From the Beginning

Ever since that day some 4,000 years ago, tea has been revered for its healing properties, as well as being a great beverage, hot or cold.  It was during the 3^rd century that word started spreading about all the benefits from herbal tea and even documents were written.  However, it would not be until 618 AD during China’s Tang Dynasty that this beverage became known as Chinese herbal tea, the country’s official drink.  At that time, tea was called ch’a.

From China, the popularity of exotic tea spread throughout the world, reaching Russia where it was popular in tea rooms, Japan, the beverage used in official tea ceremonies, and even to Britain where it was enjoyed and sold in quaint tea shops.  For several hundred years, people were introduced to the rejuvenating and soothing flavor and effects associated with tea in general.

Refreshing and Delicious

One of the biggest benefits of drinking different types of tea, such as white tea or the best green tea is the refreshing flavor.  When nothing is added, tea also offers no calories, great for a cold beverage without unwanted calories.  To give you an idea of what these special teas offer, if you were to add a slight amount of milk, four cups would provide 17% of the daily recommended dose for calcium, 22% of vitamin B2, and 5% of zinc, folic acid, and vitamins B1 and B6.

You will also find that many types of herbal tea are rich in potassium, great to maintain fluid needed in the body, as well as magnesium, which is required for proper development.  As you can see, Chinese herbal tea is truly an amazing beverage, one that everyone can enjoy thanks to the wide variety of choices.

Therefore, cutting down on calorie intake is the first step.  Obviously, you still need to eat enough food to provide the body with nutrition so you need to cut calories but without putting your body at risk.  A great way to burn calories is with exercise.  Just 30 minutes a day would boost metabolism so you lose weight.

For long-term increase of the body’s metabolic rate, lifting weights is an excellent option.  Remember that muscle uses a high amount of calories, even when not being used.  Therefore, to continually burn calories, it helps to increase muscle mass.

Increasing Metabolism

If you are working on dropping unwanted pounds, boosting your metabolism is essential.  Now, as mentioned, you want to reduce calorie intake but not too much.  The reason is that when you reduce calories significantly, the body automatically slows down and begins saving the calories as fat since it believes it is being starved.  In fact, the more you cut out calories the slower you will lose weight.

Instead, the key is losing weight is to reduce your calorie intake a little and then use exercise to burn additional calories.  Remember, exercise increases the body’s metabolic rate, which makes burning calories more efficient.

Losing Weight with Tea

Another secret that many people are still unaware of for losing weight is by drinking healthy tea.  Study after study show that some types of tea, such as Chinese Black tea increase metabolic rate.  Additionally, various forms of herbal tea eliminate the absorption of fat coming from your diet.

Reducing the amount of fat your body stores helps with weight loss and drinking tea accomplishes that.  In addition, this means cholesterol levels are also lowered.  After all, when triglycerides, which are a type of fat begins to increase, your cholesterol level would also increase.

However, the greatest quality tea has associated with weight loss is increasing metabolism.  It has been believed that drinking Chinese tea, green tea, loose white tea, oolong tea, and loose black tea helps with controlling weight.  While more studies are needed, it appears there is a direct correlation between the two.

Other benefits of drinking tea that have been identified include slowing down the aging process and preventing disease.  Because of this, a tremendous amount of research has gone into research specific to tea.

Beneficial Antioxidants

A number of studies show that Chinese green tea helps prevent cancer and heart disease.  The reason is that green tea is loaded with antioxidants, which are vital to good health.

Antioxidants fight free radicals, which are the result of a byproduct associated with the digestive system.  Carrying oxygen that contains molecules to the cellular structure of the body and DNA is what free radicals do.  However, if you were to eat a diet containing antioxidants, damage caused by free radicals would be eliminated.

Many plant sources contain antioxidants such as fresh fruits and vegetables and while beneficial, tea is by far the best way of getting antioxidants into the body.  This is why tea has become increasingly popular over the years.

Japanese Study

In Japan, the University of Tokushima conducted a study to determine the effect of tea on the way the body burns calories.  This particular study focused on men that were stopped from drinking tea containing caffeine and antioxidants for four days.

