Like another beverage with a healthy halo (wine), tea is loaded with beneficial tannins. Many teas are naturally caffeine-free, which is a crowd pleaser; and just the word herbal, as in “herbal tea” (which requires an infusion of herbs, flowers, etc.), connotes healthy.
Similar to wine, there are several varietals of tea grown in different regions of the world. “There are, literally, thousands of teas in the world,” said Megan Rolerkite, marketing assistant, Stash Teas. “But as a subject of classification, tea can be broken down into four main types: black, green, oolong and white. Interestingly, all tea comes from the Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 60 feet in the wild.” Two other major varietals of tea are yellow and puerh, named after Pu'er County, which is near Simao, Yunnan, China. Roobios, often referred to as red tea, comes from South Africa and contains no Camellia sinensis. Although not a “tea,” the tea-like beverage yerba maté is made from the leaves and stems of a rainforest tree.
Organic is also a growing trend in the tea market. “Organic specialty teas are one of the bright spots in our economy,” said Eric Ring, head of purchasing and production for Choice Organic Teas. “This section of the food market is growing, and indications are this is not a temporary trend. The reported health benefits in the media have certainly helped introduce new customers to tea in the United States. The increased quality and availability of specialty teas has, in turn, raised consumer awareness about tea from a functional beverage to a lifestyle beverage, much like wine.”
But caution is still a necessity. “I still see the definition [of organic] as a ‘moving target,’ one which manufacturers, suppliers and brands are possibly able to manipulate, unfortunately, to the detriment of the consumer's ability to make good value judgments on products,” said Barney Stacher, founder of Green Tea Goods.
As Ring stated, tea is building its reputation with an abundance of research, and tea packaging is taking note, as many now advertise with key terms such as “antioxidant” or “EGCG”, a.k.a. epigallocatechin gallate, most commonly found in green tea.
“There are several studies on green and black teas showing they reduce the risk of heart disease, increase metabolism, boost the immune system and aid in rheumatoid arthritis,” said Reem Rahim, co-founder and creative director of Numi Puerh Tea. “The latest studies on puerh tea show it reduces cholesterol as effectively as cholesterol-reducing drugs, breaks down blood lipids and helps with weight management. Various herbs can assist with various benefits. Ginger and mint aid in digestion; rooibos, an anti-spasmodic, can fight allergies and help with stress. Chamomile also relaxes the body. Yerba maté is a stimulant and lemon myrtle aids with arthritic relief.”
Rahim was definitely right, as the research on tea is endless. Green tea has been studied for its effects on mood and mental health,1,2 gut health,3 bone health,4 and colon and prostate cancer.5,6 White tea has been shown to benefit heart health.7 In fact, researchers from Oregon State University reported on preliminary results of an unpublished study at the American Chemical Society spring meeting in 2000 that found white tea may be a stronger anti-carcinogen than green tea. Researchers theorize processing tea may oxidize polyphenols, reducing its antioxidant benefits. White tea is more lightly processed than green tea, which may make it a better cancer fighter. Black tea has also showed promise in the heart category. Black tea extract intake showed a significant anti-hypercholesterolemic effect and improved blood cholesterol levels in subjects at risk for heart disease or obesity in one Japanese study.8 And Australian researchers conducted a randomized, controlled crossover study on black tea, concluding it may provide a potential mechanism for cardiovascular benefits.9 And in an unpublished study presented at the Second International Symposium on Medicinal and Nutraceutical Plants, New Delhi, mint tea, derived from the herb Hyptis crenata, had the same pain-free power as soluble aspirin.