Tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world and easily accessible in almost every corner of the globe. Close to 80% of American households have tea stored somewhere inside their kitchen cupboards.
Tea comes in thousands of different varieties with seemingly endless flavors, aromas and histories. That endless variety can make deciding which tea is best for your health and taste buds quite the challenge.
Even the true teas such as green tea and black tea have multiple varieties that vary in flavor and composition. Regional, cultural and traditional differences can result in contrasting flavors of the same tea genre.
Here, we've broken down the differences and health benefits of green teas and black teas so you can decide which one suits your lifestyle.
What Is Green Tea?
Green tea is derived from the tea plant known as Camellia sinensis. This evergreen plant is native to India and China where it has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. In modern times, the tea plant is cultivated all across the world from Japan and China to South America and Europe.
What Is Black Tea?
Just like green tea, black tea is made using the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Black teas mainly come from three tea-producing countries: China, India and Sri Lanka.
In China, black teas are cultivated in the Anhui and Yunnan provinces. Most Chinese black teas feature whimsical names such as Fairy Branch, which do not indicate which region it was grown in.
In India, black tea is produced in the Assam, Darjeeling and Nilgiri regions. Indian black teas are often named after their growing region, making them easy to identify. Ceylon black tea comes from Sri Lanka, which was formerly known as Ceylon.
How They’re Processed
All true teas including green tea, white tea, black tea and oolong tea are created form the leaves of the same plant. The main difference between green and black tea arises through the production process.
Green tea is not oxidized in any way during production. The leaves are simply harvested from the tea plant and heated to prevent withering and oxidation. Leaves are typically pan-fired or steamed and retain a green hue that is most similar to the tea plant itself.
Black tea undergoes the most complete oxidation process of the true teas. Black tea leaves are harvested and then withered to reduce moisture content. The leaves are then rolled to create miniscule breaks in the leaves that allow enzymes to interact with oxygen. Black tea leaves are rolled either by hand or using a machine, depending on the producer and type of tea.
Rolled leaves are then spread out on large trays where oxygen turns the leaves black and the final step in the production process begins. The black tea leaves are fired in ovens to stop the oxidation process and are then packed for sale.
How They’re Brewed
Another main difference between black and green tea is in how they’re brewed. When brewing black tea, we recommend using boiling water at or around a temperature of 212 degrees. In general, black tea is steeped from 3-5 minutes, although some varieties of tea may require more or less time.
Green tea, meanwhile, should be prepared with water that is a much lower temperature, usually at or around 175 degrees. If the water temperature is too hot, you may scald or burn the leaves, resulting in an unpleasantly bitter taste. Green tea is also usually steeped for a shorter time than black tea, typically around 1-2 minutes.
Health Benefits
Green teas contain powerful compounds that deliver extensive health benefits. It's most commonly known for its medicinal properties that help to detoxify the body, prevent serious illness and increase weight loss.
Black tea offers similar health benefits to green tea although there are differences in chemical composition. Green tea contains more antioxidants and chemical compounds than most black teas. This is because black tea undergoes a fermentation process where oxygen reacts with enzymes and results in the loss of catechins and polyphenols. Although black tea contains fewer of these compounds, it still packs a punch when it comes to health benefits.
Final Words
Both green tea and black tea contain powerful compounds that offer a host of health benefits. They both help to keep your immune system healthy, promote heart health and aid in weight loss.
The beauty of tea is that you can mix it up anytime you want and the variety of flavors and aromas are almost endless.Whatever flavors you choose, drink tea and relish the benefits for your mind, body and soul.
Boduo International offers various types of tea leave on sell that suits you the best. You’re always welcomed to contact us.
Milk tea has grabbed the attention of the average young teenagers thanks to its variety of colors, flavors and textures. If you're looking for your own milk tea business opportunity, BODUO International is your destination. As a professional milk tea supplier, with free training, raw materials, machines, and packaging material, will offer you the best service.
Learn more: Oolong tea - everything you need to know
Going Global: Tea Brands Next Step to Become Stronger
FB: https://www.facebook.com/BODUOofficial
Ins: https://www.instagram.com/boduo_international/