Prior to the study, the men were examined to determine the number of calories they typically burned on a daily basis.  Then, for a period of three days, these men ate a standard American diet.  In addition, four groups were created, each being given a different regime that includes:

1. Water
2. Water, with 270 milligrams of caffeine (similar to what tea contains)
3. Tea, at full strength
4. Tea, at half strength

The study then compared the men who drank water with those that drank the full strength tea.  The results showed an increase of energy expenditure of 2.9%.  However, men that drank the water containing caffeine saw an even greater increase of 3.4%.

Now, for the group of men that drank the full strength tea, fax oxidation was also increased, 12% more than men that drank only water.  Interestingly, fax oxidation at this level was not seen in the men that were given the water containing caffeine.

The study suggests that while caffeine can boost the body’s metabolism, it is not enough to help with weight loss.  However, tea, which contains caffeine, as well as antioxidants, shows a significant connection with weight loss.

We know that tea is a healthy beverage, which is why people all over the world drink it.  However, using tea to lose weight is not only effective but it is also safe.  Therefore, including tea as a part of your weight loss program would help you drop unwanted pounds faster.

Along with these two Asian countries, we also see other countries now growing white tea to include India and Sri Lanka.  The challenge is that while many people understand white tea grown in Asia, they are unfamiliar with this kind of tea coming from any other country.  However, as the popularity of white tea continues to expand, it will not be long before white tea from all countries is recognized.

Tea from Ceylon Sri Lanka

The colonial name of Sri Lanka is Ceylon, which is a country ranked as the third largest producer of tea.  While loose black tea is the most common type coming out of Sri Lanka because of the more than one million people living there that love it, we are now seeing new varieties produced.  Known as Ceylon tea, it accounts for almost 20% of tea consumed around the world.

In the highlands of Sri Lanka, tea has been grown for 4,000 years.  One of the things that make black tea from Sri Lanka different from Chinese black tea is that it can be harvested all year.  For white tea, this is grown near Adam’s Peak near the region of Nuwara Eliya, which is about high above sea level.

Flavor of Ceylon Tea

Another unique aspect of Ceylon tea, regardless of type is that the flavor is very distinct from tea grown in Asia and India.  For one thing, Ceylon tea has a mild flavor and aroma.  Then for white tea grown in Ceylon, the color is also unique, being more of a gold or copper color and the flavor has a hint of pine and honey.

The harvesting process of Ceylon white tea involves all of the leaves being hand rolled.  This process includes the leaves being laid out to dry and wither in direct sunlight.  Keep in mind that while this type of exotic tea is grown in Ceylon, only a very small part of the country is involved, which makes it rare and expensive.  Unlike other countries where white tea is produced in mass quantities, it is farmed very little in Ceylon, making it the costliest of all white tea grown.

Tea from Darjeeling India

In the northeast part of Indian is a region called Darjeeling, which is situated in the Himalayas foothills sitting in between Bhutan, Nepal, and Sikkim.  Of all places in the world that produces tea, Darjeeling is one of the best known, producing tea with a wonderful and distinct flavor.  With more than 80 tea gardens spread out, approximately 52,000 people from Nepal work the fields and an additional 15,000 help plucking in the spring part-time.

Teas produced in Darjeeling are often referred to as “Champagne of Teas” because the flavor is so different from other types of exotic tea.  With the cool and moist climate of this region, the rich, fertile soil, heavy rainfall, and gently sloping hills, these gardens produce some of the most distinct, healthy tea in the world.

If you have ever had a cup of black tea from Darjeeling but were unimpressed, chances are the tea was labeled as being from this part of the world but a blend and not solely black tea leaves.  Today, some 10,000 pounds of Darjeeling tea is produced but tea sold with labels of Darjeeling tea account for about 40,000 pounds.  Therefore, when you purchase this type of tea, make sure you pay close attention to the label so you know exactly what you are buying.

When looking at black tea from this region versus white tea, you will find that white tea is rarer.  The flavor is delicate and mild, and with a hint of sweetness.  When brewed, Darjeeling white tea turns a light gold color.  Keep in mind that this type of tea is not as compacted as other loose leaf tea so to make a cup, you would need more leaves but without causing the strength to be greater.

