Tuesday, December 25, 2018

The Health Benefits of Darjeeling Tea


6 Darjeeling Tea Health Benefits

Darjeeling tea may offer health benefits that may improve your body's health and overall well-being:6
1. Provides antioxidant capabilities — Darjeeling tea contains two complex antioxidants called theaflavins and thearubigins. These antioxidants help neutralize harmful free radicals, and potentially reduce free radical damage that can target cell membranes and DNA, and raise your risk for chronic illness.
2. May help maintain cardiovascular health — Results from a 2014 PLOS One study revealed that consumption of four to five cups of black tea daily may assist in reducing blood pressure levels and cardiovascular disease risk.7
3. May help reduce risk of obesity and promote weight loss — Drinking black tea may promote development of microbial metabolites that may assist in regulating energy metabolism. The tea may also promote weight loss and lower obesity risk.
4. May help improve gut health — Research indicated that black tea may stimulate the proliferation of various good gut bacteria8 and lessen the risk for bacterial infection.9
5. May help address gastric ulcers — A 2014 Journal of Natural Medicines study highlighted that L-theanine, an amino acid in Darjeeling tea, possessed protective effects toward an NSAID-induced gastric ulcer.10
6. May help lower diabetes risk — Various studies confirmed that consumption of black tea (which Darjeeling tea falls under) resulted in a decreased diabetes risk.


Is There Caffeine in Darjeeling Tea?

Yes there is, just like a cup of coffee. There are roughly 50 milligrams of caffeine in darjeeling tea, although this amount may vary depending on the strength of the tea.14 However, remember that there are consequences linked to consuming excess amounts of caffeine (more on this to come later).

Learn How to Brew and Serve Darjeeling Tea

Harvesting of Darjeeling tea leaves runs from mid-March through November. Darjeeling leaves are freshly plucked, withered overnight, rolled and fermented or oxidized before being fired. The tea bushes progress through four seasons called "flushes," with each flush offering a distinct flavor: first flush, second flush (summer), monsoon flush and autumn flush.
As such, Darjeeling tea is often sold not only by single estate, but also by flush.15 Darjeeling tea may also be classified according to the size of the leaves, namely:16
  • Whole Leaf Darjeeling Tea — Super Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (SFTGFOP) and Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe (FTGFOP)
  • Broken Leaf — Fine Tippy Golden Broken Orange Pekoe (FTGBOP), Tippy Golden Broken Orange Pekoe (TGBOP), Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe (FBOP) and Broken Orange Pekoe (BOP)
  • Fannings — Golden Flowery Orange Fannings (GFOF) and Golden Orange Fannings (GOF)
  • Dust (D) — Generally used in traditional teabags, but isn't the best quality
To brew your own cup of Darjeeling tea at home, grab some tea leaves and follow this recipe: 
 Ingredients:

8 ounces high-quality filtered water
Darjeeling tea leaves
 Procedure:

1. Heat your water to a boil, or just below a boil. You can inspect how oxidized your tea is first, Reduce the heat more for darker teas, and lower, to around 185 degrees Fahrenheit, for less-oxidized or earlier-season teas.
2. Preheat the vessel or kettle and rinse with a little hot water. Add a tablespoon of Darjeeling tea leaves per 8 ounces of water.
3. Steep the tea for three to five minutes depending on your taste. Try tasting it to check if you are satisfied with the flavor.

  You can add grass fed milk or sweeteners like raw honey, stevia or Luo Han to taste. While Darjeeling tea is best without milk, some people prefer drinking milk with the tea, and especially when tasting Autumn flush.18 Just remember that dairy may diminish the potency of some of the antioxidants in the tea.


How to Store Darjeeling Tea

In order to prolong the shelf life of your Darjeeling tea, take note of these reminders:19
  • Store in an airtight container — This helps make the tea last longer, maintains the optimal moisture content of the tea leaves, inhibits dust contamination and prevents spoilage by exposure to excess moisture caused by oxygen and other elements in the air.
  • Keep Darjeeling tea away from direct sunlight and warm temperatures — Increased exposure to heat sources may affect the tea chemically and physically. This can give the tea a more bitter flavor or degrade its flavor. Place the tea in a cool and dark cupboard or drawer, and ensure that this spot isn't close to the oven, grill or any appliance that emits heat.
  • Avoid mixing with any strong odors — Tea is susceptible to contamination when exposed to foods that emit strong odors such as cheese, garlic, onions and spices. Tea leaves are porous, and once they absorb odors, the flavor can be affected.
  • Separate your blends — It's highly recommended to not keep one type of tea close to another, especially those with strong flavors. Storing the leaves in a sealed container can inhibit cross-contamination. Plus, clearly label your jars so you do not mistakenly combine tea blends.
Caffeine present in Darjeeling tea can cause side efects








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