Skip to main content

Tea-rrific Facts About Your Favorite Teas

Nothing is more relaxing than a cup of delicious, warm tea after a tiring day at school or the office. Next to water, tea is the most popular drink around the world.

But before you reach for that special brew, here’s something you should think about: do you know what particular type of tea you’re drinking?

The practice of drinking tea dates back thousands of years. Tea is a revered and valued beverage in Asian and Western civilizations. Today, numerous types of tea are sold in the market.

If you’re not very observant you might find yourself confused between these different varieties. Some teas are very mild, while others are very flavorful and may leave a strong, bitter aftertaste in your mouth. There are tea varieties that are caffeine-free. Some can help you stay up all night long.

woman drinking tea

So, which type of tea do you think will suit you best? To find out, you must familiarize yourself with the different types of tea.

Which of These Teas Have You Tried?

Teas differ in their flavor, benefits, and caffeine levels. Here are some of the most common types of tea today.
  • Black tea is the most famous of all tea varieties, and accounts for at least 75 percent of tea consumption worldwide. It has a bitter flavor and contains a good amount of caffeine – almost 40 milligrams per cup.

    Black tea is made when the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant is rolled, fermented, and then dried and crushed. It has high amounts of theaflavins and thearubigins, two types of antioxidants.

  • Oolong tea is very similar to black tea. The only difference is that it’s fermented for a shorter time, making it richer and more flavorful. There is at least 30 milligrams of caffeine in every cup of oolong tea.

  • Green tea has a gentler flavor than black tea and only has 25 milligrams of caffeine in every cup. It is made when the Camellia sinensis leaves are dried and heat-treated after they are picked. This stops the leaves from fermenting. Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins.

  • White tea is probably the mildest tea variety available today. It also contains only 15 milligrams of caffeine, the lowest amount in any tea. This is because white tea is made from tea leaves that are picked when they’re still very young.

  • Flavored teas are made from green, black, or white tea leaves. The only difference is that they are infused with aromatic flavors like lavender, cinnamon, ginger, and orange peel. When buying flavored tea, though, avoid the bottled varieties. Opt for the loose leaf or teabag types.

  • Herbal teas are also popular, but take note that these are not made from tea leaves. They are usually made from dried fruits and herbs. They are delicious and contain no caffeine.


mint-tea

Did You Know? You Can Also Make Tea from Flowers!

Although the most popular tea varieties are made from leaves, there are some delicious blends that may also come from the blossoms.

Hibiscus tea is one example. Made from the red flowers of the hibiscus plant that is widely popular in tropical countries, hibiscus tea is a traditional drink served in many places, such as Egypt.

It is served during wedding ceremonies and parties. In early times, it is even said to be the choice beverage of pharaohs.

Just like other tea varieties, hibiscus tea can be enjoyed hot or cold. Some say it tastes like cranberry juice.

hibiscus-flower

Tea may be an ancient drink, but it is loved by modern people. So, the next time you’re brewing a delicious cup of black, oolong, or hibiscus tea, make it a point to savor the drink. Show your appreciation with every sip!

About the Author

Mishka Thomas is a full-time mom, part-time freelance writer, and certified tea lover. She makes it a habit to drink at least one cup of tea per day. Her favorite tea varieties are Ceylon, oolong, chamomile, and hibiscus tea. Her family shares her passion, and they have collected various types of tea from all over the world. Aside from drinking tea, Mishka also loves to knit, cook, and bake. She also enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, trekking, and skiing with her close friends.
Image Credits: Public Domain Images, http://media.mercola.com/

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Highly Effective Indian Home remedies For Delayed Periods

Delayed periods or Irregular menstrual periods have become very common these days for a lot of women in their reproductive age and they suffer great agonies when their period does not come on time. A delay of 4-5 days may be fine but if it exceeds 8 days, then it's certainly a cause for concern. In this post, I'll be sharing highly effective Indian home remedies for your delayed periods . I'd been a long sufferer of irregular periods during my teenage to early twenties. I've tried most of the recipes here, along with Kapalabhati pranayama, yoga poses, mudras and other lifestyle habits. Now my periods are extremely regular like clockwork; not a day less or more than 28. When I look back, I'm surprised how I managed those years of anxiety and fear about my late periods. 

11 things you can do with olive oil

Besides lemon , milk , sugar , aloe , turmeric , sandalwood and honey , olive oil is another household item that has multifarious uses as a beauty aid. It is a mild, non-irritant, antibacterial oil that is rich in antioxidants; hence is ideal for the skin. Here are a few things that you could do with olive oil .

Home remedies for sleeplessness

The day dawns beautifully for those who have had a night of good sleep. But the same day drags on for those who have spent a disturbing, sleepless night. Sleep is a biological necessity even as eating and drinking are. Sufficient sleep renders a person normally sociable, lively and high-spirited. It’s a nature’s way of rejuvenating the person for the next day. Realize all this, and make sleep a physiological habit. The consequences of long time sleep deprivation can be very grave. Lack of sleep takes its toll on the skin and hair. It causes acne-breakouts and makes one look aged and haggard beyond years. Experts opine that during sleep as our metabolic rate falls, blood goes to those areas which need the most repairing. This also steps up the production of collagen and keratin, which aid the regeneration of skin cells and help resist premature ageing. So for a younger looking and a problem free skin you need to have a good quality of sleep every night.

Get rid of head lice with these home remedies

Lice infestation is such a bothersome, distracting and embarrassing problem. Surely everyone harbors them at one time or the other. It is usually common among school children but soon spreads to other members of the family. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a sign of poor hygiene, as lice are not fussy whether they lay their eggs in clean or dirty hair. But yes, a dirty scalp can well serve as a perfect breeding ground for these tiresome creatures. Lice get transferred easily from child to child owing to the close contact of heads, during play, while sitting together or by sharing caps. Though there are many chemical and herbal over-the-counter preparations to remove lice, it is better to refrain from using them for they might also remove a good bit of your hair, while others could have a drying effect on the hair.  There are many home-remedies which do work well but the age-old method of regular combing with a close-toothed comb on all counts, is the most eff...

Kapalabhati Pranayam for wrinkle-free, radiant complexion

Did you know that Kapalabhati Pranayam / kriya can also be used to enhance your beauty and ward off skin aging? Done the right way,  Kapalabhati Pranayam can be used as a beauty aid - it can give you a wrinkle-free, luminous forehead and radiant complexion. Kapalabhati For Beauty   ‘Kapalabhati’ Pranayam breathing exercise is an excellent way of maintaining good health and fighting diseases. ‘Kapala’ means ‘skull’ (and ‘forehead’ also) and ‘bhati’ means ‘shining’. By doing kapalabhati, the ‘nadis’(nerves) of the brain get good exercise. This is achieved by exercising the diaphragm. There will be a glow on the forehead. After the age of 25, the tell-tale signs of ageing start making their appearance in the form of fine lines on the forehead. A regular practice of Kapalabhati for 10-15 minutes everyday will give you a tight forehead sans wrinkles for many years to come. Avoid Botox, try Kapalabhati Why resort to Botox   and other expensive chemical or surgica...