Interestingly, most people that love black tea from this region also love the white tea, finding that when compared to white tea from other parts of the world, it has more body and flavor.

You can sample Darjeeling white tea to see for yourself, which is recommended.  We recommend the first tea you try is Darjeeling White tips, which is slightly sweet and delicious.  Do not be discouraged if you have tried white tea from other parts of the world only to feel the flavor is lacking because with Darjeeling tea, you get something completely different.

Value of Ceylon and India Tea

Unfortunately, herbal tea from Ceylon and India is overlooked because many people still believe they can only purchase white tea from Asia.  The truth is that while all white tea is amazing, tea that comes from Ceylon and India is believed to be among the best.  Therefore, as you begin looking to buy tea online, try samples from several different regions to include Ceylon and Darjeeling so you can experience this type of tea to the fullest.

The bold flavor and aroma are different from green tea, making it a fresh new choice loved by millions of people.

Preparing Black Tea

For loose black tea, leaves are plucked from the Camellia sinensis plant and then allowed to dry.  Once completely dry, the leaves are rolled up and fermented.  Then in about two hours, the leaves are heated to make sure all the moisture has been extracted.  Keep in mind that the quality of Chinese black tea or black tea from any other country depends on various factors.

Some of the factors important to the quality of black tea include origin, growing conditions, and the expertise of the workers and management team overseeing the tea garden.  This means that for a tea garden to be successful, producing fine herbal tea, the soil, temperature, and moisture, along with management all play a vital role.

The best growing conditions for quality black tea is regions with altitudes between 3,000 and 7,000 feet above sea level.  While tea grows slower when at a high altitude, the flavor is much better.  For instance, in Sri Lanka Uva’s region and India’s Darjeeling region of 6,000 feet, tea gardens do quite well.  Additionally, black tea does best in dry conditions although some moisture is needed for the plant to produce healthy leaves.

Varieties of Black Tea

The great thing about black tea is that you have so many wonderful varieties to choose from, all delicious and unique.  One option is called Honey Pear, which has a fruity flavor from the pear tree coupled with honey.  Because of this, Honey Pear is a favorite choice that can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Nepalese Afternoon Tea is another type of loose black tea, which grows in Nepal at the base of Mount Everest.  This variety is a wonderful blend of sandalwood, honey, and lotus, making it simply delicious.

Pu-er is yet another type of black tea grown in Asia.  Its earthy and sweet flavor is heavenly, a variety that people all over the world love.

Outstanding Flavor of Black Tea

Without doubt, the distinct flavor of black tea varieties is what makes this type of tea so popular.  Black tea can be processed to produce both caffeinated and decaffeinated forms, both exceptional in flavor and aroma.  Now, some people state that black tea takes time to acquire a taste but once you find a variety you like, you will be hooked for life.

Medicinal Properties

In addition to flavor, black tea also provides a number of medicinal properties such as improved airflow to the lungs, which means people with bronchitis and asthma would benefit.  In fact, the polyphenols found in black tea are antioxidants, which have been shown to prevent and support treatment for various types of cancer.

New studies are showing that black tea can also prevent things such as heart attack and cavities.  Then, some studies indicate that memory is improved, as well as level of alertness.  Even being able to prevent osteoporosis from drinking black tea is on the table and results of studies done are promising.

Black Tea – Safe and Delicious

Remember that herbs and supplements are not monitored by the Food and Drug Administration.  For this reason, before you start drinking any type of tea on a daily basis, especially a heavier tea such as black tea, you should first talk to your doctor.

If you have any type of reaction or allergy to tannin or caffeine, then you might skip black tea to avoid the development of hives or rash.  This type of tea can also produce more urine, lower potassium, and sodium levels in the body, and make existing problems of incontinence worse.

Of course, in some people, caffeine of black tea can increase stomach acid, which could result in increased sugar levels in the blood and ulcers.  For that reason, people with diabetes should avoid black tea unless given permission from the doctor.  Even people with liver disease should avoid black tea, choosing green tea or white tea, which are lighter and have little caffeine.

