Throughout its 5,000-year history, drinking tea has been a relaxing, social ritual. In fact, tea is the second most popular beverage in the world next to water. Non-herbal tea is derived from the Camellia senensis plant and tea is one of the leading sources of flavonoids, which are antioxidant compounds that may fight chronic disease.
All tea starts out “green.” Black tea has undergone fermentation or oxidation to develop certain flavour profiles, oolong tea undergoes a moderate amount of fermentation, while green tea is not fermented. U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers have studied the role of tea in health with promising results, and found that drinking it might promote weight loss and heart health. USDA researchers reported that when their study volunteers drank tea (without cream or sugar) instead of an equal amount of water, they burned an extra 67 calories a day. They noted that the tea may play a role in preferentially burning fat.
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Another study highlighted the potential role of tea in lowering blood cholesterol among people with mildly high blood cholesterol. The participants consumed five servings of black tea per day, along with a carefully controlled diet. The blood cholesterol levels of the participants decreased by up to 10 per cent in less than three weeks.
However, the researchers caution that more work is needed to understand the complex role of tea. In the meantime, sipping a cup is a pretty good idea. Here’s how to brew the perfect pot:
- Fill a kettle with fresh, cold water and place on a burner.
- Add hot water to a teapot, preferably one made of glass or pottery, to warm it. Using a metal teapot may result in a metallic taste in your final beverage.
- Next, add the loose tea to the empty, warmed teapot, adding one spoonful of tea for each cup of water plus “one for the teapot.” If you use tea bags, use one bag less than the desired number of cups.
- When the water in the kettle comes to a rolling bowl, pour it in the teapot and cover. Allow it to brew for three to six minutes.
- Finally, pour through the tea strainer and enjoy. Serve with a citrus slice if preferred.
