The popularity of tea is only surpassed by that of water worldwide. Despite the fact that coffee is more popular than the tea itself.
The reason for this fame is that it is an ancient infusion as pleasant as beneficial for the body thanks to the properties of different types of tea.
That is why there are plenty of arguments to praise it ahead of its most direct competitor in the mornings and after-dinner tables.
Even more so when the reason for its intake, above its simple and joyful tasting, is found in caffeine.
That alkaloid helps us cope better with our days and that is also present in Camellia sinensis, as the tea plant is known scientifically.
In China’s case, it ranks nineteenth despite being the largest producer. This plant and drink have various properties that are beneficial for the body, improving people’s health.
According to the type of tea consumed you can get more and better benefits, but first we must know better, what is tea?
Related article: 5 teas from the same plant as green tea.
What is Tea? Everything You Need to Know!
Tea is a drink resulting from the infusion of the leaves from the tea bush. Although it is usually prepared hot, it can also be consumed cold.
It can be accompanied by different additives such as sugar, honey, milk, spices, aromatic flowers, etc.
Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world. Only water has a higher consumption.
It is estimated that between 1.8 and 2 trillion cups are drunk daily on the planet.
Tea actually comes from the tea plant or shrub, which is named Camellia Sinensis which in turn means Chinese Camellia.
There are Chinese legends that tell the supposed story of its origin. One of the most widespread relates that the custom of using leaves to give a good flavor to boiled water began to occur for the first time in China around 250 A.C.
Emperor Shen-Nung discovered this drink accidentally when it was boiling water in the shade of a tree.
Some leaves fell into the pot of the emperor who drank the resulting infusion. That’s how it was discovered.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh from Pexels
Related article: The health benefits of green tea.
The main producing countries.
The most producing countries of this plant are China and India cover 60% of the market in production and distribution.
- China — 2,400,000 Tons.
- India — 900,000 Tons.
- Kenya — 305,000 Tons.
- Sri Lanka — 300,000 Tons.
- Turkey — 175,000 Tons.
- Indonesia — 157,000 Tons.
- Vietnam — 117,000 Tons.
- Japan — 89,000 Tons.
What countries consume it the most?
Contrary to production, the countries that consume the most are Turkey, Ireland, Great Britain, Russia, and Morocco, they are positioned in the first five places.
In the case of China, it ranks nineteenth despite being the largest producer.
The top 10 places where more tea is consumed in the world, as well as the amounts that are drunk from it.
- Turkey: with a consumption of 6.92 pounds per capita.
- Ireland: with a consumption of 4.80 pounds per capita
- Great Britain: with a consumption of 4.21 pounds per capita
- Russia: with a consumption of 2.99 pounds per capita
- Morocco: with a consumption of 2.60 pounds per capita
- New Zealand: with a consumption of 2.60 pounds per capita
- Egypt: with a consumption of 2.20 pounds per capita
- Poland: with a consumption of 2.20 pounds per capita
- Japan: with a consumption of 2.09 pounds per capita
- Saudi Arabia: with a consumption of 1.89 pounds per capita
Related article: Do Green tea burns fat?
What are the 6 types of Tea?
Perhaps you have to believe that for each tea there are different plants of this, but it is important to know that to obtain the different types are all acquired from the same plant, thus collecting about 6 types of tea.
To achieve these types extracted from Camellia Sinensis is through the various leaf harvests, this, in turn, helps to consume the plant under a variety of properties and flavors.
White tea: It is also known as silver leaf the leaf is grayish or silvery in color. It is made from young shoots and leaves.
Which makes it less processed by applying the techniques of collection, wilting, and drying.
Green tea: It is one of the best known and most popular, it is processed using steam, but it is not fermented.
It is subjected to heat for a short time to prevent the leaves from rusting. Its color is dark green, although it can be found a lighter green and brownish, and as far as its flavor is concerned it is similar to that of spinach or asparagus.
Yellow tea: It is one of the most valuable in China, its appearance is similar to white tea, but when detailed it is more yellowish.
It is still not entirely clear how the elaboration process is, although one of the techniques applied is the wrapping in fabric for its mature, having a process similar to green tea.
Photo by Pixabay.com
Blue tea or Oolong: It has a bluish-green color, its shape is a ball and sometimes resembles a dragon, so it is also known as Black Dragon.
The harvesting process is harvested, then it goes into a phase of partial oxidation, fixation, curling, and finally drying.
Puerh or dark tea: This tea is often confused with red tea, which is a mistake because in China red represents black tea. It is also highly prized in Eastern countries.
Its elaboration process is more complex, fermentation is applied and then dried, it is subjected to heat and humidity.
It is stacked very precisely to achieve the ferment and obtain a change with respect to green tea.
Black or red tea: It is another of the best known and sought-after, its color is quite dark, it goes through a harvesting process and then begins with the wilted, progressively oxidizes, finally it is curled to dry.
Its flavor is strong, deep, and by far.
Related article: Best green teas for weight loss-2022
Health benefits.
The health benefits that science has found vary somewhat depending on the range one chooses, although most studies have been done on green tea.
However, at large sketches, it is an antioxidant, depurative (helps eliminate liquids), and digestive, rich in minerals, sodium, fluoride, and vitamins A, B, and C.
This strengthens the immune system and can help the body protect itself in case of viruses or infections.
There are also some studies that talk about improvements in diseases that degenerate cognitive abilities such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s and even some attempts to associate the properties of the predominant polyphenols in green tea (EGCG, EGC, ECG, and EC) and their considerable free radical scavenging activity in cancer prevention.
Related article: Are there different types of black tea? Updated.
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