CEBU, Philippines - As I write this, I'm sitting at a corner in Starbucks after a long day's work sipping my favorite brew of jasmine tea. Since the first time I tried it, I've been hooked. Jasmine tea has a become a post-busy day ritual given its power to simply put you into a deep sleeping spell. It did for me and I had the best and deepest sleep since the last time I could remember.
It's only quite recently that I've become a fan of tea in particular. Filipinos in general are not tea drinkers. We can chug down five cups of coffee a day but we could barely have a cup of tea a month-okay, a week, to make it more realistic.
Tea dates back to as far as 5000 year back in China. Legend has it that the divine healer and Chinese Emperor Shen-Nun discovered tea way back in 2737BC after some tea leaves were accidentally blown into a pot of boiling water. It took more than a few centuries however, until tea was brought to the West by the Dutch traders when it became a staple in trade in 1600.
Although there are roughly 3000 varieties grown the world over, all tea leaves come from the same plant called the Camilla sinesis.
Having been the subject of tremendous scientific research used to unravel its health benefits, suffice to say that tea is the reason why so many Chinese live long, healthy lives.
So if you're thinking to unwind over another bottle of RH, cease and desist. Forget the alcohol, forget the poison, here's a healthier way to take a break after a long day. The good news? It has nothing to do with a hangover so before you hit the nearest coffee shop, here's the 411 on your new best friends.
Green Tea
If you talk about popularity, this smooth and delicate brew has it down pat and rightly so. Green tea is unmistakeable for its transparent green hue and its slight bitter taste. Except that it might keep you up a little beyond your bed time at night thanks to its natural caffeine content (you can choose decaf green tea, of course), green tea is your secret weapon against your worst nightmares: cancer, heart disease, arthritis, liver disease, and tooth decay.
Studies have also shown that green tea helps burn calories for those who are a tad bit interested in being the biggest loser and it also contains fluoride which protects teeth from cavities so you can confidently flash your pearly whites.
Wu Long Tea
Lying somewhere between the best of black and green teas is wu-long tea which is also called by some as oolong tea. Wu long tea originated in the Fukien province of China and, among all the types of teas is the most aromatic. Wu Long tea has the freshness of green tea sans the bitter tang, and the richness that only black tea can offer.
Wu long tea has a fruity kick into it and is best for those who want to reap the benefits of black and green tea but can't take the bitter brews. A cup of wu long tea only contains half the caffeine in coffee. Aside from helping improve metabolism which helps in weight loss, wu-long tea is renowned for its anti-aging properties and for bringing out healthier and more radiant skin.
Black Tea
Black tea is the most popular type of tea in the western world for its rich, full-bodied taste that ranges from flowery to spicy to nutty. Characteristic of black tea is its deep, reddish hue that's often infused with flower petals or fruits to give it a unique spin. Black tea comes in a plethora of varieties from jasmine to earl grey to assam to djeerling, with spin-offs in taste ranging from muted to malty.
Rich in flavanoids, black tea can help lower cholesterol levels, improve blood flow, reduce inflammations, and maintain blood sugar levels.
White Tea
Delicate and sweet to the taste, white tea is for those who aren't quite into the slight grassy taste that's present in both green and black tea varieties. White tea is as light as it is potent.
Studies show that white tea doesn't just boost the immune system, stave off potential colon cancer, and prevent dental plaque build up. White tea extracts in fact help in slowing down harmful viruses and bacteria in the body, reduce strep and staph infections, and even pneumonia. Because it has properties that help repair skin damage from harmful UV rays, white tea might very well play a vital role in the cure against skin cancer in the future.
Amaretto Tea
Among all types of teas, the amaretto tea has perhaps the most romantic history. From the Italian word that means “little bitter”, the amaretto flavouring dates all the way back to 1525 when a young painter, Bernardino Luini has a passionate affair with a vivacious young innkeeper who was his muse when he was commissioned to paint a fresco of Madonna at the Santa Maria Delle Grazie church in Saronno, Italy.
It is said that the painter's lover created the almond-flavored liquor as a gift to her lover before they parted.
The amaretto tea is for almond lovers who are likewise craving for that smooth, velvety taste and that warm aroma that only a touch of almonds can offer.
Chai Tea
Chai tea is the healthier and lighter alternative to latte and cappuccino for those who've simply had too much of coffee for the entire week. Chai, which is the Indian word for “tea” is the next best thing for hard-core coffee drinkers for its rich, sweet flavor, its velvety consistency, and for its come-hither aroma.
Chai is like a great vegetable soup. Everyone loves it and everyone puts a unique spin into it. A wild mix of spices with spikes of honey, milk, and sugar, chai is said to calm the mind, revitalize the spirit, and promote good digestion.
Pu-erh Tea
If you're loading up on that patatim, crispy pata, or even hell bent on finishing that lechon from the skin to the ribs, you might want to end the meal with a good dose of pu-erh tea.
Named after the once thriving tea market of Pu-erh in the southwestern province of Yunnan in china, pu-erh has powerful cholesterol lowering effects, blood cleansing properties, and even weight loss properties.
Sources:
http://www.learn-about-tea.com/
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/origins-flavors-health-benefits.html
http://www.healthcastle.com/tea.shtml. (FREEMAN)