In China, drinking tea is mostly a cultural thing with the majority of the people drink tea throughout the day. Chinese teas can be traced back all the way to the Tang Dynasty and were first discovered in 2737 BCE, by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nong.
In the Chinese culture, tea is considered of the seven necessities of life. There are five basic categories of teas in China; white, green, oolong, black and post-fermented (Puerh). Chinese tea is almost as recognizable as Kung Fu is in the Chinese culture. Tea is actually drunk more frequently for healthy living than it is for thirst.
Different types of Chinese Tea
White Tea - White is made from steeping the dried immature leaves of the Camilla Sinensis Tea Bush. White tea is frequently consumed for its presumed health benefits as an anti-aging and promotes healthy and smooth skin.
Green Tea - Green Teas are made from leaves of Camilla Sinensis Tea Bush and are put through a very short fermentation process.
Oolong Tea - Oolong teas are made by using a unique process of withering the leaves of Camilla Sinensis Tea Bush and using a special drying and oxidation process. Like other Chinese teas, it has widely accepted healthy benefits.
Black Tea - Black tea leaves are put through the oxidation similar to several other types of tea, but it goes through the process longer and therefore the teas are much darker.
Post-fermented - Post-fermented (e.g. Puerh) teas are any of the varieties of darker teas that are made from leaves that have gone through a unique process that exposes the freshly picked leaves to humidity and oxygen for an extended period of time, even longer than that of black teas.
Benefits of Chinese teas
Anti-inflammatory - Chinese teas are loaded with polyphenols which have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which help to reduce the risk of a number of diseases like heart disease.
Weight Loss - According to studies hot tea drinkers have lower BMI and smaller waistlines as compared to non-tea drinkers.
Increased Muscle Endurance - The antioxidants in green tea help to fuel your longer workouts by helping your body burn fat more readily. It also helps with increasing stamina as well.
Cancer Protection - The high quantity of antioxidants have shown to be effective at warding off certain forms of cancers like; breast, prostate, ovarian and colon.
Fights Free Radicals - The antioxidants found inside Chinese teas helps to fight off the free radicals that are responsible for a number of diseases like heart disease and Alzheimer.
Defends Bone Loss - Green teas are especially helpful for bone health, which helps to improve bone strength and bone density.
Regulates Blood Sugar levels - Several compounds found inside tea helps the body to better metabolize sugars which is really good for people with Type 2 Diabetes.
Boost Brain Power - The anti-aging effects associated with drinking Chinese teas are thought to help ward off the effects neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia.
Healthy Teeth and Gums - Teas contain a naturally occurring fluoride which helps to prevent plaque build-up which helps promote healthy gums and teeth. The fact that most people drink tea unsweetened or only lightly sweetened.
Enjoy The Pure Goodness of Chinese Teas
Chinese teas have been consumed by people in China and all over the world centuries. While some people drink the tea for enjoyment, others drink it for one or more of the healthy benefits that come from drinking one or more cups of hot or even cold tea every day.