There are many legends about the origin of tea and how to prepare it. What is certain is that it comes from China, and its history dates back to 2000 BC. It is from this period that the first mentions of it come from. With the passage of time, its taste values have been recognized all over the world, and the cultivation of tea bushes has begun in many regions where the climate is warm and humid, including in Japan, Vietnam, Ceylon, Java, and African and South American countries.
Division of teas
There are many classifications of this drink, including due to: the area of cultivation, country of origin or form (leafy, broken, fine, tea dust). One of the most common divisions is the one that takes into account the method of obtaining. This is how we can distinguish teas:
Black | Fully fermented (the longer the fermentation process, the stronger the tea with a more pungent taste) |
Red | Partially fermented, with a slightly spicy flavor and aroma, dark amber to dark red in color |
Yellow | Briefly fermented, obtained from the highest quality young buds |
Green | Obtained without the fermentation process, after the withering stage, the enzymes are inactivated by evaporation or roasting, the infusion has a tart taste and light green color |
White | Obtained from young, silvery leaf buds, harvested before they develop. Straw color, delicate flavor and aroma |
On the packaging of better quality teas, you can often see letter markings. They concern the type of leaves and the order in which they are collected, e.g. Flowery Orange Pekoe (FOP), which means that tea is obtained from the first leaf of the shoot and the final bud, or Tips (T) – leaf buds undeveloped.
Effect on health
Among the ingredients that affect health, tea includes, among others minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, phosphorus), vitamin from group B (mainly B1, B2),tannins (tannins, catechins) and alkaloids (theobromine, brother).
Different types of teas differ in the content of these ingredients, so their effect on the body is also slightly different. From a health point of view, the most valuable are unfermented teas, i.e. white and green teas. They are characterized by the highest number of antioxidant compounds (white tea may contain up to 3 times more than green tea). These compounds are credited with many positive health effects, including:
- stimulate digestive processes,
- lower blood pressure
- lower cholesterol and triglycerides, thus preventing atherosclerosis.
- they are bactericidal and antiviral
- help to remove harmful substances from the body
- reduce the risk of cancer.
Due to the content of antioxidants and fluoride, regular consumption of tea prevents tooth decay and gum disease. Tea also has diuretic properties and is recommended in urinary tract infections.
caffeine (theine) contained in tea, has strongly stimulating effect, however, it works a bit differently than that contained in coffee – it is absorbed longer, so the effect comes later, but it has a longer duration of action. White tea contains the highest concentration of tannins, compounds that are used in pharmacy, and have an astringent effect and prevent the growth of bacteria, which is why it is indicated in food poisoning and diarrhea.
The list of the positive effects of this drink on the human body is very long and it is impossible to list all the ailments in which it can be helpful to prevent or treat. So let’s drink it from 3 to 5 cups good quality tea. Most often, however, we reach for express teas, which in most cases are obtained from tea dust and leaves of inferior quality, which results in a lower content of health-promoting substances.
Other types of tea drinks
According to the definition, tea can only be a drink obtained from the buds and leaves of a plant of the species Camellia Sinensis, there are, however, infusions with very similar properties obtained from other plants. An example here could be.
- Rooibos obtained from the black bush native to South Africa. Contrary to traditional tea, it does not contain caffeine and tannins responsible for the perceptible bitterness. It is characterized by a delicate honey aftertaste. It is perfect for pregnant women, it also has a positive effect on the aging process, lowers blood pressure and supports the immune system.
- Lapacho, an infusion obtained from the bark of a South American tree. Often called Inca tea, it is used to treat many ailments. However, it can cause side effects as it contains the lapachol toxin.
- Yerba Mate obtained from the leaves of the Paraguay Holly. This drink is a very good source of antioxidants. Research has shown that its regular consumption increases DNA resistance to damage and lowers cholesterol. It has been suggested that consumption of this drink during weight loss diets may increase their effectiveness. On the other hand, Yerba Mate contains a large group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that may contribute to the development of cancer.