To buy black tea of any variety, you will find that most tea companies carry everything you want.  Remember, once you acquire a taste for this type of tea, you will likely make it your favorite drink.  As you drink black tea daily, all the benefits will be enjoyed even more.

Even fussy tea drinkers that have tried quality black tea are amazed at the rich flavor.  Many people refer to black tea as the “beverage of champions” and for good reason.  Not only is the deep flavor wonderful but you also enjoy all the health benefits.

Starting your Day

One of the best ways you start your day is with a hot cup of herbal tea.  This helps clear the mind and prepare the body for the busy day ahead.  In fact, many people feel they cannot accomplish much without having their cup of tea with breakfast.

As with anything, the higher the quality of tea the more wonderful the experience will be.

Enhancing the Experience

Okay, so what is the best way to experience tea at its finest?

Most importantly, find a type of tea that you enjoy.  This might be something like Chinese green tea, Jasmine tea, loose black tea, genmaicha tea, or some other type of exotic tea.  Keep in mind that while thousands of varieties exist, they are all extensions of four primary types that come from the same plant called Camellia sinensis.  The four basic types of tea include green tea, black tea, white tea, and oolong tea.

Tea is grown throughout the world, although a large volume comes from China.  However, the geographical location, as well as the way the tea is grown, plucked, dried, and processed determines the final product.  Therefore, you may need to try several types of tea before narrowing your choices down to a few that you love.

Once you have found quality tea that leaves you feeling warm inside, you will find each cup brings satisfaction.  Of course, expect to pay a little more for the higher quality tea but it is well worth the price.  However, even high quality tea is not considered expensive.

Quality Tea Benefits

What type of benefits would you get from drinking high quality tea?

The first thing you would notice is flavor.  When looking at high quality, fresh tea from store bought tea bags, there is simply no comparison.

Additionally, the tea you choose should provide some type of tea benefit.  Quality tea from fresh leaves helps by fighting off free radicals that do damage to the cellular level of the body, reduces stress, and promotes overall good health.

You will also find that high quality tea would quickly become a natural part of your daily regimen.  As you taste the wonderful flavor, smell the aroma, and enjoy the medicinal benefits, you will want to consume two to four cups daily.

Without doubt, tea is versatile.  This one beverage is delicious served hot or cold and in fact, tea can be used for cooking.  In fact, if you were to look online, you would be shocked at the hundreds of recipes available that include tea as an ingredient.

To enjoy the greatest benefits and flavor, you want to choose only loose leaf tea.  The flavor is much better and often, if the leaves are kept moist, they can be used four or five times to produce a perfect cup of tea.

Ensuring Quality

To ensure you have the most amazing experience while sipping on tea, remember, always purchase high quality loose leaf, and make sure the tea is properly prepared.  You will find the best tea from tea companies, locally or online.  These specialty companies sell nothing but tea and tea products so they can assist you in choosing.  The important thing is to purchase your tea only from guarantees that each shipment of tea received from its country of origin is carefully inspected and tasted.  This type of quality control is imperative.

When looking to buy tea online or locally, the following should be considered:

Tea Garden – Geographic Location and Reputation

Environment – Factors such as Humidity and Temperature

Plucking – Time of Year Tea is Plucked

Processing – Quality and Method of Processing Tea

Flavoring – Recipe and Method of Blending and Flavoring Tea

As long as the tea company you buy from tests each shipment received, you would have greater confidence that the quality would be consistent.

Quality Preparation

Just as you need to purchase only the finest tea, the method of making the tea is just as important.  Some people think of this as a type of science but in fact, it is more of an art, something you can learn.  For starters, always use bottled watered, which could be purified or mineral.  Then, you never want to brew the tea longer than four minutes, especially green tea.  The reason is that tea that brews longer becomes bitter because tannic acid is released in greater quantity.  Finally, always enjoy your tea in a gorgeous cup or use your finest tea set when entertaining friends.

Distribution Chain for Tea

As with any type of food distributed within the United States, tea is moved through three primary channels that include:

Retail

Wholesale

Distributors

Buying Tea through Retail

Purchasing healthy tea, flowering tea, or herbal tea via retail means the tea is delivered directly to the consumer and without third party involvement.  Typically, retail includes the higher end supermarkets, health food stores, gourmet markets, and specialty tea shops.  In all cases, the consumer chooses the type of tea wanted and then makes the purchase.

