Talk on Tea

      

Tea is an aromatic beverage commonly prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub which is native to Asia. After water, it is the most widely consumed drink in the world. It was made famous during the Chinese Tang dynasty. Tea was originated in Southwest Asia. Tea has been an important beverage for thousands of years and has been a huge part of culture in countries around the world, forming major parts of ceremonies, journeys and even starting revolutions. Tea is oftenly known as cha in 16^th century, tea from 17^th century and chai from 20^th century. The form chai refers specifically to a black tea mixed with honey, spices and milk in contemporary English.

Tea is generally categorized into six types based on processing they are:

1. Green

2. Yellow

3. Oolong

4. Black

5. White

6. Post fermented

The flavour of the tea can also be altered by pouring it from different heights , resulting in varying degrees of aeration. In Southeast Asia, particularly in Singapore and Malaysia, the practice of pouring tea from a height has been refined further using black tea to which condensed milk is added, poured from a height from one cup to another several times in alternating fashion and in quick succession, to create a tea with entrapped air bubbles creating a frothy "head" in the cup. This beverage, "pulled tea" (which has its origin as a hot Indian tea beverage), has a creamier taste than flat milk tea and is extremely popular in the region.  Pouring from height in China is mainly done to entertain guests at the tea room or restaurant But tea isn’t just appreciated for its good taste and worldwide appeal, it also offers numerous health benefits. Here are a few health conscious reasons you should add a cup of tea to your daily routine.

Herbal teas mostly found are:

·         Chamomile tea-help relieve premenstrual symptoms and high blood lipid, blood sugar and insulin levels.

·         Peppermint tea-relieve discomfort of the digestive tract.

·         Ginger tea-best known as a remedy for nausea.

·         Hibiscus tea-lower high blood pressure and fight oxidative stress.

·         Echinacea tea-shorten the duration of the common cold.

·         Rooibos tea- improve bone health and reduces heart disease risk.

·         Sage tea-improves cognitive function and memory.

·         Lemon balm tea-promotes Arterial stiffness.

·         Rose hip tea-contains anti-inflammatory properties.

·         Passionflower tea used to relieve anxiety and improve sleep.

Pros:

 Tea is basically beneficial for a human body. It furnishes many health benefits for a human.

þ  Tea contains anti-oxidants which reduce the aging process and helps to repair and regenerate the cells.

 þ  It acts as a barrier for cancers as all types of teas contain anti-oxidant polyphenols.

 þ  Tea can help you relax and concentrate more fully on tasks as it contains amino acid L-theanine which alters the attention networks in the brain.

 þ  Tea helps to prevent the formation of dangerous blood clots which are very often the cause of heart attacks and strokes.

 þ  Drinking only half a cup of green or oolong tea a day could reduce your risk of high blood pressure by up to 50%.

 þ  Tea keeps teeth healthier for a longer time as it have compounds like fluoride and tannins, both of which help reduce plaque build up and tooth decay.

 þ   The antioxidants in green tea may have an effect on acne.

 þ  Black tea protests against flu.

 þ  Regular tea consumption reduces the risk of neurological disorders.

 þ  Tea protects iron damage in the body.

 þ  If you’ve got a bit of a cold, drinking black tea with lemon may help clear up some of the congestion that’s bothering you.

 þ  Consumption of low fat tea reduces the risk of cholesterol.

 þ  Red tea which is mostly known as rooibos eases irritability, headaches, nervous tension and insomnia.

 þ  Having 2-3 cups of tea is a wise option.

Cons:

 ý  Tea can discolour your teeth. So try to make healthy relationship between your tea and teeth.

 ý  Drinking tea can mess with your sugar levels if consumed with higher sugars.

 ý  Caffeine has health benefits but only to an extent, you may feel jittery. If you drink tea late in the afternoon or in the evening, you might have trouble falling asleep.

 ý  Sour stomach, stomach aches, and even Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can arise from drinking a lot of tea.

 ý  Tea might be one of the reasons where iron is not absorbed in the blood.

 - By Bushra Shaik