John Myers
Tea is one of the most versatile foods. What are the properties of green, black, herbal, and fruit tea? And what should be considered during preparation?
Depending on the preparation and the leaves, flowers, and other parts of the plant that are brewed, tea can make you awake or tired, quench your thirst, promote digestion, relieve cold symptoms and pain, and help with stress and sleep disorders in a natural way. The real tea is made exclusively from the evergreen tea plant Camellia sinensis. Green tea and black tea come from this shrub. Strictly speaking, infusion drinks made from fruit and herbs are not teas.
After withering – a step in which moisture is removed – green tea is only briefly heated, steamed, or roasted. Therefore, all ingredients of the fresh tea leaf are preserved.
Black tea goes through five steps for a stronger aroma:
- Wither the leaves in well-ventilated wicker baskets to remove moisture
- Crushing the leaves with a roller to break up the cells so the cell sap can react with oxygen
- Sift out the fine leaves
- Fermentation at high humidity in the fermentation room
- Drying in very hot air to finish the fermentation process
Tea in tea makes you awake
Green and black tea are good ways to start the day because they contain theine. The substance is chemically identical to the caffeine in coffee. Tea increases blood pressure and wakes you up. 200 milliliters of black tea contain between 40 and 100 milligrams of theine.
Tea with theine can disturb night’s sleep
Unlike caffeine, theine is bound to certain plant substances (polyphenols) and is only released in the intestine. Therefore, the awakening effect of the tea starts later but lasts longer. The last tea containing theine should be drunk in the early afternoon so as not to disturb the night’s sleep. If black tea steeps longer than two to three minutes, more tannins are released. They bind the tea so that the tea no longer works as well. However, tannins can upset the stomach.
Don’t drink the tea too hot
Polyphenols are mainly found in green tea and to a lesser extent in black tea. They catch so-called free radicals, stimulate cell division and protect the heart and blood vessels. Tea must not be drunk too hot. If you can comfortably hold the cup or bowl in your hands, the temperature is right. Drinks that are too hot can damage the mucous membranes.
Herbal tea that makes you tired
Infusion drinks with lavender, valerian, or lemon balm have a calming effect and make you sleepy. These teas should not be drunk directly before going to sleep but distributed throughout the evening. Because it takes time for them to work.
Medicinal tea from the pharmacy
If you want a tea to relieve symptoms, it is best to buy it in the pharmacy. The medicinal teas available there always contain the same amount of active ingredients. They must meet the strict requirements of the Medicines Act and demonstrate a healing effect.
Teas for digestion
These teas are good for digestion if you drink them shortly before or after eating:
- Anise-fennel-cumin tea prevents flatulence.
- Jasmine tea calms the stomach and lowers blood sugar levels.
- Infusion drinks made from artichoke or dandelion stimulate the production of bile and thus promote fat burning.
More teas
Some types of tea are also attributed to other health-promoting properties:
- Chamomile tea has an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effect and helps with inflammation of the mouth and inflammation of the digestive organs.
- Dandelion tea has a diuretic effect but also boosts the metabolism.
- Nettle tea promotes blood circulation and is recommended for joint problems.
- Horehound tea tastes extremely bitter, the bitter substances help with loss of appetite.
