Warm Up with Tea - Varieties and Benefits

What is chai ☕ for an Indian?

• Sleepy? Have tea.

• Tired 😰? Have tea.

• Mood off 😏? Have tea.

• Feeling cold 🥶? Have tea.

• Want a Samosa? Must have tea.

• Not well 🥴? Have adrakh wali tea.

• Want a good figure? Have green tea.

•Rainy Day: have tea

If you haven't guessed it already, but we really, really like drinking tea. We are Tea Gals! In this post we will be sharing some facts about the varieties of tea and also its benefits. 

 

Tea Varieties photo by Alice Pasqual on Unsplash

There's so much you can learn about tea besides its origins and culture. Did you know - Black,  Green,  Oolong,  dark and white teas all come from the same plant, a warm-weather evergreen named Camellia sinensis?  

Tea plant photo by Rashid on Unsplash

Differences among the five types of tea result from the various degrees of processing and the level of oxidization. I didn't know. 😮

Black tea is fully oxidized. Oolong tea is partially oxidized.  After withering and rolling, the tea leaves undergo natural chemical reactions resulting in taste and color changes which develop the tea's distinguishing characteristics.  Green & white teas are not oxidized after leaf harvesting.  Oolong tea is midway between black and green teas in strength and color.  Dark teas are fermented after manufacture.

We typically drink black tea. I think I've only had green tea a handful of times. What is your favorite variety of tea? Do you prefer one variety over the other? 

 

Brooke Bond Red Label Natural Care Tea

Did you know that drinking tea has health benefits? That fact alone would motivate me to drink tea regularly. How about you?

Tea is a refreshing beverage that contains no sodium, fat, carbonation, or sugar.  It is virtually calorie-free. It helps maintain proper fluid balance and may contribute to overall good health. It contains flavonoids, naturally occurring compounds that are believed to have antioxidant properties. Tea flavonoids often provide bioactive compounds that help to neutralize free radicals, which scientists believe, over time, damage elements in the body, such as genetic material and lipids that contribute to chronic disease. 

Looking for hard facts and statistics of why drinking tea is beneficial, check out more below.

Heart 💓 Health: Human population studies have found that people who regularly consume 3 or more cups of black tea per day have a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. Each 8 oz. cup of tea consumed by those over 65 years old was associated with a 10% lower risk of death from heart disease. 

Certain Cancers: More than 3,000 published research studies have evaluated the effect of tea - White, Green, Oolong, or Black - and tea compounds, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), on the risk of a  variety of cancer types.  A study published in the February 2015 issue of the Journal of Molecular Nutrition and Food Research found the main antioxidant in Green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate  (EGCG), helps kill cancer cells through the destruction of the cells’ mitochondria. Research has also identified an association between the amount and duration of tea consumption and gastrointestinal cancer risk.

Photo by An Nguyen on Unsplash

Tea consumption has been linked to lower skin cancer risk. One study showed that participants who drank iced Black tea and citrus peel had a 42% reduced risk of skin cancer and hot Black tea consumption was associated with a significantly lower risk of the most common form of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma.

Neurological 🧠 Decline: Research has identified several modifiable factors that may help slow the progression or reduce the risk of age-related neurological declines and diseases. Tea may be one of the modifiable factors as the antioxidants in tea may protect brain cells from environmental insults from free radical exposure. In addition, L-theanine in tea has been shown to directly affect areas of the brain that control attention and ability to solve complex problems.

Weight Management: Several studies suggest drinking calorie-free tea may help with weight management. Preliminary research suggested that tea flavonoids help elevate metabolic rate, increase fat 7 oxidation and improve insulin activity. Tea catechins can also provide modest shifts in metabolism that may improve weight loss and maintenance. 

Tea and Bone Health: A recently published meta-analysis analyzed the potential link between tea consumption and bone mineral density (BMD). Across the studies there was a significant increase in BMD for tea drinkers verses non-drinkers. 

Immune 💪 Function: There has been research on tea's potential impact on immune function. Research from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard University indicated that tea contains a component that can help the body ward off infection and disease and that drinking tea may strengthen the immune system. L-theanine, found in tea, primes the immune system in fighting infection, bacteria, viruses, and fungi. 

☕Thank you for continuing on this Tea journey with us, from its origins, culture, varieties, and benefits. 

Vegetable Medley and Tandoori Tofu Pita Boats

It's been 4 months since I started the Noom diet and it's been an eye opener. I debated for months and researched various diet plans before I chose Noom. Noom helps you make better food choices as well as your health goals through a combination of psychology, technology, and human coaching. It's been a struggle for the last 4 months, but I lost 21 pounds so far. I have 9 more pounds to lose to reach my weight goal.  

Here's what I learned and why I've been able to stay on track. I'm eating more vegetables, checking calories and buying foods that have little or no added sugars. I'm also doing meal prep on the weekends for the week ahead. A good example of one of the dishes I make a lot is Vegetable Medley and Tandoori Tofu boats. This dish full of flavor and it keeps me satisfied. I have been eating these boats for lunch and dinner. Aren't you dying to find out how to make them? 

Scroll down for details...

 

Ingredients

• 4 whole wheat pitas
• 8 - 10oz Extra firm Tofu, dab water with towel and cut into 1" cubes
• 2 Tbsp Tandoori paste (we used Deep brand)
• 1/2 lb. or 3 cups Broccoli florets, cut to 1" size and stems peeled and chopped
• 1 medium Carrot, peeled and sliced into thin slices
• 1/3 lb. Snow peas, stringed and chopped into 1/2 pieces
• 1 large Red Bell Pepper, remove seeds and cut into 1 cm pieces
• 1/2 cup Cherry Tomatoes, sliced into half
• 7-8 stems of Thyme, leaves pulled
• 1/2 to 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 Tbsp Olive oil
• 2 grinder rounds of Black Pepper 
• 2 pinches of Salt

Procedure

1. Heat 1 tsp oil in a non-stick pan on low medium heat, add Tofu pieces and Tandoori paste and gently stir around for the paste to coat the pieces. Pan fry the tofu on low flame by mixing intermittently turning the tofu pieces to fry on all sides. It take 5-7 min. Transfer tofu into a bowl.
2. In a large microwavable container add Broccoli, Carrots and Snow peas, sprinkle a pinch of salt and microwave the veggies with a lid for 2-3 min based on your appliance wattage. 
3. Add chopped tomatoes, thyme, red bell pepper, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, black pepper powder and another pinch of salt to the veggies from above. Mix gently to coat the veggie salad well.
4. Carefully cut the pita into half and open the pocket. Place 5-6 pieces of Tandoori tofu and then fill it up with the veggie salad. Then top up the pita pocket/boat with some yogurt dip and enjoy the fresh and flavorful taste. 

I started making these boats at home and my husband loves it. It's filling and healthy. Quick tip: I use about 1-1.25 cups of the vegetable salad per pita. It's up to you how much you want to stuff your pita. You can also spread some hummus in the pita for more flavor. Overall, I really like this combination because it's hearty and has all good ingredients. 

Below is a bonus recipe for the Garlic Yogurt Sauce that complements the veggie boats. Enjoy!  

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup plain yogurt (Whole or low fat), whisked to smooth with 1 Tbsp. water 
• 1 clove garlic, mince finely
• 1 tsp lemon juice 
• 1/2 tsp dry mint crushed                       
• 2 or 3 grinder rounds of Black pepper                                          
• Salt, as needed

Mix all items together until well blended. Adjust the salt and lemon per your taste. 

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