LEARN MORE ABOUT BLACK TEA:
 The Benefits of Black Tea
by T J Madigan
Black tea is one of the most popular teas in the world. The English love it and use it as a constant ingredient in many of their breakfast teas. Black tea comes from the same plant that green tea, white, and oolong tea come from. But if you notice, black tea has a distinctively strong flavor and characteristically dark color. How is this so?
Well, you see, the main difference lies in how black tea is processed. While in making green tea, the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant are first dried and then gently steamed, black tea leaves undergo far more processing steps.
First, the leaves are withered. Then, they are rolled around to release the beneficial polyphenols present in the leaves. Next, the leaves are left out in the open and exposed to heat and humidity to start the fermentation process. After full oxidation or fermentation is done, the leaves are then dried and packed.
All these processing methods actually account for the uniqueness of black tea. The taste may range from brisk to astringent to delicately fruity, flowery, or even smoky. Often, these differences can be ascertained from the growing regions where the tea is produced. But regardless of taste, flavor, and color, the benefits of it remain constant.
For thousands of years, the Chinese (who are attributed to be the first tea drinkers) have been imbibing this drink for its many health benefits. Green tea, especially, with its refreshing delicate taste, is said to help in overcoming certain diseases from the simplest e.g. headaches, stomach pains, etc. to the complex e.g. heart disease, cancer, arthritis, etc.
Scientists believed that the reason green tea is more beneficial compared to other teas is that the leaves never undergo full oxidation. Because of this, the polyphenols, especially the polyphenol ECGG, remain intact and potent against disease-causing free radicals in the human body. However, more recent studies have shown that while its true that full oxidation does break down ECGG, the benefits of black tea are hardly hinged on the present of that chemical compound.
Researchers found that the benefits of black teas are directly associated with certain chemical compounds that give it its characteristic fruity flavor and dark color. These compounds, called theaflavins and theaburigins are polyphenols with antioxidant properties that can help rid the body of harmful free radicals.
In a study done at the American Heart Association in New Orleans, researchers also found that the benefits of black tea may include lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke. According to their findings, certain compounds found in the tea help relax and expand the arteries, thus increasing blood flow to the heart and minimizing clogging of the arteries. The eight-week study on the benefits of black tea involved 50 men and women with coronary artery disease. They drank four cups of either water or tea a day for four weeks. The result was that the group who drank black tea produced more nitric oxide the chemical released by the body that causes the artery to dilate which accounted for their arteries to dilate normally.
About the Author:
T J Madigan. For more black tea information or to view a selection of food and drink related articles and information and gourmet articles and information visit Articles.net.au - Your source for free Articles, Information and Website Content.
Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-benefits-of-black-tea-100935.html
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Different Types of Black Tea
by Jonas Smith |
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Sweet and spicy. A hint of chocolate. The sweet fragrance of orchids. These distinctive flavors are what set black tea apart from other teas. Don't get me wrong though. All of four types of tea - white, green, oolong, and black - come from the leaves of the same plant, Camellia sinensis, but there are differences that may be as subtle as a hint of flowery aftertaste or as blatant as the color of the brew.
What Separates Black Tea from Other Teas?
Black tea has always been valued for its unusually flavorful taste and rich color and aroma. But if all tea types come from the same plant, what makes black tea stand out? What gives it its distinct flavor? Why is it darker in color?
The difference may come from where which part of the plant is used to make the tea. In the case of white tea, the leaves used are those found only on the branch tips, particularly the leaf bud and possibly the first two leaves under the bud. That actually accounts for the extremely delicate taste of white tea.
On the other hand, black tea is made from the mature leaves of Camellia sinensis. The leaves are fully developed. When steeped and processed, the resulting flavor has a natural tang and loaded with richness.
Another source of distinction is that black tea, unlike green tea and oolong tea, is fully oxidized during processing. This is actually another reason why black teas are more full-bodied and robust in taste, compared to green tea, which is more delicate and fresh-tasting.
