Benefits of Black Tea, Who Knew?

The health benefits of black tea are endless. Well, only until you drink that last drop from your teacup. Black tea is one of the world’s most popular teas. How many people realize the health benefits inside each cup. From your brain to your gut the health benefits of black tea will astound you! There are many varieties of black tea and that is not including all the infusions.

What’s your favorite black tea?

A new black tea to me and becoming a favorite for many reasons, Two Leaves and a Bud

What is Black Tea

Discovered in China about 4000 or more years ago, and as the story goes… 

The tale goes that while a passing army entered the Fujian province, they decided to take shelter at a nearby tea factory. This held up production at the tea factory. The tea leaves were left out in the sun, which caused them to oxidize for a longer period of time and resulted in darker leaves. Trying to speed up the drying time, they decided to smoke the leaves over pine wood. This created Lapsang Souchong, one of the first black teas.

Back then, tea was drunk as a concoction to keep one warm and fortified with vital nutrients.

Black tea is the most popular tea consumed, accounting for over 90 percent of all tea sold in the West. To this day, black tea is called Red tea in China. Black tea is produced in countries like Kenya, Sri Lanka, China, and India.

black tea because of oxidation. 

India’s black tea comes from a different strain of the Camellia plant. The plant is called Camellia assamica. Camellia Assamica is a stronger tea-producing, larger leaf. The leaves are withered to release the moisture. Once withered, the leaves are either rolled by hand or by machine. There is another way of processing black tea called CTC (crush, tear, curl) or mamri tea. The leaves run through several-cylinder rollers. The rollers have sharp teeth that crush, tear, and curl the leaves. This type of black tea is generally used for tea bags and produces a lovely dark red brew. 

The flavor of Black tea is brisk, full-bodied, malty, and earthy.

Authentic Chinese Tea, a company striving to change the tea world: ITeaWorld

Health Benefits of Black Tea

Heart – Flavones in the tea help improve your heart. Studies have shown that drinking 3 cups of tea a day can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Lowers Ovarian Cancer Risk – Catechins and theaflavins in black tea may inhibit the reproduction of ovarian cancer cells. 

Diabetes – Lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes by drinking tea. The catechins and theaflavins help cellular function and help you become insulin sensitive.

Immunity – Antioxidant-rich tea helps restore normal cell and body functions.

Bone health – Phytochemicals found in tea can help lower the onset of arthritis.

Brain health – High concentration of antioxidants in black tea may help protect the brain. Protection from degenerative neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s

Digestion – Black tea helps to streamline digestive processes and ease digestive problems

Cholesterol – Theaflavins in black tea have been shown to reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels

Weight loss – black tea, and the gut microbiome, may also contribute to good health and weight loss in humans. Black tea is also a low-calorie drink (depending on how much and what sweetener you choose).

Stress – The scent alone can relax you. Black tea lowers the hormone cortisol. 

Oral Health – black tea reduces plaque formation. Black tea also restricts the growth that forms cavities and tooth decay. 

Mental State of Mind – The caffeine in black tea has been shown to improve mental focus. Black tea also helps concentration by promoting blood flow in the brain

Skin – Tea has a detoxifying effect on the body, and antioxidants help repair the skin from damage.

Blood Pressure – A study of people who drank black tea had a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, compared to the placebo group

Check out Numi Tea for a twist on the breakfast tea. 

Black Tea Nutritional Facts

Black tea is also full of healthy nutritional substances called polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants that can help protect your cells from DNA damage.

These are a few of the antioxidants in black tea:

• Catechin
• Flavonoids
• Theaflavins
• Thearubigins

Black tea has less caffeine than coffee (about half less) 

USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference

https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/14278

Nutrient data for: Beverages, tea, green, brewed, regular

NutrientUnit1Value per 100 g1 cup = 245.0g

• Water g99.93244.83
• Energy kcal12
• Protein g0.220.54
• Total lipid (fat) g0.000.00
• Carbohydrate, by difference g0.000.00
• Fiber, total dietary g0.00.0
• Sugars, total g0.000.00

Minerals

• Calcium, Cam g00
• Iron, Fem g0.020.05
• Magnesium, Mg g12
• Phosphorus, Pm g00
• Potassium, Km g820
• Sodium, Namg12
• Zinc, Znmg0.010.02

