Green tea has various effects: It is said to prevent diseases and help with weight loss. Learn more here about the effects and preparation of different types of tea.
Ingredients and effects
For centuries, this hot drink from Asia has been considered good for health. There is actually some truth to that:
• The tannins in tea soothe the intestines and stomach.
• Its antibacterial effect protects teeth from cavities.
• In addition to vitamin B12, vitamin A, and vitamin B, green tea also contains flavonoids. They have a positive effect on metabolic processes in the body and support the immune system. Flavonoids are also said to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• There are studies that prove that green tea also helps against cancer.
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Thanks to its unique ingredients, tea is one of the healthiest drinks in the world. Many tea lovers appreciate its invigorating effect and can buy it online at House of Tea & Coffee.
How long does tea last?
The shelf life of tea does not necessarily depend on the expiration date. In general, tea does not spoil like other foods. The best-before date on tea packaging is usually about two years, depending on the variety. Medicinal teas are an exception: the shelf life of these teas is limited to 18 months, as the healing effect diminishes after that.
Therefore, medicinal teas should be drunk within the specified time to achieve the best effect. Even after the expiration date, the tea does not spoil and is still drinkable. The shelf life of tea depends on storage, i.e., whether it is stored correctly: if stored properly loose, it can be kept much longer than the expiration date.
What types of tea are there?
The tea plant has two original forms: Camellia assamica from India and Camellia sinensis from China. Tea connoisseurs are aware of the importance of the various crosses of tea plants and their respective growing regions. The nature of the soil, the method of cultivation, and the amount of rainfall influence the taste and quality of the tea.
Different varieties are created through different processing of the tea plant. This step of tea production is based on the experience and knowledge of the respective producer. The fermentation process, better known as oxidation, also plays an important role. Some of the most popular types of tea are:
Black tea
Black tea is by far the most popular type of tea. It is obtained from the tea plant Camellia sinensis. The main steps in the production of black tea are drying, rolling, fermenting, and sorting the tea leaves.
Green tea
Like black tea, green tea is made from the same tea plant, Camellia sinensis. It differs from black tea in the way it is prepared. Green tea is not fermented. The main steps in the production of green tea are roasting (Chinese method) and steaming (Japanese method) of fresh leaves, which preserves the green color of the leaves. It is then rolled, dried, and sorted.
White tea
Like green and black tea, white tea comes from the tea plant Camellia sinensis. White tea is dried and subjected to minimal processing, so the structure of the leaf is largely preserved. In particular, thin hairs remain on the leaf, which is why dry tea has a whitish appearance. It owes its name to this appearance. A special type of white tea is Pai Mu Tang, which is only produced in the Chinese province of Fujian.
Matcha tea
Matcha comes from Japan. The word "macha" [??] means "ground tea". Matcha is the only tea that is "drinkable". This is a finely ground green tea from tencha, also known as shade tea. Tea bushes are shaded for approx. 2-3 weeks before picking. This measure reduces, among other things, the production of green leaf pigment.
Side effects and contraindications
The caffeine contained in green tea can increase intestinal motility and thus also cause diarrhea, while others react to the high tannin content with constipation. In sensitive people, it can lead to stomach irritation. Large amounts of tannins put a strain on the liver and intestines.
Tea is more tolerable for sensitive people if the first infusion is poured out after 30 seconds and the second infusion is drunk, although some of the valuable ingredients are lost. At higher doses of extracts, caffeine causes particular stress.
Pregnant women should not take green tea extract because of the caffeine. In the case of folic acid deficiency, it should be noted that green tea inhibits the absorption of folic acid. This is also an important moment for pregnancy.
Steeping time and preparation of tea
Tea is becoming increasingly popular in Germany. Green and black tea are brewed for three to four minutes. The higher the quality of the tea, the more of it can be used and the longer it can steep.
Tea is best brewed and served in teapots made of glass or porcelain. No further accessories are necessary for this. Most teas like soft water and brewing temperatures of 80-90 °C. However, some teas, such as Sencha, require a lower temperature for a perfect brew. For one liter of water, you need 8-12 g of tea, depending on the variety and taste.
You can brew normal green tea for 1-2 minutes and then drink it. Today you can buy good tea at many addresses. For exclusive and high-quality green teas, the preparation time can be 2-5 minutes. Green tea can usually be brewed 2-4 times, whereby less water should be used to preserve the taste.
To highlight the subtle tea aroma, teapots should only be used for tea, not for coffee.
Conclusion
Tea is, in the traditional sense, a drink obtained by brewing tea plants. In a broader sense, many other plants are recognized and very popular for brewing tea. For example, the status of peppermint tea as a tea is undisputed, even though it is strictly speaking not made from a tea plant. This means that there is an incredible wealth of tea in the world.
