Tastes & Benefits Of All Tea In India

Tea is a trendy drink after water. For most Indians morning is incomplete without a cup of tea. It refreshes our mind due to its pleasant taste. There are varieties of tea with different appearance, taste and flavour. The standard plant for all the types of tea is Camellia Sinensis. Tea contains a beneficial antioxidant which fights against cancer and even some tea reduces the risks of heart diseases, diabetes and also promotes weight loss.

Teas can be produced by oxidation of tea leaves mainly in the CTC method.

CTC (Crush-Tear-Curl)-  In this process, the tea leaves are crushed by hand or machine with following steps of plucking, withering, rolling, oxidation/ fermentation and drying methods.

ALL TYPES OF TEA IN INDIA AND THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS

1. White Tea-  White tea is the healthiest and purest of all teas because it is least processed of all teas. It is produced by wilting and drying and manufactured in China. It is made from new buds and young leaves of the plant and has the highest content of antioxidants with least caffeine. The unopened buds gives the whitish appearance hence named as white tea. This loose leaf tea brews a light colour with subtle flavour and is best served as it is, unadulterated.

Health Benefits:

• White Tea is rich in antioxidants that protect the body from damage by free radicals and delays ageing.
• It contains Flavonoids, a class of antioxidants, which impedes the growth of cancerous cells.
• It lowers blood pressure and blood cholesterol, thus protects the heart.
• It guards against the common cold and flu and is known to accelerate metabolism, which helps in staying slimmer.

2. Green Tea-These are unoxidized green color leaves with grassy vegetable taste. It is also a less caffeinated tea which efficiently relieves stress. Green tea is manufactured in China and Japan. It is a pleasant tea with rich aromas of flowers and fruits. It is also used as a raw material for many beverages, healthy foods, diet supplements and even for cosmetics.

Health Benefits:

• It is rich in caffeine which increases the concentration and improves brain function.
• It is excellent for those who intend to lose weight.
• It lowers risk of various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease

3. Oolong Tea-It is a partially oxidized Chinese tea with green and black leaves. It is produced by the combination of withering and oxidation process followed by curling and twisting. The iced Oolong tea quenches our thirst during summer days easily. It can also be taken hot.

Health Benefits:

• It helps in reducing cholesterol, protects against cancer.
• Oolong Tea boosts your metabolism and helps you to lose some extra kilos.
• It improves digestion and stabilises blood sugar levels.
• It also prevents tooth decay and promotes healthy hair growth.

Also Read: 15 Ways To Lower Cholesterol

4. Black Tea- Black tea is the tea most of us grew up with. It is prepared by boiling black tea leaves in hot water till all the flavour of the leaves is dissolved in the water. It is caffeine-rich tea which induces our mental strength — the different types of black tea are-Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri. The varieties from China are-Yunnan and Keemun and Srilanka Ceylon black tea are famous. It can be taken as milk tea, alone or with iced tea. It can be preserved for several years. It can be served either with freshly squeezed lemon or with sugar & milk. One can add ginger or cardamom to enhance the taste.

Health Benefits:

• It enhances oral health and boosts our immunity.
• The phytochemicals found in the black tea helps in strengthening bones and relieves stress.
• It contains tannins which have a therapeutic effect on the gastric and intestinal tract.

5. Yellow Tea- It is one of the most luxurious and expensive teas available in the world which is produced by drying just like green tea. But in this tea, some damp tea leaves are exposed more for maturing into yellow color leaves. This is a yellow-green appearance tea with a different aroma.

Health Benefits:

• Promotes heart health.
• It contains many bioactive compounds that contribute to its anticancer effects.
• Yellow tea prevents the formation of fatty liver.
• It has polyphenols which help in treating many gastrointestinal issues.

6. Fermented or Pu-erh Tea- These are only aged tea with the active enzyme. These teas are produced by open-air oxidation, autooxidation and fermentation for several years and as for tea ferments, with age, it increases the flavour and taste of Tea. It is manufactured in China only. The two common Pu-erh teas are Qing Cha and Shu-Cha.

Health Benefits:

• High caffeine in Pu Erh tea can help to increase your energy levels and boosts concentration.
• Lower your risk of heart disease and reduce bad cholesterol.
• Pu-erh tea uses its oxidative properties to deliver increased levels of oxygen, which enhances circulation and blood flow.
• This tea helps in preventing illnesses such as the common cold and flu.

Also Read: Food Can Influence Concentration

6. Herbal teas: It is a tea without leaves of camellia plant.  It can be made of pure herbs, flowers and fruits and can be taken as both hot and ice tea.

• Rooibos- It is a red Caffeine-free tea derived from beans plant. It has many medicinal uses and comes in different flavours like other tea.
• Mate- It contains caffeine mateine and tastes like coffee. It is a vegetative tea with roasted mint flavour. It is a prevalent herbal tea of South America for everyday’s hectic schedule.
• Blooming- These are the flowering aromatic tea with attractive appearances given by tea artists with hand.
• Tea Blends-These is the blends of more than one tea with a good flavour.

Health Benefits:

• Tea boosts your immune system
• Herbal Tea reduces pain and soreness.
• It helps to prevent chronic diseases
• It stimulates brain function

7. Last one Indian Common Variety is Masala Tea- It is a famous black or green tea with spice. The common flavoring spices used in masala chai are- Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom and pepper. This masala chai is also prepared with milk.

Health Benefits: 

• Tea reduces our emotional stress, sickness and also enhances our immune system.
• It also helps to keep us warm.