Other types of retail through which tea can be purchased include the e-commerce shopping, which includes tea companies online, as well as mail order.  While mail order has been a popular venue, more and more people prefer to buy tea online simply because it offers much more variety, nationally and internationally, and this type of shopping is private and convenient.

Buying Tea through Wholesale

In this case, the supplier would sell to his or her customers, which would be hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and other entities that resell tea to consumers.  Value added is done by the supplier’s customer, which occurs in several ways to include:

Creation an environment where the consumer can relax and unwind while enjoying tea as a peaceful experience

Offering consumers food items such as fresh fruit, sandwiches, soups, and desserts specifically to complement the type of tea being served

Serving tea after dining in a four or five-star eating establishment

Providing the consumer with a glass of cold, ice tea, great for cooling off on a hot afternoon

Serving hot or cold tea to guests of a hotel associated with a special event being hosted

Buying Tea through Distributors

While distributors are another channel through which tea would be moved, they have different responsibilities than the wholesaler does.  For instance, distributors would be responsible for stocking inventory and providing account executives with product that provide service to large resellers, which would include convenience stores, grocery stores, drug stores, etc

Typically, distributors would create and implement a comprehensive support system whereby their customers are offered a convenient, easy, and efficient means or ordering and having the tea shipped to them.

Wholesaler Value Added

The primary goal and responsibility of the wholesaler that works with loose leaf tea is to make sure the consumer ends up having an amazing experience.  When handled properly, this value is unrivaled for everyone involved.  Look at tea rooms, which are designed with a certain atmosphere and furnishings so people can relax and enjoy the best green tea, Chai green tea, Chinese black tea, or other variety.

These rooms are warm and inviting, they have low music playing in the background, and soft lighting to enhance the experience.  Then, serving the guests appetizers or finger foods makes the occasion even more enjoyable.  With this scenario, guests of the tea room enjoy the delicious flavor of the loose leaf tea chosen, as well as the ambience, which is where the value is added.

Another example would be having dinner in a fine establishment, one with a meal created by a master chef, a beautiful interior, and outstanding service followed with a cup of infused loose leaf tea.  Having a cup of gunpowder green tea, Jasmine Star tea, or Chinese white tea would provide the perfect ending to an amazing meal.  Of course, the quality of the tea, to include the quality and temperature of the water are imperative to ensure guests are being served the finest.

A tall glass of ice tea is also a great way to add value.  Someone driving across several states on vacation during the summertime would appreciate stopping for a delicious and refreshing beverage.  However, the quality of the tea in this case is also just as important.  To make sure every consumer is being offered high quality tea, the wholesaler plays a vital role.

More and more, people in the US that drink tea are becoming aware of high quality versus poor quality tea.  With such growing demand, wholesale suppliers realize they have an important job to do in finding quality tea and then going through quality control measures to make sure they provide their customers with the best available.  The wholesaler that provides tea to restaurants understands that most people want delicious, loose leaf tea to complement the meal.

In addition to tea being served in loose leaf form but with natural flavor, a growing trend is for tea to be flavored.  With this, it is common to see coconut tea, mint tea, or even Earl Grey tea, which is flavored with Bergamot oil that produces a citrus/smoky flavor.  People need to remember that while all of this adds value, the presentation of the tea is just as vital to the overall experience as the quality of the loose leaf tea.

Growing Popularity

While herbal tea has long been enjoyed in Asian countries for thousands of years, it is becoming more and more popular in other parts of the world.  Interestingly, second only to water, tea is the beverage most consumed.  Typically, you would find that tea is categorized as green tea, black tea, and herbal tea.  Both loose leaf green tea and loose leaf black tea are made from leaves whereas herbal tea is actually processed much the same way medication is made.  To create unique flavors, herbal teas are often infused with dried fruits, flowers, and spices.

Experts estimate that more than 50% of the population of the world drinks at least one cup of tea daily instead of water.  In addition to soothing aromas, herbal tea is known for its healthy qualities.

