TYPE OF TEA AND ITS HEALTH BENEFITS

TYPE OF TEA

Black tea

Green tea

Oolong tea

Silvertips tea

Handmade tea

Black Tea

Black tea manufacturing is normally carried out in two ways

i)CTC

ii)Orthodox

CTC refers to the Crush,Tear and Curl process.Here the plucked leaves undergo withering process where there is a certain amount of moisture loss. Then the withered leaves are passed through the two rollers rotating in opposite direction. Herethe leaves are crushed,torn and curled.

In orthodox type manufature the withered leaves are rolled on specially designed orthodox roller which twist and crush the leaves thereby rupturing the cells

After the above mentioned two methods of rolling process the dhools undergo the process of fermentation and finally the drying process.

Green Tea

Green Tea are mainly manufatured by two method namelly

i)Steaming

ii)Panning

Green Tea differs from Black tea in so much that oxidation is not allowed to occur.After withering process the leaf enzyme is destroyed by heating with either steam or dry heating (panning).

Steaming is almost instant in its enzyme kill,these teas typically have a very green liquor. In the steaming process,the inactivation ofenzyme is achived by steaming the flush to the temperature of 100degree c.

The panning or roasting method allow a small amount of oxidation that typecally occurs the liqour yellow.In this method fresh shoots are expossed to a blast of hot air at 100 to 106degree C.Fresh leaves are fed into a barrel for 3 to 4 min.thus the inactivation of polyphenol oxidase enzyme is brought about by dry heat in the panning process.

After heat treatment the green tea manufacture process is similar to that of orthodox method.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is semi oxidised tea. The plucked leaves are initially withered in the sun upto an hour. Then they are withered again at room temperature.

AT this stage, the leaves are stirred and tossed many times by hand. This cause slight bruising of leaves due to which natural fermentation starts.At the end of withering stage,the leaves are subjected to panfiring which arrest fermentation.

Thus the leaves are partially fermented yielding a flavour characteristic to Oolong teas.The leaves are then rolled,fired again,cold rolledfired for a final time.

Silvertips Tea

Silvertips are generally produced by plucking only buds and drying in natural sunlight.This allow the tips retain their covering of velvety silvery colour.

In the sun drying process the buds could be spread on nylon nets.Drying should be done at an optimum temperature.

Handmade Tea

Handmade tea,as the name suggests,is the tea made from rolling the leaves gently by hands.Handmade tea is processed from leaves containg only single,two leaf and buds.The plucked leaves aare subjected to a hard wither.

The withered leaves are then gently rolled by hand.After 30 second the leaves are seperated and again hand rolled with increased pressure.Tottaly the shoots are rolled for about one minute. After rolling the leaves are fermentated in the floor and finally dried.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF TEA

what in tea?

Tea contains a small amount of necessary vitamins as well as mineral element such as Manganese,Zinc,Potassium and Megnesium.

Tea is a very good source of Antioxidents.The antioxident present in thetea prevent the oxidation reaction initiated by the free radicals by interacting with them. The oxidation reaction can cause damage to the cell components.Thus the antioxidents property of the teahelps to strengthen the immune system of the body.

Heart Benefits :

Tea decreases the risk of developing heart disease.Higher black tea consuption corresponted with fewer fatel heart attacks.

Cancer Prevention

Tea protect against the development of pancreatic and prostate cancer.Green tea couldhelp stem esphagenal cancer.Tea consumption may lower stomac cancer risk

Hypertension Reducing Benefits :

Green and Oolong tea reduce the risk of hypertension

Oral hygiene:


Tea protect tooth decay and inhibit plaque formation Tea provide a small natural source of fluride

special thanks to
Jasin Rahman

Research Scholar,

UPASI TRF, Valparai,

-from 'Anamalai Tiger reserve