Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world--topped only by water. If this staggering stat doesn't tell you on its own, tea is basically considered a staple in the daily routines of billions of people across the world. Humans have been drinking tea for millennia, partly for its delicious taste, but also for its incredible health benefits, which may just boggle your mind more than the opening line. TLDR: this stuff is basically liquid gold.
There are many different types of tea, each which offers its own unique health benefits and flavors. Despite the brew you choose, you'll not only enjoy your cup of tea in the moment, but your body will thank you over time.
Start brewing up your next mugful (or portable-infuser-ful) as you read on about the incredible health benefits of tea.
Different Kinds of Tea
Black tea, white tea, green tea and oolong tea all come from the same plant: camellia sinensis. This plant provides many of the health benefits found in your favorite bev.
The reason that black tea, green tea, white tea and oolong tea are all different in taste and color, despite all coming from the same plant, is that the tea leaves are oxidized and processed differently. These processes lead to different, additional health benefits.
Herbal teas are not made from the camellia sinensis plant. Instead, they are made from roots, leaves, flowers, and other parts of plants. Herbal teas are also a classic favorite, with chamomile tea and peppermint tea making up some of the big names of this category.
Though herbal tea does not contain leaves from the camellia sinensis plant, this category also offers some unique health benefits thanks to the power of plants.
Benefits of Drinking Black Tea
Black tea is made by fermenting the camellia sinensis plant, which contributes to its darker color and robust flavor. This tea variety is caffeinated, making it a great alternative to coffee and providing an extra boost of energy for improved focus. Because the caffeine content is still lower than coffee, you also avoid some of the unwanted side effects of high caffeine content, including anxiety.
Drinking black tea has also been linked to lower blood sugar levels. In one study, participants who consumed daily black tea showed significantly lower blood sugar levels after a meal compared to those who had a placebo.
Black tea also contains antioxidants including flavonoids and polyphenols, known to act as an anti inflammatory and support a healthy immune system.
The polyphenols found in black tea are also known to help maintain a healthy gut by helping your gut grow good bacteria, and ward off the bad stuff.
Because black tea is fully fermented, some of its antioxidants are oxidized as its processed. This means that, while it has a good amount of polyphenols, if you are looking to pack in the fullest antioxidant punch, you may want to sip on a cup of green tea instead.
If you want to try out black tea, we recommend starting with our Morning Black tea, a perfectly robust, garden-picked black tea with a light sweetness. Packed with antioxidants and higher in caffeine than other teas, this black tea is a great option to start off your morning with a boost of benefits.
Benefits of Drinking Green Tea
Green tea is made from the same plant as black tea, but it is not oxidized as much as black tea. Green tea is especially high in flavonoids, a kind of antioxidant that is known to keep your heart healthy, lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol, and reduce the risk of many cancers and stroke.
Green tea has also been shown to act as an anti inflammatory and boost the immune system. It can even help stabilize blood sugar.
Green tea also contains l theanine, which is a powerful compound known to help aid in focus and concentration. L theanine increases GABA activity. GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps reduce anxiety and increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain.
A study published in 2016 even found a 20% reduction in the risk of heart attack and a 35% reduced risk of stroke among those who drank one to three cups of green tea a day.
Participants who drank four or more cups of green tea every day even saw a 32% reduction in the risk of having a heart attack, and lower levels of LDL cholesterol.
Matcha, which is a concentrated powder form of green tea, contains an exceptional amount of antioxidants to help ward off disease and free radicals in the body. One cup of matcha tea is said to be the nutritional equivalent of 10 cups of regular green tea.
If you're looking to start drinking green tea, we highly recommend our Vanilla Matcha!
Benefits of Drinking Herbal Teas
There are many different kinds of herbal teas, made from a blend of herbs, spices, fruits and other plants. Herbal teas don't contain caffeine, and are instead known for their calming effects. The different types of herbal teas offer different kinds of health benefits:
- Chamomile tea is known to help with sleep and relaxation. Mosi Tea's Green Chamomile tea is paired with lemongrass for an added boost of relaxation after a long day.
- Rooibos tea is known to improve cholesterol, blood pressure, and helping keep skin and hair strong and healthy. It is also an anti inflammatory packed with antioxidants to ward off disease. Mosi's Rooibos Lavender also includes lavender from France, which helps aid in relaxation.
- Mint tea is known to primarily aid in digestion, but many also enjoy drinking mint tea to ease headaches. Mosi's Green Mint tea is a blend of mint tea and green tea, which means that it also packs in the many health benefits of green tea, including l theanine and antioxidants.
- Ginger tea is known to help aid in digestion and combat nausea, as well as act as an anti inflammatory.
How to Incorporate Tea Into Your Daily Routine
We may be a bit biased, but we're pretty sure that this blog proves it: tea is basically magic. From preventing disease, to boosting energy and aiding in digestion, the health benefits of drinking tea are endless. If you're looking to include tea into your daily routine, we recommend investing in a tool that helps you brew loose leaf tea easily.
The Mosi All-In-One Tea Infuser allows you to brew any kind of loose leaf tea, including matcha tea, on-the-go. This means that you can simplify your tea routine to your morning commute--take that, over-complicated wellness supplement powder.
Check out our blog for some delicious, simple recipes to enjoy your tea in unique ways, like a tea cocktail or tea popsicle, and start enjoying the many health benefits today!
