Tea leaves are processed in different ways. Green tea, which retains the natural qualities of tea, has been in use all over the world except the western countries. The western countries use black tea which is processed in a different way.
Black tea doesn’t have as much natural properties as green tea because tea leaves are fermented in its preparation process. Fermentation destroys most of its medicinal properties. But still it retains some of its natural qualities.
If milk is added to tea, its medicinal properties are further destroyed. Yet, drinking tea is proved to be beneficial for the health of people. A recent research into the benefits of drinking tea has revealed that habitual tea drinkers have a better brain performance in their old age than people who don’t drink tea.
It may be surprising to note that drinking black tea can be one of the causes of cancer. This warning is issued by the IARC. The reason given for this warning is the fact that tea leaves are fermented or allowed to rot before black tea is produced. And it is also known that rotting materials are carcinogens.
What makes black tea a carcinogen is the way it is processed in its manufacture. Studies on mice have proved that black tea is a carcinogen. When injected with black tea concentrate, the mice developed cancer like growths.
But there is nothing to suggest that the same effect will be on humans too. Since people use black tea in a much diluted form, the risk of contracting cancer is far too less. But the risk does exist. Therefore, as far as possible, avoid drinking black tea.
Green tea, which is a risk free form of tea, is expensive when compared to black tea. Green tea is 8 times more expensive than black tea. What could be the reason for such a price variation? It is definitely the quality that makes the difference.
You pay more for a quality product and less for an inferior quality product. The customers have to be extremely careful while buying tea because there are chances of being cheated. Black tea may be labeled as green tea and sold at very high prices. Ordinary people have no way to tell whether the tea they are buying is actually green or black.
You have to be more careful with tea brands imported from China. Inferior quality tea leaves are treated with artificial substances to give them the appearance of green tea. The best way to find the difference between original green tea and fake green tea is to compare them.
If you search in branded shops, you will get real green tea. It may not be easily available in all supermarkets because they are costly. To ensure that the tea you buy is green tea, buy green tea imported from Japan. It will be very costly compared to Chinese made green tea.
If you can get ‘Sencha’ brand green tea, you can be hundred percent sure of its quality and purity. You can even order ‘sencha’ online. Real green tea will be dark green in color and will have a sweet smell and a fresh taste. If these qualities are absent in the tea you buy, conclude that the tea you bought is not green tea.
The way you brew tea makes a great difference to the beverage. Black tea gives the same taste and color whatever way you brew it but green tea gives the real taste and color only if you brew it in the recommended way.
There are many benefits to drinking tea. As you can see from the article above, not all teas are made the same because some are better than others. If you have a goal to stay fit and healthy, you should eat a balanced diet coupled with drinking tea. But how would we know if the meal we are having every day is well balanced?
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