It’s common knowledge nowadays that you are better off drinking Green tea than your traditional Black. But there are more variations than just Green to choose from. Although Green seems to be the winning one when it comes to healthy hot beverages, but there are White and Red ones too. Most fitness sites agree that Green tea has key contribution to weight loss. Obviously it’s not a magic drink but it supports your efforts when dieting and exercising in order to reach your goals. So how do the other antioxidant teas compare to that?
First of all Black, Green and White tea are all products from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference is in how they are processed. Whereas Red tea comes from a completely different plant called Aspalathus linearis.
White Tea:
White tea goes through minimal processing and it is not oxidized. Therefore it retains the natural antioxidants, very low in caffeine, but it also means that it is not as flavoursome and it’s got a weak colour. It has a tang of sweetness and tastes somewhat flowery. White tea is the most packed with antioxidants; it contains tannins, fluoride and flavonids. It has strong anti-aging and antibacterial properties.
Green Tea:
Green Tea is slightly oxidised, then pan-fried (the Chinese way) or steamed (the Japanese way). This second step brings out additional flavours, developes the caffeine, but also slightly lowers the antioxidant level of the tea. Its characteristic flavours are earthy and grassy with a delicate sweet taste. It’s full of powerful antioxidants, amino acids, chlorophyll and vitamins (A, B 1-2-3, C, E) just to mention a view from a very impressive list of green tea’s valuable components. What makes it stand out from all the teas mentioned here is that it’s proven to reduce cholesterol and it relieves muscle pain from overexertion.
Red Tea:
Red Tea, aka Rooibos is a recent discovery of mine. It takes a while to get accustomed its sweet, woody/malty flavour. It is a traditional South African tea. There is a green and red variation. The green one doesn’t go through oxidisation. The black one is oxidised like black tea but it’s decaff and low in tannins. It’s full of antioxidants, helps digestions, some allergies, headaches and it can calm your nerves, improves bone and teeth strength. It’s rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, potassium, zinc and magnesium.
It doesn’t matter which one you choose, you will improve your health. Guaranteed. Consuming these teas regularly will boost your immune system, help you in weight loss, enhance skin quality, potentially prevent cancer, reduce risk of dental problems, improve cardiovascular health and obviously they are all have anti-aging benefits.
