Variety makes all aspects of our lives beautiful, including the types of tea we take. There are literally thousands if not millions of different varieties of tea, meaning your favorite cup of tea is out there if you haven’t found one!
Regardless of whether you are looking to buy detox green tea or metabolism-boosting tea, there is a tea that can perfectly meet your needs and wants. Such a wide variety can leave one confused especially if decision-making isn’t one of your strong suits.
With so many varieties, how does one pick the best one?
Well, that’s why we are here!
In this article, we are going to highlight the most healthy teas and by the end of it, you will be in a place to pick the best one for you.
Let’s get the party started!
The 4 Top Healthy Teas
As mentioned earlier, there are countless tea types out there. However, all of the legit ones are made from the same plant: the Camellia sinensis.
The true teas are black tea, white tea, green tea, and oolong tea. The rest are just herbal elixirs with botanical compounds. How is it that we can get so many different types of teas from the same plant?
It all boils down to the growing, harvesting, and preparation process that the individual type is subjected to, the key player being oxidation. Oxidation is the process through which leaves are bruised and exposed to oxygen.
Naturally, plants have an antioxidant molecule that prevents oxidation from happening. This exposure allows the leaves to absorb oxygen, changing their chemical structure. This process alters its aroma, chemical composition, and flavor.
To achieve a variety of teas, the oxidation process is deliberately started, controlled, and stopped while others are not subjected to oxidation altogether.
This is how companies are able to create tummy cleanse tea, metabolism-boosting tea, slim tummy tea, and so many other types of tea.
That being said, every type of tea has its benefits.
1. White Tea
This is a tea that has been subjected to the least amount of oxidation and processing. It is made from very young leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves are delicately steamed and dried to stop the oxidation process.
Due to the minimal processing, white tea is known to possess more antioxidant power as compared to the rest of the teas.
It has slight sweetness, light color, and mild flavor. If bold flavors aren’t your type, then this is the tea to go for.
Some of its benefits include its cancer-fighting properties, increased weight loss, and improved oral health. Due to its ability to reduce LDL cholesterol, white tea helps with diabetes and boosts immune functions.
2. Green Tea
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The health benefits of green tea have made it a popular choice these days. Green tea undergoes minimal oxidation and just like white tea, its processing isn’t as intense as that of oolong and black tea.
Green tea is one of the best detox teas on the market. After harvesting, its leaves are quickly preserved. Heat is then deliberately used to stop its oxidation, leaving it with a fresh-picked flavor and green color.
Just like white tea, green tea has incredibly high amounts of catechins. It has an older, grassier flavor to it hence its common adjectives being bittersweet, floral, buttery, swampy, and oceanic. Its caffeine content is higher than that of white tea.
The benefits of green tea include weight loss since it is a metabolism-boosting tea, reduced risk of stroke, and improved skin tone.
3. Black Tea
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This is a classic that is the most consumed among all the types of tea. After bruising, the leaves are allowed to start their natural oxidation process until they are fully oxidized to give them a dark brown or black appearance.
Its common flavors are nutty, smoky, malty, citrus, caramel, and spiced. Its caffeine content is also significantly higher hence a great option for the habitual coffee drinker.
Black tea helps in lowering blood pressure due to its antioxidant properties that lower cholesterol levels. Other benefits include improved blood circulation and solved digestive problems such as diarrhea.
4. Oolong Weight Loss Tea
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Despite being unpopular, oolong tea has its perks of health benefits. It is a full-bodied tea that’s abundant in vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and polyphenol antioxidants.
Its leaves are picked right as they peak and have a very characteristic shape to them. Its flavor ranges from grassy floral to toasty sweet and isn’t as strong as black or as light as green tea. One can easily pick a note of fresh flowers and fruits on their flavor.
One of the main health benefits of oolong weight loss tea is its ability to help people lose or maintain their weight. The polyphenols in it activate thermogenesis which turns your body into a fat-burning machine. It also strengthens the ones, stabilizes blood sugars, and improves gut health.
It’s Tea Time!
Now that you know the top four types of healthy teas, it’s time to enjoy a cup of this glorious, botanical beverage that’s so soothing and yummy, offering a wide range of health benefits.
Each of the teas highlighted has a remarkable benefit to your body, both inside and out. This means that no matter the tea you pick, whether, white, black, green, or oolong, it’s a win!
You can never lose with tea. It tastes good and at the same time is beneficial to your body, making it a win-win!
So, when choosing which tea to go for consider its caffeine content, its flavor, and health benefits. Once you’ve narrowed it down, make it a lovely habit to drink your tea when winding down or starting off your day.
About The Author:
Shiraz Kahn is an experienced writer and researcher who has been building and implementing successful digital marketing strategies for businesses for more than 18 years.
