Different Types of Teas

(From Loose Leaf Tea Authority Kelley Scruby)

While it is important to know how different tea leaves are processed, it’s even better to know what kind of health benefits and flavor profiles each tea leaf has it offer.

White tea leaves have a light, delicate, and usually floral-like flavor. These leaves are the least processed which makes them the lowest in caffeine. They are also great for when you’re feeling ill and they help strengthen your immune system. White teas are the highest in antioxidants and are the best for improving your skin, teeth, and nails. These leaves mix well with herbs such as lavender and rose and fruits like raspberries and peaches.

Green teas are also great for immunity, but tend to have slightly higher amounts of caffeine. Green tea has also been thought to help with cancer prevention. The National Cancer Institute has made official statements about tea consumption and how it could help to decrease inflammation, “… some have linked tea consumption to reduced risks of cancers of the colon, breast, ovary, prostate, and lung…” They go on to note that the quality of brew and the amount consumed is also important. Green tea leaves have a higher acidity level than other tea leaves because of the way they are processed, and either have a nutty and roasted flavor or a fresh vegetal flavor.

Since Oolong leaves are fermented, they have a bolder flavor and a bit more caffeine than green tea, but less than black teas. These teas are a great afternoon-pick-me-up and the best tea to drink for weight loss. Oolong teas also neutralize carbohydrates and help speed up your metabolism. So, try having a cup after a heavy meal.

Black teas are the best teas to drink in the morning. Black tea leaves have the most amounts of caffeine and a bold and robust flavor, since they are fully fermented. These teas are great with a little milk or cream, especially if you are trying to break the morning coffee routine. Black tea is what is commonly served as “tea” in restaurants, packaged as popular tea bags. It has the most familiar tea taste to people. Drinking black tea can be very beneficial to your heart’s health. It keeps blood vessels supple, is a gentle stimulant to your heart, and can help lower cholesterol.

People that drink tea regularly over coffee tend to experience a more balanced amount of caffeine intake over a longer period of time.Coffee provides that initial and quick jolt, but tea has a more evenly-regulated release. Try substituting your coffee one morning a week for something new, like a green, oolong, or black tea.

Kelley Scruby is the owner of Do You Tea? in Hoboken, New Jersey. As the owner of a small, loose leaf tea business, Kelley is passionate about educating her customers on the benefits that come from drinking loose leaf tea. With a background at a major tea company, she was able to become an expert on the versatility of the beverage and is inspired in her own creations by the changing of the seasons and also desserts. Kelley created Do You Tea? with the confidence that she can help find a tea blend that works for any of her customers’ lifestyle and palate. As Do You Tea? continues to grow, Kelley hosts events and tastings that add a more interactive approach to the expansive world of loose leaf teas. Do You Tea? hopes to have a truck out on the streets of the NYC metro area soon! You are able to purchase her seasonal blends and gift sets online at www.doyoutea.com and follow her on instagram and twitter @doyoutea for updates on tastings and new blends. Please email requests and questions to doyoutea@gmail.com.

Source: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/tea

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.