Teas are one of the most convenient, natural ways of getting rid of health-related problems like indigestion, obesity, menstruation cramps, stress, anxiety, and others. Teas are consumed on a regular basis and have a large number of varieties and rejuvenating properties. Different teas have different benefits and different percentages of vitamins, minerals as well as antioxidants.
Some of the healthiest teas along with their benefits and content are as follows:
Herbal Teas
Herbal teas which are called tisanes are mostly made either from herbs, spices, dried fruits, flowers, and others. They are considered to have the maximum health benefits because they have very little caffeine in them. Therefore, some of the Herbal teas and their benefits are here,
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Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea is an herbal tea that is made by drying up a few sections of Hibiscus flowers. It is mostly famous for its sweet taste and fruity aroma and has numerous health benefits like it's the impact on skin and even on hair. The ascorbic acid present in Hibiscus tea promotes the production of collagen which is responsible for improving the quality of the skin.
It also has Myricetin which breaks down elastin thereby eliminating wrinkles and fine lines. Hibiscus tea has Kerstin, Minoxidil, and Finasteride which helps in strengthening and regrowing hair. It is also quite effective in treating menstrual cramps as it has analgesic properties.
The steps to brewing Hibiscus tea are as follows:
- In a container heat 8 ounces of water to an optimum temperature of 208°F
- Add 1.5 teaspoons of loose Hibiscus tea and let the tea steep in the water for about 5 minutes.
- Use a strainer or an infuser to remove the tea leaves.
- Serve hot with or without any sweetener.
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Lemon Balm Tea
Lemon Balm tea is also known as Melissa Officinalis. It has a mint-like taste because it derives its origin from Lamiace of the mint family and is an herbal tea with various health benefits. Lemon Balm tea is often suggested to pregnant women because Lemon Balm tea has anti-depressant, anti-histamine, antiviral and antispasmodic properties
These properties of Lemon Balm tea help in getting rid of anxiety attacks, mood swings, dehydration, and sudden inflammation caused during pregnancy. Lemon Balm tea is also proven effective against problems such as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GRED), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD), and others.
This happens due to the presence of Citral, Citronellal, Cinaloel, and others which helps in reducing the production of gas.
The steps to brewing Lemon Balm tea are as follows:
- Keep aside 10 to 15 chopped Lemon Balm leaves so that they can release their flavours via essential oils.
- In a container boil water to an optimum temperature of 180°C and add the chopped Lemon Balm leaves.
- Let it steep in for 10 minutes and then strain it using a strainer or an infuser.
- Serve hot with or without any sweetener.
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Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is scientifically called Matricaria chamomilla. It is made from the dried-up buds of Chamomile flowers and this tea has various benefits. It is infused with apigenin which helps in fighting insomnia and provides better quality sleep. Chamomile tea also plays a very vital role in treating indigestion or upset stomach. The carminative properties of Chamomile tea helps in decreasing bloating and indigestion.
Here are the steps to brew Chamomile tea are as follows:
- In a container boil 8 ounces of water
- Add 2 tablespoons of Chamomile tea and let it steep in the water for 5 minutes
- Use a strainer to remove the steeped tea leaves
- Serve hot with honey or just as is.
True Teas
True teas are majorly derived from Camellia sinensis plants. They mostly have caffeine in them, unlike Herbal teas. Therefore, some of the true teas along with their benefits and content are as follows:
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Black Tea
Black tea is considered to be the most oxidised tea. It has refreshing flavours and high caffeine content which makes the consumer more alert and active. The amino acid present in Black tea removes all the stress and tiredness from the body efficiently.
Black tea is also called the storehouse of antioxidants such as catechins, theaflavins, thearubigins, and a lot more. These antioxidants of black tea help in reducing heart diseases, cholesterol, obesity, and others. Black tea also affects insulin activity thereby reducing blood sugar levels.
The steps to brewing Black tea are as follows:
- In a container boil 6 ounces of water to an optimum temperature of 190°F
- Add 3 grams of Black tea to the heated water and let it steep in for 3 to 5 minutes.
- After steeping, use a strainer or an infuser to remove the tea leaves.
- Serve hot with or without any sweetener.
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Green Tea
Green tea is undoubtedly considered to be one of the healthiest drinks ever. It is less oxidised when compared to Black tea and therefore has less caffeine content. Green tea is often suggested to be included in the diets of people who want weight loss. It is also known to burn fat and increase metabolic rate. Green tea also reduces cell damage and promotes cell growth.
This happens due to the presence of epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) in Green tea. Along with these, Green tea is very rich in Polyphenol which is quite effective in treating cancer, heart diseases, inflammation, and others.
Therefore, the ways to brew Green tea are as follows:
- In a container boil 6 ounces of water and to that add 2 tablespoons of Green tea.
- Let the tea steep in the water for 1 to 3 minutes.
- Use a strainer or an infuser to remove the tea leaves.
- Serve hot!!
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Oolong Tea
Oolong tea derives its origin from the Camellia sinensis plant. It is neither oxidised too much like Black tea nor too less like Green tea. Oolong tea helps in reducing diabetes. The Polyphenols present in Oolong tea helps in reducing insulin level and helps in controlling blood sugar levels.
Oolong tea is also known to reduce cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, and even cholesterol level. It helps in weight loss as well. The active enzymes present in it helps in burning stored fat into energy thereby increasing the metabolic rate of the consumer.
The steps to brewing Oolong tea are as follows:
- In a container heat 6 ounces of water to an optimum temperature range of 180°F to 200°F
- To the heated water add 2 tablespoons of Oolong tea and let it steep for 1 to 5 minutes.
- Use a strainer or an infuser to remove the tea leaves after steeping
- Serve hot with or without any sweetener.
There are many varieties of Teas and each of them has a different content, benefits, and brewing techniques. The result of each tea depends majorly on the body type of the consumer but in maximum cases it has no such side effect.