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Get cozy with tea
Do you know chamomile from chai?Explore the soothing world of tea. There's bound to be one type you haven't tried!
With its aroma, steam and soothing flavour, tea is the ultimate winter companion. Best of all, tea has many health benefits...
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"Better to be deprived of food for three days than tea for one." - Chinese proverb
With its subtle aroma, warm steam and soothing flavour, hot tea is an ideal winter warmer. There's something very calming about the ritual of preparing a pot of tea. And whether you prefer it black, with milk or herbal, tea has many health benefits.
Health benefits
Tea is among the richest natural sources of anti-oxidants, which have been linked to cancer prevention, decreased risk of stroke and reduced blood cholesterol. It also contains trace amounts of various nutrients, such as the amino acid theanine, minerals calcium, magnesium, manganese and potassium and vitamins C and K. Recent research also shows that green tea may contain cancer-fighting agents, while certain herbal teas may combat or soothe many maladies. Some believe its flavonoids may even inhibit the growth of plaque on teeth!
Although these discoveries are fairly new to us, tea has been sipped for more than 5000 years. Legend has it that tea was discovered in 2737BC by Chinese emperor and herbalist Shen-Nung, when a leaf from a camellia bush landed in his pot of boiling water. Most tea is still made from that same plant species, Camellia sinensis.
| So many teas, so little time |
| Now that there are more than 3000 teas produced in over 30 countries, deciding what to drink can be a challenge. Below is a guide to selecting, preparing and drinking this everyday beverage.
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| Black teas are robust, with strong flavours and about half the caffeine of coffee. They may help contribute to healthy arteries. Examples: Earl Grey, English Breakfast and Ceylon.
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| Oolong teas are rich teas associated with good digestion and have slightly less caffeine than black tea. Examples: Shui Xian, Tie Guan Yin.
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| Green teas have the most widely accepted health benefits and less caffeine than black and oolong teas. They're also full of anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals and may help to prevent certain cancers and osteoporosis and alleviate arthritis. Examples: Genmaicha, Kukicha, Hojicha.
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| White tea is the rarest type of tea, found in only four provinces in China. It has the same health benefits as green tea, with minimal caffeine. Example: Pai Mu Tan.
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| Herbal teas consist of herbs, spices and/or fruits. Lemongrass or lemon myrtle tea in the morning is a great way to start the day - it will soothe the nervous and digestive systems but provide some zing to get your brain going! Peppermint tea is a great post-lunch weapon to aid with digestion, with a calming effect on the entire digestive system. Chamomile tea is effective at relieving mild anxiety, tension or insomnia, so is a great choice before bed.
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| Trendy teas include chai, a spicy Indian tea mixed with milk and honey or sugar; bubble tea, a wild concoction made with tapioca pearls and flavourings like mango; and Rooibos, a popular South African tea that contains more anti-oxidants than green tea.
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Teatime tips
Basic guidelines for tea preparation:
- Buy organic leaf tea if you can - it's more flavoursome.
- Use a steel or glass kettle.
- Fill with fresh, cold, preferably filtered water.
- Let it reach a rolling boil, unless you're making green tea, in which case the water should be cooled for a minute or two after boiling.
- If you're making a whole pot, add a teaspoon of tea or one teabag for each cup plus 'one for the pot'.
- Never reheat tea; it gets bitter.
- Steep for about four minutes (a minute or two less for green tea).
- Taste before you sweeten or add milk. You may find that the tea is good as is!
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