FOR ALL THE TEA IN CHINA…

Not only is tea a great way to welcome guests and keep them hydrated, it is also surprisingly, very good for everyone's health as well! I for one takes great delight in enjoying a good "cuppa" or two on my own. There are essentially six different types or categories of Chinese tea and within each category, there are over a hundred different variants based on where the tea is grown, terroir, and how they are prepared and processed. It is much like the conventional western style grape wine in many ways, except that Chinese tea does not contain alcohol or sugar which augurs well for those who are fastidious about a healthy lifestyle.

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The six different types of Chinese tea can be classified as:

• White tea 白茶 

• Yellow tea  黄茶

• Green tea  绿茶

• Wulong tea 乌龙茶 or 青茶

• Red tea 红茶

• Black tea 黑茶

You will notice that Chinese tea is classified according to the colour of the brew with each type or variant providing a different health benefit. Knowing your tea well can therefore help you select the best tea for the occasion. Western tea including those grown in India and Sri Lanka are graded and classified differently from Chinese tea.

 

There is another category of tea called flower tea, which are essentially dried flowers of certain plant, herb, or tree; processed in a special way to bring out the best natural flavour and goodness in them. Flower tea is also very beneficial to your health. Although flower tea contains no tea per se, it is often brewed together with certain specific types of Chinese tea to produce a most unique blended flavour beverage, for which the taste and flavour can be nothing short of awesome! Not only that, this specially formulated blend of tea can be a tonic used to treat specific health deficiencies like a headache, menstrual pain, lack of energy, etc. Some of the more popular varieties of flower tea include:

• Rose 玫瑰花

• Chrysanthemum 菊花

• Jasmine 茉莉花

• Honeysuckle 金银花

• Osmanthus 桂花

• Peach 桃花

• Lavender 薰衣草

• Lily 百合花

• Magnolia 玉兰花

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In recent years, more research has gone into investigating the health benefits associated with drinking tea (including flower tea), which may include:

• Protection against cancer because of its antioxidant properties.

• Boosts heart health by lowering bad LDL cholesterol levels in the blood.

• Improves gut health by promoting bacteria that is friendly to your stomach

• Helps lower high blood pressure

• Helps lower the risk of stroke

• Helps lower blood sugar levels for those with Type 2 diabetes

• Helps heighten mental alertness

• Helps with weight loss

• Improves immune system in the body

• Improves memory retention

• Anti-ageing properties by keeping skin healthy

• Keeps teeth and gums healthy with its anti-bacterial properties

• Anti-stress properties with natural calming effects to help you relax

• Improves digestion

• Supports mental health

• Helps regulate body metabolism

• Contains anti-inflammatory properties

• Promotes healthy bone formation

• Helps with (re)hydration the body

Wow! Just look at the long list of health benefits and research is only still in its infancy!

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