At the end of the day, everything becomes a popularity contest and tea has definitely been playing the role of Homecoming Queen. Healthy and popular…what could be better?
The United States has become the second largest tea importer in the world, with Russia being the first. Within five years, hot tea sales have increased more than 17 percent. Besides the taste, there are several serious health benefits to drinking tea. Packed with disease-fighting antioxidants, it also has just enough caffeine to help you power through your day.
The Chinese Emperor, Shen Nong, discovered tea and its benefits in 2737 B.C. In the 17th Century, the Dutch brought the discovery to North America. Loose-leaf tea consists of the Camellia sinensis plant. There are four different variations of tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea and black tea.
Some Benefits of Loose Leaf Teas
Green Tea
- Helps with bladder, breast, lung, stomach and pancreatic cancer
- Prevents clogging of the arteries
- Helps boost metabolism and increases fat burn
White Tea
- Most potent anticancer properties
- Fights the effects of aging
- Increases density and strength of bones
Oolong Tea
- Lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) levels
- Serves as a weight-loss supplement
- Reduces stress
Black Tea
- Reduces stroke risk
- Protects lung damage from cigarette smoke
- Helps lead to a quick recovery after an intense workout
The “New” Tea
Recently, many have begun to drink matcha green tea, a green tea powder that originated in Japan. It has as many antioxidants as 10 cups of brewed green tea. It boosts metabolism, burns calories and can lower cholesterol and blood sugar. The chlorophyll and amino acids found in the tea give it a very distinct flavor. People love Starbucks and they are definitely loving their iced matcha green tea lattes.