Get to Know the Most Popular Types of Tea

When ordering a cup of tea, you are frequently asked the kind you would prefer having. That is because the varieties available in today's market are many, varying from green and black to fruit and herbal. Here, we'll talk about different kinds of teas available and their characteristics.

Primarily, the tea types available in today's market today can be categorized among four main categories, namely green, black, oolong and white. All these varieties are derived from leaves of a tea plant called Camellia Sinensis. On the other hand, herbal teas such as ginger or chamomile and even red tea are derived from another category of leaves, called rooibos.

What distinguishes one type of tea from another is the process employed for making it. Moreover, different varieties come with their distinct aroma and flavor and provide diverse health benefit also.

Black

This tea with a strong flavor is highly preferred in the west. It is generally served with milk and sugar or just with lemon and nothing else. This variety is derived from Camellia leaves that have been oxidized. When served plain, black tea is devoid of carbohydrates, fat and has no calories, making it a favorite of many, particularly overweight people. Caffeine content of this variety is less than that of a coffee.

Green

For a long time, green tea has continued to enjoy popularity in countries like China, Japan and Korea. Of late, it has been realized that this variety of tea offers important health benefits, including the reduction of cholesterol level, enhancement of metabolic rate and even cancer prevention. Because of its health giving properties, it is getting popular in western countries too. The process of making this tea involves oxidation and drying of tea leaves, before fermenting them. Green tea is simply taken without any addition of sugar or milk. Moreover, water needed for making it should not be at boiling temperature.

White

This rare variety of tea is more expensive compared to its other cousins. This tea, made from young tea leaves, is procured from Fujian, China. The leaves are streamed or fried before fermentation and final drying. This is named as white tea as it is derived from leaves with buds having white hair. This variety of tea is known to have maximum amount of antioxidant and minimum of caffeine.

Oolong

This traditional Chinese tea is most often served with Chinese food all over the world. Oolong means black dragon and this tea derives it name from its lengthy leaves, which look like dragons when getting brewed. This tea is distinguished by its aroma and the taste that it acquires from the production process. Its processing involves drying in the sun, oxidation, cooling and drying at the end. Compared to black tea, this tea is rather weak.

If you want to read more about tea and the different types of tea, please visit my tea blog!

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Is Oolong Tea for Weight Loss Just Another Weight Loss Myth?

With so many celebrities endorsing oolong tea for weight loss recently, it's no wonder that those of us searching for a natural, healthy way to lose those few extra pounds are wondering... Are the claims about oolong tea and weight loss really true, or is this just another weight loss myth?

Thanks to age-old wisdom passed down to us through the generations and current scientific research targeting oolong tea health benefits, this brew's reputation as a weight-loss tea is growing. Here are some of the ways oolong tea can help you manage your weight.

Oolong tea is brimming with antioxidants that can boost your metabolism. Antioxidants are well-known for protecting us from chronic disease and reversing the visible signs of aging, but their benefits don't stop there. Research tells us that this tea's powerful antioxidants can increase your metabolism by 10% or more for up to two hours after enjoying a cup of this delicious brew. And, a boost to your metabolism is a great way to help you lose pounds and reach your target weight.

Oolong tea's caffeine is another metabolism booster. Oolong (like all teas from the Camellia sinensis tea plant) naturally contains some caffeine and, although caffeine does have some possible side effects, it has some potential benefits, as well - including supporting your weight loss goals by increasing your metabolism.

The antioxidants in oolong tea target body fat, too. Drinking oolong regularly not only helps your body burn fat more quickly and effectively (especially upper arm and tummy fat), but also works to keep that body fat off once it's gone. Oolong tea blocks your fat-building enzymes, as well.

Research has found another benefit of this tea for weight loss - oolong's ability to regulate blood sugar. Stabilized blood sugar levels help you feel more satisfied and balanced - which, in turn, may keep troublesome cravings under control! Fewer cravings make it easier to keep on track with your diet plan.

Oolong is delicious, fragrant, and calorie free! Enjoy this tea as a part of your daily diet (replacing those high-calorie, high-caffeine energy or coffee drinks) for a burst of flavor, energy, and health benefits - and to help reach your weight loss goals. Just remember, any additions (like sugar or milk) will add extra calories to your cup of oolong.

Oolong is recognized in traditional Chinese medicine for its ability to reduce body fat, and recent scientific studies are supporting this tea's reputation as a weight-loss tea. If you're working towards losing those last few pounds, oolong tea may be a healthy addition to your overall weight management plan, along with a nutritious diet, plenty of rest, managing your stress levels, and staying active.

