Presently feeling bloated? There’s a tea for that. Can’t shake your stress? There’s a tea for that. Craving a lift of power? There’s a tea for that. Want immune help? There’s a tea for that. Have a sore throat? There’s a tea for that. Desire a new morning ritual? There’s a tea for that. We’ll halt there. So, sure, there’s a tea (or many) for each event or ailment. Suffice to say, we’re tea enthusiasts. At this time, we’re deep diving into all issues black tea. Particularly, is black tea good for you, the advantages of black tea, and learn how to supercharge your cuppa.
Featured picture by Riley Reed.
What is black tea?
You probably know it as English Breakfast, Early Grey, sweet tea, or iced tea. The one thing they all have in common? They’re made using black tea. Red tea—or black tea as many of us know it—is the most widely consumed type of tea in the West. (More on its origins, below.) Frequently consumed with dairy and sugar, black tea leaves are the most heavily oxidized of all the tea types. Meaning, black tea generally has the highest levels of tannins, caffeine (a classic pick-me-up!), and a robust taste.
Black Tea: A Historical past Lesson
Black tea hails again to the Qing dynasty. Come 1610, the Dutch introduced it to Europe. Demand for tea leaped within the 1700s, as England expanded sugar imports. By 1800, the English have been yearly consuming nearly three kilos of tea—and 17 kilos of sugar—per capita. Because of sugar, the marketplace for sturdy black tea spiked. By 1911, black tea grew to become the preferred tea despatched to Europe and America. Keemun (Qimen) black tea is one in all Europe’s most well-known black teas. Enjoyable truth: this tea is called the “Queen of Black Tea” and is a favourite of the British royal household.
How is black tea processed?
Imagine it or not, all tea comes from the identical plant. From oolong to black tea, all caffeinated varieties hail from the Camellia sinensis plant. So, what makes black tea totally different from other tea types? The way it’s processed. Black tea leaves totally (or principally) oxidize earlier than they’re heat-processed and dried. As they’re being oxidized, oxygen interacts with the tea plant’s cell partitions. This turns the leaves a darkish, wealthy coloration—partially, what black tea is legendary for. Oxidation additionally alters the flavour profile of the tea. Good day, malty, fruity, and even smoky notes in your mug of black tea.
Orthodox Vs. Non-Orthodox Black Tea
Black teas are typically produced using one of two methods: orthodox and non-orthodox. Whatever the manufacturing methodology, black teas are at all times graded and sorted. Sorting them for uniformity is essential—in flip, the flavour of the tea stays uniform, cup to cup.
Orthodox Processing
This methodology was initially developed by the Chinese language. It strives to protect the integrity of the leaf—whether or not by hand or by machine. A single batch of black tea is accomplished inside a day utilizing this methodology.
Non-Orthodox Processing
This methodology use machines to crush leaves into small items in a timesaving, high-efficiency method. These items simply match into business tea luggage, in contrast to its orthodox counterparts. A single batch of black tea could be accomplished in only a couple hours.
Black Tea Naming Conventions
Before we answer the question—is black tea good for you?—let’s talk naming conventions. What most of us call “black tea” is known in China as “red tea” (hong cha). This is based on the reddish color of the brew. However, the South African tisane rooibos is also known as “purple tea” as nicely. So as to add extra confusion to the kettle: there’s one other form of Chinese language tea referred to as “black tea” (hei cha). Within the curiosity of retaining issues easy, under are three black tea naming conventions.
Black tea: Refers to tea that usually has a daring taste, darkish coloration, and excessive tannin content material resulting from full oxidation of the leaf earlier than firing. That is probably the most extensively consumed tea in America and Europe.
Darkish tea: Refers to a class of teas traditionally produced in China which have gone by way of a secondary fermentation course of. Shou/ripe pu-erh is probably the most well-known darkish tea.
Pink tea: Refers to rooibos or honeybush, that are grown in South Africa. They’re antioxidant-rich, caffeine-free natural infusions.
What is the best way to store black tea?
Black tea can be stored for long periods and improves with age. However, caffeine levels tend to diminish naturally over time. Choose a porcelain or glass container placed on a shelf in your pantry. The extra hermetic the container, the higher, as tea simply absorbs odors.
Energy Up Your Black Tea With These Superfoods
Although black tea has much less caffeine than espresso, it brings lots of different essential compounds to the desk, like L-theanine—an amino acid identified to calm the thoughts. Wish to get much more bang on your buck? Take into account including these superfoods to your mug of black tea.
1. Ghee
For mind meals and anti inflammatory properties, swirl in a spoonful of ghee—grass-fed, if potential! Ghee is clarified butter, which means it has minimal lactose (which generally triggers a dairy allergy). It’s wealthy in blood sugar-friendly fatty acids and vitamin Okay. It is a scrumptious substitute for creamer.
