are known for their medicinal values, including soothing the digestive system.
Here are the top 10 health benefits of tea and some options for delicious teas to try:
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Black Tea Products For The Whole Family
When it comes to quality and black tea benefits crucial to the whole family, there is one brand that stands out among the rest – Red Rose. These innovative individuals have piled decades of experience, craftsmanship, and knowledge into one single goal providing regulated, high-quality as well as a wide variety of black tea products for the world to enjoy. The team at Red Rose knows the importance of providing people from all over access to genuine, authentic black tea that is rich with all the health benefits discussed in this article.
The problem with most mass-produced black tea products is that many crucial elements that make the tea so beneficial get lost in the production process by not being appropriately treated. This defeats the purpose of drinking black tea altogether since you won’t be receiving all the health benefits associated with black tea in the first place.
How To Brew Black Tea
You can steep the same black tea leaves 1-5 times. Pure Indian, African and Sri Lankan black teas are usually great for 1-2 infusions, Japanese and Korean for 1-3 and Chinese can give at least 3-5 great pots of tea. But, only if you use short steeping technique.
Boil water and let it cool down to 194-203 degrees. Some black teas like Darjeeling do not tolerate boiling water very well because they are not 100% oxidized. For western-style brewing use 1 teaspoon of tea leaves, 200 ml of water and infuse for 3-5 minutes. For eastern-style use at least 5-7 grams of tea per 120-150 ml of water, preheat the teapot and brew for 30-60 seconds, then repeat and increase the steeping time. Unlike green, white or oolong tea, almost all black tea go well with a bit of milk. Easterners, however, drink tea pure.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Its not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Every person is different and may react to different herbs and teas differently. Never use teas or herbs to treat serious medical conditions on your own. Always seek professional medical advice before choosing home remedies.
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Where can I find a good tea pot?
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May Promote Overall Mood
There is very limited research here. The antioxidants in black tea may fight stress. This could improve overall mood. The tea may regulate the levels of blood cholesterol and blood pressure. This may also have a positive effect on your mood.
Now, let us see how drinking black tea can be beneficial for your skin.
If You Drink Black Tea Daily You Might Lose Weight
One of the main reasons people reach for black tea in the morning is for its stimulant effect it helps folks wake up and get moving because of the caffeine in it. But that’s not all the caffeine in black tea does though, according to Hillary Cecere, a registered dietitian. “You may experience more energy and even a reduced appetite from the caffeine content found in black tea,” she told The List. “Caffeine acts as a short term stimulate which can provide positive effects on energy level, mood and alertness.”
Additionally, drinking a few cups of black tea on a daily basis might just help you shed any unwanted pounds, which is a nice side benefit. “It has also been shown to temporarily reduce appetite which can be beneficial to weight loss efforts,” Cecere continued. Of course, if you drink black tea and have a couple of doughnuts with that every morning, you might find yourself dealing with a different outcome. Donuts are definitely one of many breakfast foods you should avoid at all costs.
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For Some There Are Risks If They Drink Black Tea Every Day
For all of the helpful health benefits that choosing to drink black tea every day can provide, there are some risks associated with consuming the beverage, according to an article in Reader’s Digest. For one, catechins in black tea may impede your body’s ability to absorb iron from foods, as noted by Dr. Anthony Kouri, an orthopedic surgeon. “Though most healthy people will not be affected by this, those who have iron deficiency or anemia should abstain from large amounts of green tea,” he explained.
Additionally, drinking a lot of black tea every day might raise your risk of bleeding, as noted by plastic surgeon Michelle Lee, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon. “It makes you more prone to bruising,” she revealed. “I require all my patients to stop drinking tea two to three weeks before surgery.”
Finally, tea might have adverse reactions with some blood pressure and heart medications, so check with your doctor if it’s safe for you to drink.