Brewing Loose Leaf Tea

Asian people discovered centuries ago the proper method of brewing tea, which involved brewing only a few minutes so medicinal properties would not be altered.  In addition, short brewing times have been shown to produce the best flavor and fragrance.

In fact, the way in which healthy tea is brewed plays a critical role into the quality of flavor.  For instance, a study was conducted in China on one of the most reputable tea gardens on earth, which involved people drinking black or green tea every day for six months.  The results showed that risk of gastronomic diseases and various forms of cancer were greatly reduced.  This study also showed that drinking tea daily could lower cholesterol levels, reduce high blood pressure, and even prevent heart disease due to containing an antioxidant called flavonoid.

To reduce risk of oral cancer tea should be served at precise temperatures.  Even adding cream or milk to tea can have an effect on the power of antioxidants so it is generally suggested that only fresh lemon, sugar, or honey should be used to enhance flavor of tea.

In the northern region of Taiwan, it is common to see large tea plantations that produce wonderful varieties of tea that is widely distributed.  In fact, if you were to visit a teashop in Taiwan, you would be greeted with a free cup of tea whenever coffee was ordered to lower acidity.  With this, the digestive tract could process food better.  Then, tea with lower caffeine levels, such as Chinese white tea and Chinese green tea contain antibiotics called tannins.  Many types of tea also contain theophylline and theobromine, which support proper blood circulation and reduce congestion of the lungs.

While sipping on special teas daily is important to good health, you also want to be careful not to drink too much, especially full-bodied tea.  With this, you would be consuming too high a level of tannins, which lowers properties of vitamin B or compress the kidneys or heart.

Brewing Herbal Tea

Most types of herbal tea are brewed the same way as loose leaf varieties to maintain flavor, aroma, and health benefits.  Most experts agree that drinking one cup of herbal tea is much different from drinking one cup of loose leaf tea.  Just as the name implies, herbal tea is known for its medicinal properties, making this a healthy beverage that would be a much better choice over coffee.

Of course, to determine the level of healthy properties herbal tea contains, it would be important to know how many herbs were used.  With this, you would also learn of any potential side effects if consumed too much.  If a cup a day is enjoyed for the flavor and fragrance this would likely not be a concern but when too much herbal tea is consumed, there could be risks.  Then, anyone with allergies or sensitivity to herbs should be cautious.

Experiences of Drinking Herbal Tea

The most important thing about drinking herbal tea is to research the types of herbs used and the quantity prior to consuming it.  Since every herb has different benefits and potential side effects, you need to know what you are putting in your body.  Usually, for drinking tea, herbal varieties are separated into three groups.

The first group is simply herbal tea that would be enjoyed on occasion based solely on the flavor and aroma.  When tea is consumed like this, concern of side effects is not an issue.  In other words, when herbal tea is enjoyed as a casual beverage, then you would simply be sipping on a wonderful cup of tea.  Some of the better options for occasional use include Ginger, Matoom, Krajiab, and Bai Bua Bok.  Even flowering tea would fall in this group such as tea made from Boa Mali, Bunnag, Pigul, and Sarapee.

The second group would be herbal tea used only for mild afflictions.  Examples of tea for this group would include Rangjued, Dok Kumphoi, Nuad Maew Grass, and Dok Khao.  For this second group, you would have no problem having a cup of tea with breakfast and then again prior to going to bed.  Some of the health conditions that tea in this second group would benefit include fever reduction, food poisoning, and bile duct stones.

For this second group, Dok Kaho is exceptional in easing stomachaches or even reducing a fever and cough.  For this, you would simply sip on three cups daily and then as you begin to recover, reduce intake.

Then, Dok Kumphoi is also in this second group, which works as a natural laxative, one that is very mild.  Other benefits include improving blood flow, supporting a healthy heart, and even easing pain associated with menstruation.  One important note is that pregnant women should never drink herbal tea made from this herb in that it could be extremely dangerous to both mom and growing fetus.

The third group for herbal tea would be tea varieties used for more serious illnesses.  Common teas include Makhamkaek and Chumhedted, which work as an effective laxative.  For people that have chronic constipation to the point of being dangerous due to building toxins in the body, herbal teas used for this type of purpose would be more intense.