Black Tea Types
There are several different kinds of black tea available in the market today. Often, the difference lies in the names, which are usually taken from the districts in the countries where they are grown. Hence, you may have heard of Assam (India), Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and Yunnan (China). Each of these black tea types possesses different characteristics, depending on the local conditions in the various regions where they are grown.
Besides often being named for the district in which they are grown, black teas were originally classified according to what leaves on the tea plant was plucked. While white tea is picked once a year every spring from leaf buds, the reformed tip - which includes the leaf bud and the first two leaves under bud - can be picked to make black tea. This led to classifications that range from Pekoe (pronounced 'PECK-oh') to others such as Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe and Tippy Golden Flowering Orange Pekoe.
What Black Tea Contains
Virtually all teas produced from Camellia sinensis naturally contain caffeine. The difference in processing does not change this caffeine content. So black tea, oolong, green, and white tea have approximately the same amount of caffeine, falling within a range of 25 to 60 mg of caffeine in a 6-oz. cup.
In addition, black tea contains several antioxidants that are good for the body. You may have heard of the many health benefits of green tea. The reason, of course, is the rich antioxidant content of green tea. And because black tea is made form the same plant as green tea, that jus goes to show how beneficial black tea can be to your health as well.
About the Author: Jonas Smith. Learn about carbohydrates in food and good carbs bad carbs at the
Health And Nutrition site.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/different-types-of-black-tea--800090.html |
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Black Tea - A Healthy Beverage
by Kate Prescott |
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Tea is one of the most common beverages that accompany us in our daily activities. One sip of the drink relaxes us out of all tension and worries and helps us breathe an air of relaxation. One of the most commonly used varieties of tea consumed across the globe is black tea. The beverage is predominantly found in India, Sri Lanka and other South East Asian countries. It is believed that the tea originated in China and later it was introduced to Western Europe by Turkish traders. On the basis of geographical locations, black tea can be categorized as Chinese Black Tea, Indian Black tea and others. While the Chinese variety has its unique smoky flavors, its Indian counterparts are strikingly aromatic. Other varieties include Sumatra tea, Kenyan and Vietnamese varieties.
Black Tea is generally sweet in taste and often the same is cultivated by using natural softener and additives. Sometimes the tea is broken intentionally so as to improve the processing. The broken tea is rich in caffeine and makes a delicious connoisseur when brewed with cold milk and sugar cubes. In this connection it may be mentioned that broken tea differs greatly from tea dust available in tea bags. Tea dust is byproducts of tea, better known as fanning which are left over at the time of production. These fanning are packaged in tea bags and used commercially. However, unlike broken tea, fanning is coarse, have a strong flavor and do not taste sweet.
A typical black tea leaf is made out of Chamellia Sinensis just like its counterparts. However unlike other varieties like green and Oolong tea, the tea is less oxidized. Due to this, black tea can retain most of its natural properties and improves the health of its consumer. Recent studies claim that black tea is capable of preventing most cardio vascular diseases especially those which affect coronary arteries. The beverage is particularly recommended to heart patients and those having asthmatic troubles.
Black Tea is generally composed of methylxanthine which works directly on central nervous system, relaxes the muscles of lungs and stimulates the heart. Moreover, black tea contains anti-oxidant properties which are highly beneficial to health. In fact, of the tea types which can be categorized under the group of Chamellia Sinensis contain polyphenols which is a strong anti-oxidant.
Apart from the benefits mentioned above, black tea is of paramount importance when it comes to getting relief from busy schedule. Black tea is often consumed to combat stress of daily life. Caffeinated tea actually penetrates and acts on the stress hormones cortisol that circulates through blood. It is an active stress buster and acts as a convenient source of relaxation for busy professionals.
About the Author: Kate Prescott is a professional cook and likes to experiment on various cuisines, beverages, gourmet tea types,
Black Tea and loose tea leaf that adds flavor to different connoisseurs.Article Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/tea-articles/black-teahealthy-beverage-for-young-and-adults-650272.html |
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