Greetings tea students. I know we have talked about the health benefits of tea (especially green tea) quite a bit, but we speak about it at such length because it seems every day new health benefits are being discovered.
And today, as the fall weather starts to set in, and the temperature starts to change, it is possible that you might find yourself sniffling a bit. The weather changes affect many peoples’ bodies. So it is an excellent time for me to inform you that tea can help your allergies.
Hello my tea pets. How are you feeling? A little under the weather, you say? Worry no more–Teato is here to tell you about yet another health benefit of tea. I am taking a break from writing poetry to my new love, and sitting down with a hot cup of herbal tea as you should be, too.
There’s a lot of chatter about all the healthy foods out there, and unhealthy foods too, and what you should and shouldn’t eat. Teato’s head spins sometimes with all the conflicting information. But I have learned that after a romantic night of dining on oysters and chocolate, I often need a warm cup of Rooibos tea to calm my tummy.
Tea is a delicious drink for morning noon and night. It comes in a million flavors. You already know this. But here’s something of which you might not be aware. Tea is good for you. Green tea is known to have some positive effects. Herbal tea also has been noted to be beneficial to your health. But let us be a bit more specific.
I, the Earl of Grey, have taken a moment of my precious time to remind you that I invented tea, throwing tea leaves into my drink as a result of sudden inspiration. (I don’t care what Master Amanzi says, it was my idea!) So I shall tell you now why I still look so good for my age—tea has many health benefits.
Like what, you ask? I shall be brief, as my time is extremely valuable.
Part 5: Rooibos Tea
As you may know, on your path to Tea Enlightenment, I, Master Amanzi have offered you many tea tips. Most recently, I have been explaining about the different kinds of tea. I have told you about the four types of tea: white tea, green tea, oolong tea, and black tea. Since these are actually made from tea leaves, technically, these are the only kinds of tea. But there are other tea-like beverages that are called tea. Since the Way of Tea is open to all, I will explain a bit about them as well. Today we shall talk about rooibos tea.
As I have said, rooibos tea, also called “red tea” or “redbush tea,” isn’t actually tea at all. Rooibos, (pronounced “roy-boss”), is Afrikaans for “red bush;” it’s made from the leaves of a legume bush that grows in South Africa. It is prepared just like tea and is thus considered a member of the tea family, but since it is not from Camellia Sinensis leaves, it could at best be considered a distant cousin.
Part 4: Black Tea
You have learned, along with my other students, about white tea, green tea, and oolong tea. Now I, the Master Amanzi, will further enlighten you to the many types of tea.
Black Tea, like the other teas mentioned above, is derived from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. It is the most common type of tea, and whether by coincidence or not, it has the strongest flavor and the most caffeine as well. This is because after the tea leaves are picked, they are then put through more processing than any of the other types of tea, and experience the most oxidation.