Vitamins

• Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid g0.00.0
• Thiamine g0.0070.017
• Riboflavin g0.0580.142
• Niacin g0.0300.073
• Vitamin B-6m g0.0050.012
• Folate, DFEµ g00
• Vitamin B-12µ g0.000.00
• Vitamin A, RAEµ g00
• Vitamin A, IUIU00
• Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) mg0.000.00
• Vitamin D (D2 + D3) µg0.00.0
• Vitamin D IU00
• Vitamin K (phylloquinone)µ g0.00.0

Lipids

• Fatty acids, total saturated g0.0000.000
• Fatty acids, total monounsaturated g0.0000.000
• Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated g0.0000.000
• Cholesterol mg00

Caffeine mg1229

Who makes the best black tea?  That’s up to you, but I love to give you choices:

Best known black teas

• Assam
• Ceylon
• Darjeeling
• Dian Hong Cha 
• Earl Grey
• English Breakfast
• Irish Breakfast
• Keemun 
• Kenya
• Lady Grey
• Lapsang Souchong
• Masala Chai
• Nilgiri

How To Prepare Black Tea

How to Store Black Tea

Buy in small amounts. There is no need to buy a lot; moderation is important. Store your tea in airtight containers in a dark, cool place. Black tea still contains about 3% moisture, so storage is important. Do not expose your tea to the sun. Your tea should last you over 2 years (or more).

Do not store in the refrigerator because of the condensation. Wood containers are not good either because they will not preserve the tea. Storing above the stove or a heat source is another bad idea. The heat can ruin the tea. Remember, your tea can absorb odors around it, so keep your tea away from your spices. That will become a very complicated mess.

When you buy your tea, see if you can find the date it was processed. Now, some teas, such as aged teas, can be much older, and that is perfectly fine. For most teas, you purchase, you do not want to buy something old and outdated.

You honestly don’t have to look far for great-tasting black tea: Assam Tea has some great choices.

How To Brew your Black Tea

Items you will need

Teapot

• Electric
• Stovetop
• Smart infuser
• French press

Infuser

• Strainer used to separate the tea leaves from the water
• teabag
• tea balls
• open basket

Mug or Cup

Choose your tea

• Chinese black for a lighter brew
• Indian for a darker brew
• CTC for even darker (you can add milk if desired)

Prepare

• Heat your water to the desired strength, in this case, it’s black tea so around 190 degrees
• Prepare your leaves for the infuser
• Place the infuser in a cup
• Pour water over the infuser in a cup
• Steep tea for 3-5 minutes (choose your desired strength)
• Remove the infuser (strainer) 
• Take a deep breath of freshly brewed tea and savor the moment

ENJOY

Optional

• Add milk
• Add Sweetener

While traveling to Canada a few years ago, I walked around the neighborhood of my hotel and found a lovely tea shop. I stopped in and had an incredible milk tea. That was a few years ago, and I had searched for a recipe and found one that was similar to what I had drunk in Canada.

I’m excited to share it with you.

Hong Kong Black Milk Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 can Organic Evaporated Milk
• 3 teaspoons of organic Black Tea
• 1 eggshell (removes bitterness) 
• 1 cup of water

Method

• Put about 3 teaspoons of tea, the eggshell and a cup of water in a small pot
• Bring to a boil and let boil for about 6 minutes. This will over-steep the tea which is intentional
• Take the tea off the heat and let cool for 3 minutes
• Fill your teacup 1/3 of the way with evaporated milk
• Bring the tea back to a boil
• Pour the tea through a strainer into a teacup
• Evaporated milk is already pretty sweet; if you need more sugar, add more! 🙂

ENJOY!

Black tea drawbacks

Anxiety – Caffeine in black tea can cause anxiousness. It can also cause restlessness when trying to sleep.

Urination – Tea can make you pee (drink less at night) 

Seizures – High caffeine content can bring on seizures. It can also stop seizure medicine from working.

Glaucoma – Caffeinated black tea increases eye pressure. The increase begins a half-hour after drinking and remains for about an hour and a half. Let your eye doctor know.

Diarrhea – The caffeine in black tea may cause diarrhea if drinking in excess

Constipation – The tannins in black tea may cause constipation

And, sometimes you just want to pop the lid and drink your tea, I suggest Tejava, unsweetened.

Conclusion

From the tea plantation to your cup, the journey starts with the picking of a leaf, processing, and packing. You open the container, take a deep breath, and the healing begins. The health benefits of black tea include antioxidants that are present in every cup. Moderation is the key, and drinking 3 cups of black tea a day is no problem for this girl. Your journey begins by searching for all the varieties of black tea until you find your favorite. If you are like me, you will have many favorites.