Herbal tea has been used for treating all types of illnesses and diseases dating back to ancient Eastern cultures.  This knowledge spread around the world and today, most people know about the benefits of using herbal tea.  When you look at all the advantages of drinking herbal tea for various health issues, it is easy to see that depending on soft drinks, caffeine laden coffee, and other beverages made from artificial flavors and colorings is harmful to the body.

Infusing Herbal Tea

To make herbal tea, all the ingredients are cut into thin strips, which are then dried outside.  Sometimes, workers will roast the ingredients, which gives the tea an earthy flavor.  From there, boiling water is added to the ingredients, which are set aside and allowed to steep for about 15 minutes.

Distinct Flavor

Without doubt, black tea has a distinct flavor unlike any other type of tea.  While green tea is light, black tea is rich and full-bodied, giving you a new experience.  Now, when you purchase Chinese black tea, you will find the flavor more spicy and sweet.  In fact, some types of loose black tea features a floral and chocolate flavor.

Of course, as with loose green tea, loose black tea, loose white tea, and loose oolong tea all come from the Camellia sinensis plant but the way the leaves and buds are prepared is what distinguishes each.  For instance, oolong tea is only partially fermented whereas black tea is completely fermented.  You will also find that herbal tea can be made by using other parts of different plants such as bark, stems, flowers, and seeds.  Regardless, they all have healing properties.

Healthy Black Tea

We have all heard about the incredible health benefits associated with green tea because of intense studies over the past few years.  However, black tea is also being studied and reports are promising.

With Chinese green tea, epigallocatechin gallate is an ingredient, which is a powerful antioxidant.  However, green tea is not fermented and this process changes this ingredient into other compounds.  Therefore, black tea may not have the same high level of antioxidants so the health benefits might not be as great as green tea but still very real.

Now, several studies done recently are showing new findings for black tea.  As an example, thearubigens and theaflavin give black tea its dark color and rich flavor but we now know these are also antidotes for a wide range of illnesses.

Important Information about Black Tea

One study in particular was conducted by the Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and the Environment and the results were impressive.  With this, the study showed that drinking black tea could reduce risk stroke.  The study consisted of 550 men over a 15-year timeframe had lower levels of cholesterol because of the flavonoids than man that did not consume black tea.  Obviously, high cholesterol leads to heart disease and in some cases, heart attack, and stroke.  Therefore, drinking three to four cups of quality black tea daily can have substantial health benefits.

Another study was conducted at the School of Medicine in Boston and it found that abnormal function of blood vessels that cause heart attack or stroke were actually improved by drinking black tea.  In fact, a single cup of tea improved these blood vessels in just two hours.

In Saudi Arabia, a study of 3,000 adults was performed, showing that consumption of black tea lowered risk of coronary heart disease by as much as 50%.  For this reason, people in this country drink more black tea than green tea or any other type of tea.

Tea that comes from the Camellia sinensis plant contains polyphenols, which are high-powered antioxidants.  When comparing levels of antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables, green and black tea varieties had ten times more.

Look at Asian people, those that drink tea on a daily basis.  They are of appropriate weight and extremely healthy, actually living long lives.  Research has been done on both Chinese and Japanese people that consume tea and incidence of heart disease is much lower than anywhere in the world.  Even people in westernized countries that drink tea are sown to have lower cases of cancer.

While more research needs to be done to understand all the benefits of tea fully, especially black tea, we know that so far, results are incredible.  One expert with the Linus Pauling Institute was quoted in publications as saying, “Although numerous observational studies have examined the relationships between tea consumption and risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer, there is not conclusive evidence that high intakes of tea are protective in humans.”

The Bottom Line

While more research is needed, and not all tea contains the same level of healing properties, we do know that green tea and black tea are the two best options.  For exotic tea with full flavor, then you definitely want black tea.  With research now showing that health benefits of black tea are as great as those found in green tea, it certainly does not hurt to add tea to your daily regimen.

