Tea Types > Black Tea

Tea Type: Black Tea

Black Tea: Benefits, Nutrition, Buying Tips and Risks

As a tea lover, you will agree that tons of teas are available for purchase. Among these variants, black tea stands as the best choice for many, and the reason for this is pretty obvious. Black tea has many health benefits, making it a good choice for every age group. It helps maintain a healthy gut and heart, balanced sugar levels, and controlled blood pressure are some of the numerous benefits.

There are lots of beneficial antioxidants that boost general health in the tea.  Also, note that this tea is obtained from the Camellia sinensis plant, just like all other types of teas. However, the process of making this tea differentiates it from the others. So, you are left with a unique taste and color that this tea boasts.

Black tea has a lot to offer, and this article discusses them in detail. Read on to get more information about the effects of this tea and the different types there are.

Benefits of Black Tea 

Like other teas, black tea has many benefits to encourage continuous intake. Here are some of the reasons this tea has continued to grow in popularity among tea lovers all around the world.

  • It includes beneficial antioxidants that help to lessen cell damage in the body. These antioxidant properties include thearubigins, catechins, and theaflavins. So, you no longer have to worry about the risk of chronic diseases and your overall health.
  • It boosts heart health with the antioxidants this tea contains, called flavonoids. It is a similar compound found in vegetables and fruits. With this present in the body system, you no longer have to worry about heart issues. This includes obesity, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.
  • It lessens the bad LDL cholesterol in the body. You no longer have to worry about the bad lipoprotein cruising through your body.  Also, the risk of health issues like stroke or heart failure becomes less.
  • It boosts gut health by reducing the non-beneficial bacteria type in your gut. The polyphenols in black tea help to reduce the risk of heart-related issues. Now, you are left with mostly antimicrobial properties. These help you destroy harmful substances. Thereby your immunity is boosted, and the lining of the digestive tract is repaired.
  • Another benefit of black tea is that it helps to reduce blood pressure. Hence all the diseases that could happen due to high blood pressure can be prevented. Kidney and heart failure, vision loss, heart attacks, and stroke are samples.
  • It lowers blood sugar levels and increases insulin in the body.  These are the additional benefits this tea provides. Frequent intake of black tea reduces the risk of health complications. They are depression, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and kidney failure. All this can happen due to an extreme increase or decrease of sugar in the blood.
  • Black tea is said to help lower the risk of certain types of cancer. While some cancers may not be preventable, their development cannot be slowed. The polyphenols in black tea have been credited to slowing down types of cancers (breast, lung, etc.). This does not mean that you should substitute cancer treatment with this tea. Note that the tea only slows the growth of cancer rather than cures the ailment.
  • This tea helps to boost focus and alertness. It contains caffeine and an amino acid component (L-theanine). Hence, taking it can guarantee relaxation and stable energy for better cognitive performance. Learn more about the caffeine content in black tea here

Toxic Elements of Black Tea

There are various cons in addition to the benefits of drinking black tea. This brewed tea contains certain minerals that can become toxic when taken in excess. This is one reason to ensure that you take the tea in the right proportion. This way, you can avoid causing big health issues for yourself.

Here are some of them.

  • Lead and Aluminum. Both minerals are part of the components that make up black tea. They are both referred to as heavy metals, which can cause a lot of damage to a human’s body system if taken excessively.
  • Arsenic and Cadmium. These toxic elements are not fit to be included in the human diet. However, black tea has minor traces of these minerals. Still, you don’t need to fret. This is because they are not available in harmful quantities that can cause a disaster in the long run.
  • Manganese. You’ll discover that there is a high level of this mineral in black tea. This is somehow a good thing. It is because the human body needs this mineral to thrive in the brain and nervous systems. Also, it helps to regulate blood sugar, calcium intake, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism. However, the excess is what makes it become toxic. So, be intentional about your proportions.
  • Pesticides. Although this is not the case for all black teas, it is possible. This shows that the pace of growth determines how healthy the tea turns out to be. You may not always be privy to this information. It is better to portion your intake daily to be safe adequately.

An important thing to note is what happens when you brew your black tea for a while. The higher the concentration of these toxic elements will become. So, it is best to brew your tea for at least three minutes to lessen these elements' risks.

Tips to Serve 

Black tea provides lots of health benefits to its drinkers. It is so because tea contains effective components that boost good health. Also, it reduces cell damage, lowers cholesterol levels, and boosts gut health.

The following are ways to spice things up when serving this tea.

  • You can mix it with tea spices like cinnamon.
  • Add lemon juice or mint for taste.
  • You can also sweeten the tea with milk, cream, or sweetened condensed milk.
  • You can also incorporate it in your cooking as a stock to add more flavor to what you are preparing.
  • You can also use it to poach food like mushrooms. This way, you get to incorporate the aroma of the tea into the food.
  • Black tea can be used to substitute water when cooking foods like beans or rice for more flavor.
  • You can also infuse it with desserts like custards, chocolate mousse, or puddings.

There is an endless list of how to serve or use this tea. You need to connect with your internal innovator. Then, go with the flow to create something unique, edible, flavorful, and delicious.

Buying & Storing Black Tea 

There are different ways of storing black tea. So you can ensure they are still good for consumption whenever you want them.

  • Abide By the Low-Temperature Rule: The process of storing the tea in the refrigerator is no good. It can downgrade the tea's quality over time. So, it is best to store in dry conditions with a temperature below 5 degrees Celsius.
  • Keep in Iron Tins: Keep your tea in airtight containers without leaks. It is another method of storing your tea. This way, they can stay for a long time in good condition.
  • Keep in a vacuum flask: This is perfect for keeping hot and cold liquids. You can also use it to keep the dry leaves of your tea. This way, your tea can maintain a fresh look and taste for a long time.
  • Charcoal-Seal:  Charcoal is a black substance obtained from burning wood with less air. This storage method entails putting charcoal into the container with the tea leaves. However, ensure that the charcoal is wrapped in a clean cloth before adding it. Replace them as frequently as you like to keep the inside of the container always dry.

The purpose of the storage is to ensure that the quality of your tea doesn’t wane. So,  there are many other methods you can invent or search for to store your tea.

Also, you can purchase your tea from a tea master. One that specializes in manufacturing different teas. However, the internet is another way to go if you can't access them. You can choose from online stores like Jumia, Amazon, Walmart, etc., to restock this tea. You can also try out grocery stores in your area.

Types of Black Tea 

There are many teas available in the market for tea lovers to choose from whenever they want. How, then, can one recognize black tea? Black tea is extracted from the camellia Sinensis. A plant that has been highly oxidized. In return, the tea turns to a dark reddish-gold color. Other features of this tea include a faint bitter or acidic flavor and a mild amount of caffeine. Learn more about the best types of black teas.

The following are the types you can find in the market.

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