2. Coconut Oil
As a substitute of ghee, go for coconut oil. Coconut oil incorporates a kind of saturated fats that’s simply digested and transformed to power. Latest research counsel that coconut oil improves reminiscence, power ranges, and digestion.
3. Grass-Fed Collagen
Collagen is a necessary constructing block for all times. However as we age, our collagen manufacturing slows. Partly, this is the reason we get wrinkles and joint ache. By often including a grass-fed supply of collagen to your tea, you’ll be able to enhance the situation of your pores and skin, hair, joints and intestine. Don’t fear, you’ll hardly style it!
10 Health Benefits Of Black Tea
So, is black tea good for you? Below are 10 health benefits of black tea. Whether you’re trying to cut back on your coffee consumption, create a day by day tea ritual, otherwise you’re merely intrigued by the world of tea, sip on these causes to make black tea part of your way of life.
1. It’s hydrating
That’s proper. A popular myth is that tea is dehydrating. Nonetheless, studies present no distinction in urine manufacturing (or hydration ranges) between tea and water. They concluded that black tea appears to be as hydrating as water when consumed in quantities smaller or equal to 6 cups per day.
2. Wealthy in antioxidants
Black tea incorporates polyphenols—a kind of antioxidant. Teams of polyphenols, together with catechins, theaflavins, and thearubigins, are the principle sources of antioxidants in black tea. All of those can promote total well being, together with lowering the chance of continual illness.
3. Could help coronary heart well being
Black tea incorporates one other group of antioxidants referred to as flavonoids, which benefit heart health. Together with black tea, you’ll discover flavonoids in certain vegetables, fruits, and dark chocolate. Research have discovered that often ingesting black tea (at the least two cups, day by day) could assist cut back the risk of heart disease.
4. Decreases the chance of stroke
Stroke (a blockage within the blood vessels carrying blood to the mind) is the second leading cause of dying, globally. Ingesting black tea could also be one option to cut back your threat of stroke! Studies present that ingesting at the least two cups of tea day by day could cut back the chance of stroke by 16% in comparison with individuals who don’t drink tea.
5. Can improve longevity
In terms of dwelling a protracted, wholesome life, there are just a few foundational items of the puzzle: minimizing stress, getting restful sleep, consuming nutrient-dense foods, spending quality time with family members, and discovering joyful methods to move your body. Additionally on this checklist? Ingesting black tea. Ingesting at the least two cups of black tea day by day lowers the chance of dying from any trigger by nearly 13% in comparison with individuals who don’t drink tea, in response to a current study.
6. Lowers blood sugar ranges
Caveat—ensure you’re not dumping teaspoon after teaspoon of added sugar. Ingesting black tea (plain) can lower blood glucose and enhance your physique’s potential to handle insulin. Research additionally exhibits that black tea improves blood sugar levels instantly following meals in regular and pre-diabetic adults. Can’t stand the bitterness of black tea? Attempt a splash of complete milk, unsweetened non-dairy milk (like coconut or almond), or a packet of monk fruit.
7. Creates regular power
Not like natural infusions, black tea has caffeine (about half the quantity in coffee). As talked about, it additionally incorporates an amino acid referred to as L-theanine. These two elements assist with alertness and focus. Whereas caffeine by itself can induce a extra jittery power, the addition of L-theanine in black tea produces a steady and regular sort of power.
8. Could enhance intestine well being
It’s not a secret that gut health is tied to only about each aspect of your well-being. Excellent news! The polyphenols present in black tea could assist maintain a healthy gut by selling the expansion of excellent micro organism and inhibiting the expansion of dangerous micro organism.
9. Can cut back blood stress
Sadly, hypertension can improve your threat of the whole lot from coronary heart and kidney failure to imaginative and prescient loss. Thankfully, modifications in your food regimen and way of life can decrease your blood stress. A review of studies—wanting on the results of black tea on blood stress—discovered that ingesting black tea considerably lowered each systolic and diastolic blood stress.
10. It’s a soothing ritual
Not solely is black tea good for you, however it’s additionally simple yet beautiful ritual. To make black tea, first boil water. If utilizing store-bought black tea luggage, merely add a tea bag to a mug and fill it with the new water. If utilizing free leaf tea, use 2–3 grams of tea leaves for each six ounces of water in a strainer. Let the tea steep for 3–5 minutes, relying in your style desire. After steeping, take away the tea leaves or tea bag from the water. Get pleasure from in your favourite mug.
Please seek the advice of your healthcare supplier earlier than consuming black tea, significantly if you’re at the moment on blood thinners, an iron complement, or thyroid medicine.
