A Good Cup of Tea
Did you know that all true
teas — green, black and oolong — come from the same
plant Camellia Sinensis and that herbal teas aren’t really
teas at all?
Herbal teas or tisanes are actually infusions of dried herbs and contain no true tea leaves. Real teas vary widely in colour and flavour, depending on the growing environment, harvest period, processing, etc. Black teas owe their darker colour and stronger flavour to their complete fermentation before firing. Green teas, which are made with dried unfermented leaves, are paler and more delicately flavoured. While oolong teas are partially fermented.
That’s right, tea is good for you. Tea leaves contain a good deal of antioxidants called polyphenols that protect against free radicals, cell-damaging unstable molecules formed in response to exposure to too much sunlight, pollution, stress, etc. Free radicals may play a role in many diseases and numerous studies indicate that drinking tea may help protect against several types of cancer and reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Green or black, all teas offer comparable health benefits. Even decaffeinated tea offers similar protection! Tea is a pure natural beverage that has no additives, artificial colouring or flavouring and, when taken without milk or sugar, no calories. All this makes tea an excellent drink and an enjoyable way to increase your intake of antioxidants.
Caffeine (or theine) content varies depending on the type of tea and how long it is steeped. Generally, an 8-oz. (250-mL) cup of tea has 50 mg of caffeine or one-third to one-half the amount in the same sized cup of coffee. Nothing to worry about since the Canada Food Guide on healthy eating puts the maximum daily dose at 400-450 mg. This can vary depending on a person’s sensitivity to caffeine
No food is a panacea. So enjoy tea in moderation. According to some studies, regular tea consumption, 4 cups a day, ensures that one gets the full health benefits of tea. But a healthy, varied diet that includes a lot of fruits and vegetables combined with daily tea consumption provides plenty of antioxidants. Why put all your eggs in one basket, when variety delivers so much taste? Tea can be used in many preparations such as dressings, poultry gravies or desserts (cakes, muffins, fruit jellies).
However, too much tea can be bad for the health with nasty side effects such as heart palpitations, headaches, blurred vision and can inhibit iron absorption.
When brewing tea, use 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of tea for every 6 oz. (170 mL) of water. To enjoy tea’s full, rich flavour, buy loose tea and store it in an airtight container. For maximum freshness, buy tea in small quantities from specialty shops or stores that sell a lot of it
Tea provides many benefits due to its antioxidant content, which is higher than that of many fruits and vegetables. Who would have believed that tea would one day be touted as a source of antioxidants? The constantly evolving science of nutrition reminds us time and again that foods are much more than just food. They supply us with energy along with various disease-fighting substances. Remember that variety is the best guarantee of a balanced diet.