SRI LANKA SRI LANKA - QVI Club

Caffeine acts as a stimulant, polyphenols contribute to the tea’s
anti-oxidant properties, and the oils give the tea its aroma.
The level and impact of chemicals found in the various tea types
are determined by the fermentation process that they undergo.
Black tea is processed with a more complex fermentation process,
which gives it its robust flavor and its concentrated caffeine
content. Conversely, white tea undergoes minimal processing,
thus resulting in preservation of its polyphenols. This is why the
tea is favoured for its healing and protective properties. Green and
oolong teas are partially fermented, thus featuring moderate levels
of caffeine, aroma, and antioxidant properties.
Tea drinking and its health benefits
Many scientific researches and reports point to healthier statistics
from tea-drinking.
Scientific reports have shown that men in Asian countries who
drink green tea have very low rates of contracting prostate cancer.
Many prominent researchers believe that this could be attributed
to the fact that green tea contains many powerful antioxidants
and preventative anti-cancer agents.
Recent Australian studies conducted by scientists found that the
occurrence of skin cancer in laboratory mice was greatly reduced
when they were given black tea. A possible reason for this is that
polyphenols - the very strong antioxidants in tea - resulted in this.
Studies in the Netherlands have shown that men who drink black
tea (which contains catechins) are 50% less likely to die from
ischemic heart disease. This disease is caused by clogged arteries
which result in constriction of the heart.
Other studies conducted have shown that drinking one to two
cups of tea daily may promote fertility by stopping abnormalities
in our chromosomes. In a recent test, 250 women who drank as
little as half a cup of tea per day experienced pregnancy rates that
were twice as high as those who did not.
Home-made remedies
Besides being a drink packed with health benefits, tea can be
handy as a home-made remedy too.
Don’t discard your tea bag after brewing your cup of tea! Keep
them in the refrigerator for days when you suffer from puffy
eyes. Place a moist teabag over both eyes and leave for about
20 minutes. This mini eye-treatment works wonders to reduce
the swelling.
Tea can also be used to soothe minor burns and sunburn. Simply
place wet tea bags onto the affected areas, or put some tea in
the bathwater.
To treat planter warts, leave a cooled black tea bag on the wart for
15 minutes three times daily. The tannin in the black tea, which is
acidic, is effective in shrinking the wart.
Tea absorbs odours well and is a handy household deodorant.
Remove odours from your refrigerator by keeping a bag of tea
in it. Hate the fishy smell on your hand that lingers long after
you’ve prepared fish for dinner? Pour some tea over your hands.
The odour will miraculously disappear!
Tea Trivia
G The Camellia Sinensis tea plant can produce tea for 50
years, and those grown in the wild can reach heights
of over 30 feet!
G A cup of black tea contains half the amount of caffeine
found in a cup of coffee, and a cup of white tea
contains the same amount of antioxidants as 10 cups
of apple juice.
G An experienced tea picker can collect around 70 pounds
of tea each day - enough to make 14,000 cups.
G Loose leaf tea can be kept for about a year if properly
stored and sealed, and one pound of loose tea leaves
can make about 200 cups.
G The tea bag was invented in the early 20th century by
a tea merchant named Thomas Sullivan.
G To maintain the most health benefits, the recommended
daily intake of tea is at least three cups.
G It takes only 3 minutes of brewing time for the
antioxidants in tea to be released in your cup.
G Tea is categorized into 7 grades, according to leaf size.
Whole leaf teas are of the highest quality, followed by
broken leaves, fannings, and dusts.
G Fannings are used in most tea bags.
G Herbal tea is not from the leaves of the tea bush
Camellia Sinensis. Such teas are known as ‘tisanes’ in
the tea industry, simply meaning a herbal infusion of
anything other than the leaves of the tea bush.
G Despite its name, Orange Pekoe tea is neither
orange-flavored, nor is it orange-coloured. In the tea
industry, ‘Orange Pekoe’ refers to a basic, mediumgrade
black tea comprising many whole tea leaves of
a specific size.
G Not all tea should be prepared with boiling water. If
prepared with water of the wrong temperature, some
tea would develop bitter flavours. Green and white tea
should be prepared with boiled water that is cooled to
between 65°C and 82°C (150°F to 180°F).
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