TEA IS ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY CONSUMED BEVERAGES IN THE
WORLD! Staying hydrated and drinking plenty of liquids is
important to our overall health. Tea is a great beverage
choice as it basically has no carbs, protein or fat. It is
tasty, is a natural source of amino acid and antioxidant
catechins. It is available in several forms and is tasty
both as a hot drink or iced. Note that we are talking
about true tea here. Herbal teas usually contain no actual
tea leaves but infusions of fruit and/or herbs. Therefore,
this article is not about herbal teas.
True tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis evergreen plant
commonally known as the tea bush. The tea bush grows
mainly in tropical and sub-tropical climates. This plant
or tree prefers acidic soil and requires an annual rainfall
of at least fifty inches. Camellia Sinensis plants can
grow into trees but are usually kept cropped to about waist
height to make cultivation easier. Only the leaves from
the top 1-2 inches are picked. Many of the top-quality
teas, such as darjeeling, are picked from plants grown at
elevations of about 5,000 feet. This causes the plants to
grow slower thus acquiring a better flavor.
There are four basic types of true tea common to us today.
They are black, green, white and oolong. Each is unique
but they all come from the same source. The difference
occurs in the processing. Briefly, here is a description
of each type and what makes it unique. Green tea leaves
are unwilted and unoxidized. White tea leaves are wilted
and unoxidized. Oolong tea leaves are wilted, bruised and
partially oxidized. Black tea leaves are crushed and fully
oxidized. Because of the oxidation process, white and
green teas have a higher concentration of the antioxidant
catechins.
Proper preparation also differs for each of the tea types.
For black tea, boiling water should be used. Many of the
active substances in black tea won't develop at lower
temperatures. This is the most common mistake made when
brewing black tea! For optimum results, black tea should
be brewed about 4 minutes and never longer than 5 minutes.
Longer brewing will cause the tea to taste bitter.
Green tea should be brewed at a lower temperature,
approximately 180-185 degrees which is below the boiling
point. Hotter water will burn the green tea leaves causing
a bitter taste. When brewing green tea, it is best to
pre-warm the mug or teapot you will brew in. This will
keep the tea from cooling immediately before it is fully
steeped.
Oolong tea should be brewed at about the boiling point in a
pre-warmed mug or pot. For oolong tea, it is best to use
spring water. The minerals in the water tend to bring out
more of the flavor in the tea. High-quality oolong tea
leaves can be brewed several times. It actually improves
with reuse. Many believe the third brewing actually
produces the best tea.
To keep your teas fresh and flavorful, store them in a dry,
dark, cool place inside an airtight container.
The health properties of tea are constantly in debate.
Many believe drinking tea will help to prevent heart
disease, cancer, diabetes, etc. One thing we know for sure
is that tea contains both antioxidant and amino acid
properties. It also doesn't add to our daily carb, protein
or fat and calorie count when drank in it's natural state
without adding sugar, milk, etc. And it tastes good. If
you aren't currently a tea drinker, become one. It sure
won't hurt you and it just might be healthy for you.
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For more of Linda's writings and recipes, go to
http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com
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