Who Drank the World’s First Tea

China is known for their colorful stories, legends that are shared and passed down for generations.  One legend has to do with herbal tea, specific to the person that first enjoyed its wonderful flavor.  This legend involves the Emperor, Shen Nung (Shennong) who was also a farmer, scholar, and herbalist.

When it came to science, Shen Nung knew a lot, especially for that period of life.  For instance, Nung strongly believed that to purify drinking water, it had to first be boiled.  The legend goes on that in 2737 BC, he was walking around the edge of the forest while his servants built a fire to boil water but the wind whipped up, causing a leaf from the Camellia sinensis plant to fall in.

As the leaves and twigs steeped in the water, they all began to boil.  Becoming increasingly curious about the water changing color and the aroma being produced, Nung left them to steep.  While the legend is that Chinese herbal tea was developed by accident, from that day forward, exotic tea soon became popular in other countries.

The Other Legend of Tea

While the first story is the one that most people believe, another version is that Wan Tu, a very evil man was actually the person to make the discovery.  In this story, he had been banned to the southern region of China primarily because of his horrific disposition.  Upon arrival, Wan Tu was boiling water only to have a problem with leaves falling into the pot.  However, after sipping on the tea, he found it enjoyable and relaxing, which resulted in his evilness being replaced with kindness.

Is Instant Tea Any Good

You will discover that a third legend about healthy tea from China involved Buddhism.  In this case, an Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma, who founded Zen Buddhism, took at trip into China.  While on his trip, he became angry due to struggling to stay away while meditating.  He was so angry that the story says he cut his eyelids off and tossed them onto the ground.  At that time, the eyelids fell into the Camellia sinensis plant, which was the beginning of instant tea.  No matter the story you believe, today you can purchase hundreds of options through reputable tea companies.

All over the world, consumption of coffee and tea is a shared tradition.  In fact, within the United States, it is common for a fresh pot of coffee or tea to be put on whenever a friend or family member stops by the house.  Of course, during the hotter months of summer, coffee and tea can be served cold and if you look at your local grocery store, you will see that flavored iced coffee and tea is a popular product.

Caffeine of Coffee and Tea

Both coffee and tea contain some degree of caffeine, which is a natural stimulant.  Therefore, it is important to drink these beverages when not getting ready for bed or you could choose a decaffeinated product or even no-caffeine tea, such as green tea, which is processed in a unique way.  The only negative aspect of decaffeinated coffee or tea is that because of the process involved, some of the delicious flavor is eliminated.  For this reason, you want to purchase only the best coffee and best green tea or other tea variety when choosing a decaffeinated product.

Of course, for anyone with high blood pressure, drinking coffee or tea should be avoided.  In addition, many people will not drink coffee at all or after 2:00 in the afternoon because it keeps them awake at night.  Sure, if you do not sleep well or you are sensitive to stimulates such as caffeine, then you definitely want to avoid it.  However, you could search any number of reputable tea companies and purchase green tea, which has no caffeine, or oolong, which has low caffeine.

Remember, coffee comes in decaffeinated products and today, they are much more flavorful than 10 years ago.  For something extra special, you could purchase flavored coffee or tea, which is sold at any grocery store.  These products are delicious but also a little more expensive.

When you look at caffeine levels of coffee and tea, you would find that they actually contain about the same amount.  Even so, coffee is typically associated with caffeine more than tea is.  Then, even with caffeine, coffee and tea are used for relaxation.  If you find that coffee and tea are simply not helpful when trying to unwind at night, then you might consider a glass of wine, which is calming.

Rituals for Drinking Coffee and Tea

Most people have some type of schedule or ritual when it comes to drinking coffee or tea.  As an example, some people prefer a dark, bold coffee or even shot of espresso first thing in the morning to get the date started.  Even filling the home with an aroma of coffee is magical.  At lunch, some people love sitting down and relaxing with a good cup of loose black tea or loose white tea, based on personal preference.

Of course, during cold winter months, one of the favorite of all tea varieties is Chai green tea.  This type of tea is spicy but also very refreshing.  Some people drink it black while other people prefer a little bit of cream or milk, both delicious.  To finish the day after arriving home, something like Jasmine Flower Tea or an exotic tea is ideal.