Della Flood learned her love of tea from her maternal grandmother, Annie, who was rarely without a cup of tea in her hand. You can learn more about the healing powers of tea and tea's many benefits for the body, mind, and spirit at Della's website, http://www.theteatalk.com.

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Top 7 Benefits of Organic Cinnamon Tea

Have you been wondering about the benefits of non-organic cinnamon vs. organic cinnamon tea? News about 'organic' and 'natural' products is everywhere, and the abundance of information can be overwhelming. Here are some simple, straightforward reasons why organic cinnamon tea is a healthy choice for you, your family, and our planet.

Organic cinnamon tea has been grown, processed, and packaged according to stringent organic standards. These standards, along with thorough inspections by trained independent inspectors, ensure that the certified organic products we purchase are free from harmful processes and toxic chemicals, such as fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides.

Organic cinnamon is not genetically modified. A 'GMO' (genetically modified organism) is an organism whose genetic makeup has been changed (which means genes have been deleted or genes - often from another species - have been added). Genetic modification of food has been seriously questioned for health, safety, ecological, ethical, and economic reasons. Organic practices strictly prohibit genetic modification, so organic cinnamon isn't genetically modified and is harvested only from cinnamon trees grown from non-GM seeds.

Food irradiation isn't allowed in certified organic products, either, so a 'certified organic' label guarantees your cinnamon hasn't been irradiated. Food irradiation (which is exposing the product to ionizing radiation) is a common practice used to prevent spoilage, extend shelf life, and reduce harmful parasites and bacteria. However, many health concerns (including loss of nutrients and increased free radicals) have been linked to food irradiation. Irradiation plants emit ozone into our environment, as well.

Organic cinnamon tea is good for our planet, too. Yes, organic practices protect us from toxic chemicals, but they go many steps further by protecting, replenishing, and maintaining our planet and its resources. In organic farming, natural ingredients and production methods (such as crop rotation, composted manure, and beneficial insects) are used to restore soil health and encourage and promote biodiversity and ecological balance. With organic practices, organic growers and processors work to leave our planet a better place than they found it.

Organic cinnamon is easy to find. There was a time when organic products could be difficult to find, depending on where you lived. Now, in our global marketplace, organic spices and herbs (including cinnamon) are just a mouse click away on the Internet. If your local grocery doesn't stock organic teas or spices, pay an online visit to your favorite tea shop, specialty food supplier, or organic spice market.

Organic cinnamon tea gives you all of the health benefits of cinnamon tea. Soothing, sweet, and a bit spicy, this versatile, beloved tea is known for stabilizing blood sugar, boosting mental energy, easing arthritic pain and swelling, helping with weight management, soothing an upset stomach, improving colon function, fighting chronic inflammation, and so much more. This herbal tisane is brimming with benefits for our body, mind, and spirit.

And, this tea, like other herbal teas, provides us with additional benefits. Herbal tisanes are refreshing, simple, inexpensive, effective, caffeine- and drug-free ways to enjoy the health and wellness benefits of countless spices and herbs. Herbal teas, which are delicious served hot or cold, are a great way to give your body some much-needed hydration, as well!

Whether you enjoy cinnamon tea made from scratch, keep your tea cupboard well-stocked with your favorite cinnamon teabags, or just prefer to stir your tea with an aromatic cinnamon stick, choosing organic cinnamon is a healthy choice that is so very beneficial for you and protects our planet for our children and grandchildren, as well. Healthy, environmentally friendly, and delicious - organic cinnamon tea is a powerful brew!

Della Flood learned her love of tea from her maternal grandmother, Annie, who was rarely without a cup of tea in her hand. You can learn more about the healing powers of tea and tea's many benefits for the body, mind, and spirit at Della's website, http://www.theteatalk.com.

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Learn to Make Tea

Whenever somebody tells me they really don't like the flavor of tea, I always believe they've simply never drank a properly prepared cup. The reason many men and women haven't had the pleasure of drinking well-prepared tea is simple to comprehend, considering the large difference in the process of brewing for various types of tea. And when you make an important error, you'll be left with a disgusting cup of tea. The good news is that you can essentially use almost any method for pretty much any kind of tea. Being aware of a couple of important factors is really all you need to do and I'll show you those below.

Let's start with the easiest one. Black tea is by far the simplest to make and not many persons have any significant difficulties making a great cup. Basically, you dump 100 ºC water on top of the leaves and let them steep for 2-3 minutes. This technique will be successful for Assam tea and all of the widely consumed Chinese teas, Ceylon teas or Nepalese teas. Darjeeling tea must not be made in this way, however. It should be made with colder water (80-90ºC or 180-194ºF), since it is not completely oxidized and essentially like an oolong tea.

