GREENWICH, N.Y. — Winter is the perfect time to enjoy a hot cup of tea! When you’ve come inside from shoveling snow, clearing off your car, or taking care of frozen water troughs, warming up from the inside out will knock that chill right out of your bones. In the morning, a cup of tea can invigorate you and help you start your day. Or maybe you want to relax after a long day of work? Enjoying a cup of hot tea is a great way to warm up, focus, and relax. What tea might be right for you? Let’s find out, and celebrate National Hot Tea Day on January 12th!
True Tea
“True” tea is brewed using the leaves of Camellia sinensis. When you purchase black, green, or white teas, they all utilize the leaves of this plant – although processing changes the tea into the forms we are most familiar with today. Other teas are made with a wide variety of herbs and other plants, all with their own unique flavors, health benefits, and qualities.
According to the Tea Association of the U.S.A., Inc., black tea is by far the most consumed tea in the United States. As a “true” tea, it is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, where the leaves are left to fully oxidize, as opposed to green or white teas, where the leaves are not fully oxidized. As a result of this oxidation process, black tea retains its flavor better than green or white teas, and also contains the highest amount of caffeine.
White and green tea are oxidized to a far lesser extent, producing a more delicately flavored tea. And because the leaves are less oxidized, they also release far less caffeine into the tea as the leaves steep.
Many teas are also flavored with a variety of herbs, fruits, and spices. Masala chai tea, for example, is a black tea brewed in milk with a blend of herbs and spices. English breakfast tea is a black tea often paired with milk and sugar. Earl Grey tea is a black tea flavored with bergamot, a type of citrus, oil. The varieties and blends are nearly endless.
Herbal Tea
While teas developed from the Camellia sinensis plant are some of the most popular options amongst consumers, many individuals elect to forgo any caffeine at all. There are several herbal teas, each with its own unique flavors and purported health effects, which are completely caffeine-free.
Peppermint tea, for example, is said to aid in digestion and settle an upset stomach, even going as far as relieving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Its pleasant aroma also helps mask bad breath, and peppermint contains menthol, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Chamomile tea, meanwhile, has long been taken as a way to relax and unwind. Historically, it’s been used to treat a myriad of ailments, from fever to cardiovascular issues. It’s often used as a way to promote sleep, although more research is needed to properly verify these health claims.
Other herbal teas include a variety of spices, fruits, and herbs such as lemon balm, lavender, hibiscus, rose, lemongrass, sweet cicely, ginger, turmeric, and more. The options are nearly endless, as different herbal blends may include any number of combinations of these herbs. Before you consume any herbal tea, however, make sure to consult your doctor, as there may be ways in which these herbs can negatively interact with medications or affect your health. For example, certain herbs may raise your blood pressure, which could be dangerous for those with hypertension. Always speak with your doctor where your health is concerned.
Other Teas
If you think all teas are either brewed from herbs or the leaves of Camellia sinensis, you’d be sorely mistaken! There are many other plants and types of teas to enjoy while you celebrate Hot Tea Day.
Matcha is made from a green tea powder, and while it’s often brewed into tea, it’s become a flavoring all its own. Most commonly found in Japan, matcha is often served during formal tea ceremonies.
Rooibos, also known as red tea, is made from an entirely different plant: Aspalathus linearis. The plant is native to South Africa, where it is quite popular as a tea. Naturally caffeine-free, rooibos is also high in vitamin C and low in tannins.
Guayusa tea is made from the leaves of the Ilex guayusa tree, native to the Amazon rainforest. Unlike rooibos, teas made from guayusa leaves contain high levels of caffeine – about as much as a normal cup of coffee, in fact.
Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is also native to South America, and as with guayusa, also contains caffeine. It has a long cultural history in parts of South America, and can also be consumed as a cold beverage (tereré).
There is a huge selection of tea to enjoy in celebration of Hot Tea Day! Caffeine or caffeine-free teas are available to suit your preference, and there are flavors that range from fruity, light white teas to tannin-rich, earthy black teas. Or perhaps enjoy the best of both worlds and brew up any number of tea blends, which combine complementary flavors into a single cup. With so many options, there is easily a tea for anybody to enjoy! Happy National Hot Tea Day!
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