The Health Benefits of Black Tea

Black tea is a type of tea that has been oxidized by the air. This means it contains more caffeine than oolong or green teas, making it stiffer and more potent. It was first introduced to Europe from China around the seventeenth century [1].

In its early days in Europe, black tea was used for medicinal purposes. The caffeine content in black tea made it an ideal herbal stimulant [2].

However, when coffee became more popular in Europe, black tea was mostly used as a relaxing drink instead of for its caffeine content [3]. Nowadays, people are discovering that there are many other health benefits to drinking black tea.

The health benefits of black tea include its ability to regulate blood sugar, fight off heart disease and improve oral hygiene [4] [5] [6].

Black tea contains certain antioxidants that increase the production of good cholesterol in the body [7]. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels which can help prevent type 2 diabetes [8].

Black tea is also known to decrease the risk of heart disease because of its flavonoids called tannins, which act as antioxidants [9].

Another health benefit of black tea is that it kills bacteria on the teeth. This reduces plaque build-up and prevents tooth decay [10]. It can also help with gum health as it increases the amount of saliva in the mouth. Saliva helps prevent tooth decay by washing away food particles and fighting off bacteria [11].

Not only is black tea good for your oral hygiene but it can also help with weight loss. This is because of caffeine, which speeds up metabolism and consequently makes fat burn faster [12].

How to make the best cup of tea:

Be careful about the water you use to make tea. Using water with high levels of chlorine can affect how well your tea tastes. It is best to avoid using tap water and only use filtered or purified water instead [13].

Also, if you are making black tea, it is best to steep at a slightly higher temperature for around 3-5 minutes. This is how black tea gets its distinct flavor. Any longer than that and you are allowing the tannins to be released which gives the tea a bitter taste [14] .

For people who want to completely avoid caffeine, they can opt for decaffeinated black teas instead of caffeinated ones. Decaffeination reduces the caffeine content but does not remove the beneficial compounds in tea [15].

Steps to make the best-brewed tea:

1. Warm your teapot with hot water before you begin to brew your tea. This will help keep the brewed tea at a constant temperature.

2. Use one teaspoon of black tea for every cup of water that you use [16]. If you do not have a teaspoon, it is approximately 2 grams per 8 oz of water.

3. Put enough water in your kettle or teapot to steep all of the teabags or leaves at once, but do not leave too much room for it to expand when it reaches its boiling point.

4. Bring water to a boil and pour hot water into the teapot with the tea bags or leaves [17].

5. Steep your tea for 3-5 minutes, depending on how strong you would like it to be [18].

6. Remove tea bags or leaves with a strainer and serve hot in cups [19].

In conclusion, black tea is a drink that has been around for centuries. It was initially used as a medicine but it is now mostly drunk for pleasure. Black tea contains antioxidants and caffeine which make it a great morning beverage [13]. Its health benefits include fighting off heart disease, regulating blood sugar levels, and improving oral hygiene [14]. Furthermore, it is also beneficial in aiding weight loss.

References:

1. "Black Tea." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Aug. 2018. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_tea>

2. "History of Black Tea | Teav ana Tea Education - Texvn Teavana." Texvn Teavana. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://www.teavana.com/the-teas/black-tea/history-of-black-tea>

3. "10 Health Benefits of Black Tea - Fit Life." 10 Health Benefits of Black Tea. N.p., 17 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://www.finelivingadvice.com/10-health-benefits-of-black-tea/>

5. "Black tea may fight heart disease, cancer, reduce blood pressure." University of Maryland Medical Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/drink/black-tea>

6. "Black Tea's Many Health Benefits May Surprise You." Food and Nutrition Magazine: Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database - Latest Research on Natural Medicines and Supplements. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://naturalmedicines-therapeuticresearch-com/coffee-tea/caffeine/black-teas-many-health-benefits/>

8. "The Health Benefits of Black Tea | Yogawiz.com." The Health Benefits of Black Tea | Yogawiz.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://www.yogawiz.com/tea-benefits/>

9. "Black tea: MedlinePlus Supplements." National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health. N.p., 19 June 2018. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/938.html>

10." How Does Black Tea Affect You?" The Nutrition Source - Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health.: Public Health and Nutrition. N.p., 13 Mar. 2015. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2014/10/30/how-does-black-tea-affect-you/>

11." How Much Caffeine Is in a Cup of Black Tea?" How Much Caffeine Is in a Cup of Black Tea? N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://www.livestrong.com/article/145985-how-much-caffeine-in-a-cup-of-black-tea/>

12."The Health Benefits of Black Tea | SF Gate." The Health Benefits of Black Tea | SF Gate. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/health-benefits-black-tea-6951>

14."Caffeine in black tea | NutritionFacts.org." Nutrition Facts - Dr. Greger - Healthy Recipes. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://nutritionfacts.org/video/caffeine-in-black-tea/>

16."Black Tea Brewing Guide." Teavana Tea Education: Black Tea Brewing Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://www.teavana.com/us/en/the-tea-room/featured/how-to-brew-black-tea>

17."How to Make Black Tea - Brewing Tea | Teavana." Teavana Tea Education: How to Make Black Tea - Brewing Tea | Teavana. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://www.teavana.com/the-teas/black-tea/how-to-make-black-tea>

18."Brewing Tips for Black Tea - Teavana | World Market." Brewing Tips for Black Tea - Teavana. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://www.worldmarket.com/category/food-and-drink/teas-tisanes/brewing-tips-for-black-tea.do>

19. "7 Black Tea Benefits for Skin | Allure." 7 Black Tea Benefits for Skin | Allure. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2018 <https://www.allure.com/story/black-tea-skin-benefits>