Green teas are generally slightly more tasking to brew properly and you'll encounter a sizable variety in preparation methods between the various types. The proper water temperature and the steeping times are the two factors you really must take care to get right. The majority of green teas are ideally brewed using a temperature of around 80°C (176°F).

Be sure to use a significantly cooler 50°C-60°C (122°F-140°F) for the top quality Japanese tea gyokuro, however. An additional exception is Houjicha, a roasted Japanese tea. Perhaps the most difficult tea to get wrong, it can simply be brewed using 100°C water. The suggestions written on the package will indicate a good point to start for steeping times. In the absence of instructions, try two minutes for most teas and a minute and a half for gyokuro.

There is one green tea that is entirely unlike all the others and that can't be brewed with the guidelines I gave above: Matcha green tea powder. As you might guess from the name, it comes in powder form and as such, it calls for unique implements and a very distinctive and fairly complex method of preparation. If you have ever seen a Japanese tea ceremony, you've witnessed the making of matcha. I would prefer not to go off on a tangent of several thousand words, so I'll leave off diving into specifics on the way of preparation for this exceptional quality tea.

White tea can be a little more tasking to brew well, too. It needs a much lower water temperature than green tea, because the leaves are much more delicate. 75-80°C (167-176°F) is appropriate for both White Hair Silver Needle and White Peony teas. In terms of steeping times, begin with 2-3 minutes and fine tune it from there. To make your tea stronger, bump up the steeping time; to make it less astringent, subtract from it.

Oolong teas are probably the most tasking variety to brew the correct way, excepting matcha. Usually, they are prepared using a huge amount of leaves and very quick steeping times over many infusions. A standard method of preparation will result in great cup, though. Just make sure the water temperature is just a little below 100°C and you'll be fine.

I realize the instructions I've detailed above are quite simplistic. Of course, using the specific instructions for each specific tea will give you the tastiest cup. If you don't have those, however, following my guidelines will get you a great cup of tea, no matter the variety. Ideally, this should inspire at least a couple of folks who have previously made up their mind that they hate the taste of tea, to give it a second chance. You will not regret it.

For more information, head to Let's Drink Tea or this tea blog.

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Advantages to Drinking Chai Tea

Chai tea is a really special type of drink that comes to us originally from India.

You should know that it is not various sorts of tea itself such as green tea, red tea or white tea, but it truly is a green tea blending with spices and herbs you choose. For this reason this drink is much better than a single tea, because in the combination of herbs you receive an increase in the beneficial properties.

It is a drink mainly interesting for those who desire to enjoy good health, and that several properties, as almost all the antioxidants, reduces the possibilities of getting cancer disease.

Chai tea and its major benefits:

Chai tea features are diverse and allow us to enjoy at the same time the delightful flavor and aroma of this tea, suitable to take on very cold days. Feel free to try it if you have had breathing problems, cardiovascular disease or perhaps digestive complications, and you will see how much improves your overall health.

Chai tea benefits for overall health:

Chai tea features various elements, the basic ones are: black tea, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, black pepper and then nutmeg, then, dependent on where and also who prepares it can add other items. It can be mixed with hot water or else milk and can be sweetened with honey or sugar.

The tea is a strong stimulant, along with coffee, but with more benefits and no significant side effects than this drink. It is that is why that many people have decided to substitute the coffee with the chai tea. All the spices used in the chai tea commonly used in medicine and nutrition Ayurvedic. Among other things, these kind of herbs help to stimulation, balance, and support digestion. Calms stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea stimulates digestion and eliminates the flatulence, predominantly for its high content in fiber, rare in teas and it is due to the fennel presence. Clove, however, can help all those people who have stomach ulcers to relieve symptoms.

Among other benefits of the tea, we have its power anti-inflammatory and analgesic, ideal for people who suffer from arthritis. It also prevents cardiovascular diseases due to its antioxidant properties, helping to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. It also improves circulation along with the immune system, protecting us from viruses and germs.

Several of the herbs that have chai tea can help congestion and flu symptoms, respiratory allergies, mild asthma, and relieves the sore throat.

If we want to lose weight, there is nothing much better than chai tea, because black pepper added helps the metabolism of fats, preventing their accumulation.

Preparation ingredients: 2 tablespoons of green tea, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cardamom seeds, 3 cloves, and water 500 ml.

How to make Chai Herbal tea

Position all the herbs and water in a bowl, and set it on fire let them boil for 5-7 minutes after this time turn off the heat and leave to stand in another bowl make the green tea, once tea done add the liquid from the herbs.

Thanks for reading and to learn more about chai tea check out: TheChaiTea.com

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