Black tea

(Author: Valerija Zupanac, Natalija Zilic)

●BLACK TEA●

~ Black tea is made from the leaves of a bush called Camellia sinensis. A process called oxidation turns the leaves from green to a dark brownish-black color. Oxidation means the leaves are exposed to moist, oxygen-rich air.

~Tea manufacturers can control the amount of oxidation. Black tea is a fully oxidized tea . Green tea comes from the same plant, but is not as oxidized.

~ Some scientists think that specific antioxidants in tea, including polyphenols and catechins, may help prevent some types of cancer. For example, some research shows that women who regularly drink black tea have a much lower risk of ovarian cancer than women who do not.
~Increasing evidence hints that the antioxidants in black tea may reduce atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), especially in women. It may also help lower the risk of heart attack.

Regularly drinking black tea may also lower your risk for these conditions:

~Diabetes
~High cholesterol
~Kidney stones
~Parkinson’s disease

Early evidence hints that long-term use of black tea may also help protect against:
~Osteoporosis
~Lung cancer

But larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these uses.

Black tea extract is sold as a supplement. Sometimes, the supplement includes other types of herbs, vitamins, or minerals.

Drinking a moderate amount of black tea (one to four cups a day) may boost blood pressure slightly, but the effect does not last long. And drinking this amount of black tea is not associated with long-term high blood pressure.

What are the risks of taking black tea?

~Drinking black tea in moderate amounts is generally safe for most people. Drinking large amounts of black tea, or more than four or five cups a day, may cause health problems. That's mostly because of caffeine-related side effects.

Side effects of black tea (most often in high amounts) may include:

~Anxiety and difficulty sleeping
~Faster breathing
~Headache
~Increased urination
~Irregular heartbeat
~Nausea and vomiting
~Nervousness and restlessness
~Ringing in the ears
~Tremors

 

Milk tea the British way

Want to know how to make milk tea the traditional British way? The method below is how tea is predominantly drunk in the UK and Ireland. All you need is a kettle, a mug and 5 minutes to spare…

How to make it:

1. Add a teabag to your favorite cup.

2. Boil water and pour over the teabag.

3. Wait 3-5 minutes for tea to brew, without stirring or squeezing the teabag.

4. Remove the teabag and pour in a dash of milk.

5. Stir with a spoon to blend evenly.

Note: milk should act as a flavor-enhancer, so you only need enough to add creaminess.  You can use soy or almond milk instead of cows’ milk, if this is part of your diet!