Tea tales: Types of tea leaves and their benefits

Since the first tea leaf was consumed in China thousands of years ago, people have been aware of the health benefits of drinking tea and how different types of tea can help treat different illnesses. Certain teas are good for fighting heart disease, diabetes, and cholesterol, while others aid in weight loss and improving metabolism, treating mental health disorders, preventing migraines, and improving sleep patterns. Ekta Jain, CMO, Octavius Tea, shares the benefits to our physical and mental health of specific types of tea leaves:

Black Leaf Teas
Often the best choice for breaking your fast in the morning, the aroma and boldness of black leaf teas is enough to kickstart your day by giving you the necessary amount of energy. Black Tea is produced as a labour of love, with days of intense plucking, sieving, and withering in order to preserve complex flavonoids and powerful antioxidants like catechins. These leaves contain more tannins than any other type of tea which soothes stomach aches and other bowel-related problems.

Green Leaf Teas
Much like Black Tea, Green Tea is also harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant but is prepared differently by first steaming, then pan-frying and drying the leaves. The biggest benefit of opting for Green Tea over other tea leaves is that it's an extreme immunity-booster due to its high flavonoid components and minimal processing which preserves all the nutrients.

As a byproduct of its immunity-boosting trait, Green Tea is a great booster for the metabolism which is why it serves as a necessary addition to your diet. Combined with an exercise regimen, Green Tea can be an excellent weight-loss tool. Though it works best before exercise, it can be consumed anytime. In addition to its focus-enhancing features, it also provides excellent oral hygiene benefits due to its catechin content. As an adaptable beverage, green tea blends well with many different flavours such as lavender, citrus, chamomile, rose, and many others.

White Leaf Tea
Minimally processed and low on caffeine, White Leaf Tea contains a lot of rich antioxidants which means it is great for boosting immunity. White Tea is very delicate and sweet-tasting because it is made with carefully handpicked silver buds and young leaves that offer a mild flavour. Because it is the least processed tea out of all, it can preserve almost all its nutrients and catechins, which prevent many chronic health issues, reduce inflammation and regulate your digestive system. Dieticians and fitness experts recommend White Tea a lot as it helps curb sweet cravings and has a low-calorie count making it perfect for a healthy weight loss.

Herbal Tea
Unlike other teas, Herbal Teas are not made using the Camellia Sinensis plant but actually use other leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, spices, fruits, and berries. Most common herbal tea varieties include mint, chamomile, cranberry and ginger. This also means that, unlike other teas, Herbal Teas are completely caffeine-free and filled with a lot of good nutrients. The components used in Herbal Tea like dried roots, leaves and flowers are packed with antioxidants and offer excellent medicinal benefits like regulating digestive systems, managing stress levels and alleviating flu or cold symptoms. They can also be great for skin health and relieving chronic pain as they are anti-inflammatory and detoxifying in nature.

Matcha Green Tea
Made with finely ground young Green Tea leaves, Matcha is very high in antioxidants and offers numerous health benefits for your body and brain. Experts believe that drinking a single cup of Matcha Green Tea is equivalent to the health benefits of drinking ten cups of regular Green Tea. It is great for boosting immunity and metabolism, weight loss and detoxification of the body and mind.

Oolong Tea
Partial oxidation of tea leaves gives the unique Oolong Tea its fruity and floral taste. It is extremely rich in antioxidants due to the combination of the nutrients of Black and Green Teas. This rare tea also contains high amounts of vitamins, minerals and amino acids which have great health benefits, including boosting metabolism and increasing immunity to illnesses.

One should stay away from supplements or preservatives in "diet" teas, as none of their claims are backed by research. There are many different types of natural tea leaves, so it's important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each type and choose the one that serves you best. There are many options and benefits to choosing from when it comes to tea leaves, whether you desire a cure for chronic disease, weight loss, or a good-tasting beverage. However, you can never really go wrong with natural tea leaves no matter what variety you choose!