Tea For Health & Love

Did you know that ALL tea comes from the same plant? The name of the plant is Camellia sinensis. This plant is grown in many tropical regions and provides thousands of varieties of tea. The four main categories of tea are white, green, oolong, and black. There are many different names these teas are found under, for example Orange Pekoe is the name the Western Tea Trade has given black tea and Darjeeling is the name used for the same plant grown in India. Other companies like Adagio Teas name the different teas like White Peony. Herbal teas are different than “tea” proper. As they come from other species and provide unique health benefits but aren’t considered teas, they are considered herbal infusions. Below you’ll learn more about real tea; white, green, oolong and black.

White Tea is considered the purest tea because it is the least processed. White tea contains 1% as much caffeine as in a cup of coffee. It is high in antioxidants. White Tea is made from the buds and the youngest leaves of this plant. Once the leaves are harvested, they are allowed to wither so that the moisture is removed naturally. The last step is to heat dry to ensure complete dryness. It is a very delicate tea and specifically beneficial for skin health. Between 600-900 AD, White Tea was not allowed to be drunk by the general population and was created only for the Emperor. The rarest White Tea is Silver Needle tea, which comes from handpicked tea buds that are harvested only two days of each year. It is a rare tea that is not only beneficial as a drinking tea, it is recommended to add the steeped leaves to a bath for skin vitality. The dry tea can be ground into a powder, mixed with honey and applied as a mask as well.

To make hot tea from White Tea, place 1.5 tsp of tea for every 8 ounces of boiling water and steep only for 5 minutes.

Silver Vin Zhen Pearls are the same as White Tea with the difference being that each tea bud is hand rolled. This allows the herb to contain more essential oils than White Tea. The oils contain added nutrients for detoxification as well as the same skin and hydration benefits of White Tea. The flavor of the Pearls is silky with sweet undertones.

To make hot tea from Silver Vin Zhen Pearls, place 2 tsp of tea for every 8 ounces of boiling water and steep only for 5 minutes.

Green tea picked, naturally dried and then dried further to prevent further fermentation either by roasting (Chinese green tea) or steamed (Japanese green tea). After heating the leaves are rolled and dried again. Green Tea contains 5% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee. Green tea is the most popular tea in Asia as it helps with both energy and metabolism as well as contains healthy amounts of antioxidants, especially vitamin C. When Green Tea was first discovered in China, only the wealthy could afford it. The tea became affordable and in the 1400s and was the drink of choice for all Chinese commoners as it prevented scurvy. Green tea was brought to Japan in 800 AD after being served to a Japanese emperor. Gyokuro is the best Japanese green tea as it is grown in the shade. When plants are grown in the shade, the chlorophyll content is much higher. Chlorophyll helps the body hold more oxygen, which enhances energy, is a deodorizer, improves immune system, strengthens mineral balance in the body, alkalinizes the body and assists gastrointestinal health. In particular, Green Tea contains an antioxidant called catechins. The primary catechin in Green Tea is called epigallocatechin gallate, or (EGCG) and it is known for its ability to prevent cancer.

To make hot tea from Green Tea place 1 teaspoon for every 8 ounces of water and steep for just one minute.

Oolong Tea is different than Green Tea in that it is allowed to semi-ferment in a satchel held by a stick, which is placed on a rotating stick. As the stick rotates, the bag hits a hard surface over and over while the leaves are still drying on their own (fermenting). This “bruising” technique while naturally drying (fermenting) allows the oils of the leaf to be released into the center of the leaf making the tea more nutritious. Once the fermentation/bruising process is complete, the leaves are heated in a pan. Oolong tea has about 15% the caffeine of one cup of coffee. The best oolong tea is Monkey Picked Oolong Tea which is named by Buddhist monks who originally trained monkeys to harvest the youngest leaves from the top of wild tea trees. Oolong Tea facilitates digestive health and strengthens metabolism, which is often why it is used as a weight loss tea that gives energy. The taste of Oolong is very full bodied with a flavorful fragrance and sweet aroma.

To make hot tea from Oolong Tea place 1.5 teaspoon for every 8 ounces of water and steep for three minutes.

Black Tea is the only tea that is fully fermented. Black tea is rolled which allows the leaves to stay moist inside longer than non-rolled. After Black Tea is allowed to dry on its own (naturally ferment), it is then pan heated. It contains 20% of the caffeine than a cup of coffee. The medicinal properties of Black tea are centered on circulatory health, preventing high cholesterol and assisting circulation to the heart. One of the top ten Black Teas in China is known as Golden Monkey Black Tea as it is harvested from one leaf and one bud before blooming. It is the finest black tea from Fujian province. This loose leaf black tea was chosen by the White House to serve at the State Dinner on January 19, 2011 during a visit by the President of China. The flavor of this tea is full-bodied infusion with rich cocoa undertones which has a very rich flavor with very low tannins.

To make hot tea from Black Tea place 1.5 teaspoons for every 8 ounces of water and steep for four minutes.