Did you know? January is national 'Drink Hot Tea' month. So, pull out that dusty kettle and start the water while enjoying these little known facts about drinking hot tea.
There are three basic types of tea used for beverage purposes: black, green, and oolong. All three types come derive from the camellia sinesis plant, with the processing of the leaves determining the type of tea (green
being the least amount of process; black the most, as it is allowed to ferment). White tea, although rare, is also a drinkable type and is derived from the buds of the plant instead of the foliage. Unbeknownst to many, herbal tea is in fact not a tea at all, as it does not contain any of the camellia sineses plant.
In the United States every year, a whopping 94% of all tea consumed is of the black variety. 5% lends itself to the healthful green variety, and only 1% consists of oolong tea. Due to white tea's rare nature, no data is available on how often it is actually consumed. Surprisingly, only 20% of all tea consumed is hot in temperature.
Tea has long been attributed to have a variety of health benefits in many countries, with three to five cups a day being the recommended amount. Drinking black tea is thought to decrease the risk of heart disease and colon cancer, as well as possibly lowering the risk of osteoporosis. It also is said to inhibit bacteria that causes cavities, strep throat and bad breath. Green tea is probably the healthiest of all types, and has been linked to boosting the immune system. Other benefits of drinking green tea include a decreased risk of heart attack or stroke, prevention of arthritis, decreased cholesterol, and may also prevent other kinds of cancer.
To brew the perfect cup of tea, start with cold, filtered water. (Distilled water is not recommended as it may be too purified and produce a flat taste to the tea.) Bring the water to just a boil, but not any further. Continued boiling of the liquid decreases oxygen in the water, which can affect the flavor of the drink, and should be avoided. Add leaves or bags to the pot, steeping no more than five minutes. The longer your tea is steeped, the stronger it will be.
There are three basic types of tea used for beverage purposes: black, green, and oolong. All three types come derive from the camellia sinesis plant, with the processing of the leaves determining the type of tea (green
In the United States every year, a whopping 94% of all tea consumed is of the black variety. 5% lends itself to the healthful green variety, and only 1% consists of oolong tea. Due to white tea's rare nature, no data is available on how often it is actually consumed. Surprisingly, only 20% of all tea consumed is hot in temperature.
Tea has long been attributed to have a variety of health benefits in many countries, with three to five cups a day being the recommended amount. Drinking black tea is thought to decrease the risk of heart disease and colon cancer, as well as possibly lowering the risk of osteoporosis. It also is said to inhibit bacteria that causes cavities, strep throat and bad breath. Green tea is probably the healthiest of all types, and has been linked to boosting the immune system. Other benefits of drinking green tea include a decreased risk of heart attack or stroke, prevention of arthritis, decreased cholesterol, and may also prevent other kinds of cancer.
To brew the perfect cup of tea, start with cold, filtered water. (Distilled water is not recommended as it may be too purified and produce a flat taste to the tea.) Bring the water to just a boil, but not any further. Continued boiling of the liquid decreases oxygen in the water, which can affect the flavor of the drink, and should be avoided. Add leaves or bags to the pot, steeping no more than five minutes. The longer your tea is steeped, the stronger it will be.
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