Drinking Tea - the Health Benefits of Tea

So Many Teas to Choose From –
So Little Time to Drink Them

Within the past few years there has been a tremendous and confusing outpouring of new information on the latest and greatest tea trends.

From Green Tea to White Tea and Black Tea to Oolong Tea – what’s all the hype about?  Which one should you be drinking and why?  Amazingly, all four of the above mentioned tea varieties come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis.  The difference lies in the part of the Camellia sinensis plant that is used and how it is processed.  Let’s take a look at each tea and how it’s made.

The upper leaves of this versatile plant are picked and processed in an assortment of methods to produce Black, Oolong and Green Tea.  On the other hand, leaves from the branch tips, and most importantly, the leaf bud and usually the first two leaves under the bud are used in the processing of White Tea.  Although the upper leaves can be picked multiple times throughout the year, the leaves used for White Tea can only be harvested in the spring – just one time per year, thus making White Tea trendier commodity - harder to buy and more expensive than the others.

The processing of the leaves is done differently for each tea type.  For example, the Black Tea leaves, after being picked, are oxidized thoroughly via an enzymatic process that interacts with the surrounding air oxygen and results in leaves that are a bright copper color (think rust colored).  The complete oxidation of the Black Tea leaves gives this tea a strong, full, and robust flavor.  Oolong Tea is only partially oxidized and is then dried.  The flavor of Oolong Tea is somewhere between the strong Black Tea flavor and more delicate taste of Green and White Teas.  For the completion of White and Green Teas, there is no oxidation reactions that occur.  Instead, Green Tea leaves are processed for consumption by steaming and/or pan firing.  They are then rolled up and left to dry.  White Tea leaves are similarly processed with light steaming and are then dried.

Another interesting fact about these four teas is that unless an extra process is added to cause the caffeine to be removed, they all contain approximately the same caffeine content ranging between 25 to 60 mg of caffeine per 6 ounce cup.  Coffee usually contains around 100 mg per same serving size.

As for health benefits – it has been touted these teas can cure everything from skin blemishes to cancers.  But, which cures and treatments have actually been proven scientifically?  Well, for starters, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that these drinks provide a powerful punch of antioxidants.  Science has shown that antioxidants are able to bind and neutralize free radicals in the body, molecules which have been implicated in causing damage to DNA and can therefore lead to premature aging (fine lines and wrinkles), strokes, cholesterol problems and even cancer.

Additionally, these four teas are full of great vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, and Vitamins C and K.  So, although it may not be the panacea for every malaise, drinking tea can really “do the body good”.

 Back to more health and nutrition tips and advice

To teach and learn money skills, personal finance, money management, business, careers, and life skills please go to the Money Instructor home page.