Red Tea, Green Tea, Black Tea

We analyze the three most valuable and popular variants of Tea that can be found, their origins, and their health and day-to-day benefits. We refer to Green, Red and Black Tea, each with its own particularities that provide unique personalities.

GREEN TEA

The Green Tea It is a drink of Asian origin that has increased its popularity globally in recent times due to its great health benefits.

It is obtained from the plant Camellia sinensis, distributed mainly in China, Vietnam and Japan. These cultures revolved around tea, and it is common for it to be the protagonist of important rituals and ceremonies in its honor. Today it is possible to obtain it as dried leaves for use as an infusion, in the form of bottled cold tea or even packaged and processed as a nutritional supplement.

Polyphenols, the key to the benefits of green tea

Green tea is rich in polyphenols, these are molecules related to flavonoids, substances widely known for their antioxidant effects.

One of the most abundant polyphenols in green tea is epigallocatechin galatae, which has the ability to inhibit some processes related to the metabolism of fatty acids, which contributes to reducing body fat, a fact that in addition to improving the aesthetic appearance of the individual, protects the cardiovascular system.

These substances are also capable of improving the functioning of the nervous system by various mechanisms. On the one hand, the production of some neurotransmitters is modulated, mainly serotonin and dopamine related to sensation of well-being, happiness and anxiety, on the other hand it has been shown that green tea is able to promote the development of new connections between neurons, which is related to memory capacity Y learning. The latter is related to the fact that people who regularly consume this type of have you a lower risk of developing degenerative diseases of the nervous system such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

All these effects described contribute to a lower risk of developing the main chronic diseases that affect the Western world, such as cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, arteriosclerosis, heart attacks and accidents cerebrovascular), metabolic problems such as insulin resistance and diabetes and even cancer, which ultimately explains why green tea is able to increase longevity.

The proportion of polyphenols is not the same in all green tea presentations

It has been seen that there are differences in the concentrations of the components of green tea between its various presentations, especially in bottled forms.

Processing green tea can lower its amount of antioxidants so it is a good choice to go for natural tea prepared at home.

The ideal way to prepare the infusion is to add boiling water to a cup or container in which the tea leaves have previously been placed, the ideal proportion is one teaspoon for each cup of water, stir and cool a little if it is to be drunk hot, it can also be placed in the refrigerator if you prefer tea cold. If you want to increase its antioxidant power, it is advisable to add a few drops of lemon, since vitamin C contributes to better assimilation of polyphenols.

RED TEA

The Red tea It is a type of tea that is obtained from the leaves of the tree Camellia sinensis, the same one from which green tea comes, only that these are subjected to a very different type of processing that also causes the properties of this plant to vary.

It is originally from southern China, a country where It is known as Pu-erh since millennial times, since that was the locality in which it originated approximately a few four thousand years, being highly prized among their emperors and the nobility for their properties medicinal.

Red tea, an old tea

Initially the leaves from which this type of tea is obtained are green. Once cultivated, they are compressed and dried in cavernous places, where they remain for many years. during which they are subjected to a series of artisanal processes so that they can be modified and achieve a maturation culminating in fermentation of the leaves, which leads them to change their color to a very intense red tone. This color change is achieved when the tea reaches about fifty to sixty years in this process..

Once ready for consumption, it is packed compressed and wrapped in paper in the form of small bricks. Until the time of use, you may continue to undergo the fermentation process, as long as it is kept in a cool place with little humidity and away from the sun.

As with other types of tea, it should be placed in water near the boiling point but not find it still boiling, after which it is covered and left to rest for a few minutes before being ingested.

Red tea has a wide variety of qualities

This tea has a composition rich in antioxidants, predominantly a type of flavonoids known as catechins, with a low amount of components present in other types of tea, such as caffeine and tannins.

Its use has been associated with beneficial effects mainly of the metabolic type. It has a fat-burning effect that reduces body weight and reduces levels of cholesterol in the blood, also decreases insulin resistance so it has a protective effect on the liver. These effects help prevent high blood pressure and its complications such as heart failure and strokes.

In addition to this, red tea has a beneficial effect on the immune system, which leads to increased resistance to developing both infections and various types of tumors.
Its effect on the circulatory system is also responsible for the improvement in male sexual function.

BLACK TEA

The black tea is a variety of tea obtained from the plant Camellia sinensis, the same from which green tea and red tea are obtained. In the case of black tea, this is achieved by using aged leaves and stems, which changes its properties and its effects on the body, as well as its appearance and taste.

This type of originated in China, it was adopted by the English who included it as an important part of their culture and introduced it in Sri Lanka and in India, in the latter a variety of black tea known as Darjeeling tea is obtained, considered by experts as the best variety of black tea in the world. world.

Black tea has a powerful stimulating effect

One of the main effects of black tea is its ability to stimulate mental activity, which translates into increased alertness and intellectual activity, this is related to the fact that black tea contains a higher amount of caffeine than other varieties of tea.

The reason for this lies in the process that the leaves undergo until they are converted into the tea ready for consumption. These, in addition to the traditional processing that allows the leaves to dry and wither, are subjected to an environment with temperature and controlled humidity that allow the oxidation of various components present in the leaf to take place, which causes new compounds to be originated that provide various qualities to the tea.

Health effects of black tea

Black tea is part of the Pharmacopoeia of Traditional Chinese Medicine. For years it was employed in the prevention of various disorders, as well as to stimulate mental activity and promote alertness.

An important effect is its ability to lower blood cholesterol levels, while helping to raise blood blood pressure in people with low blood pressure, which improves cerebral circulation in these cases.

Several studies have confirmed the effect of black tea on the walls of the arteries, being evident that decrease the risk of developing the thickening and hardening of the wall of the arteries that characterizes disorders such as arteriosclerosis. It has also been seen that in people who have suffered heart attacks, those who had the habit drinking black tea on a regular basis had a lower risk of dying from these events.

Benefits of black tea on metabolism have also been described, characterized by the decrease the risk of developing disorders such as osteoporosis, as well as the appearance of stones in the kidneys.

Photos: Fotolia - Natalia Merzlyakova / bit24 / weyo

Topics in Red Tea, Green Tea, Black Tea