So in this day and age, guessing is not an option. Do not try and go on without facts backing you up on your beliefs. Ask yourselves: Is what they are saying based on facts? Or is it just a hoax? The manufacturer's way of luring us and making us buy their products? Maybe it is just their way of say "stretching the truth". And misleading us to the cold facts. And please. Do not bother asking these people themselves if it is true. They will just say: We are not lying by the way. It is called advertising.
Uncover the truth. Separate fact from fiction. Journey with me as we try to unravel what is true and what is not. Let us be wise and examine the facts as it is laid out before us.
Here are 15 of the common misconceptions and myths we all heard about teas. Let us try to distinguish FACT versus FICTION. I really made it a point to place the answers at the end for us to see how much you know about Teas and the favorite drink we all love. Try to remember your answers per question and keep count. It can be a fun and informative game. And by the way, do not cheat.
1. Different teas come from different plant varieties and sources.
2. Tea and coffee are no different from each other. They contain the same amount of caffeine.
3. Tea is money to some people.
4. All tea is produced by China
5. Green tea has lighter color than black tea. Therefore, it contains less caffeine than black tea
6. Tea contains caffeine. Therefore it makes falling asleep harder.
7. Teas are known diuretics. If drank, it dehydrates you.
8. Drinking tea will help you be slimmer and lose weight fast.
9. The more you drink tea, the faster you will lose weight.
10. Tea is bad for your health because it contains caffeine.
11. All teas are the same. They just have different flavors.
12. Iced tea is also the same as hot tea.
13. Decaf teas are equivalents of regular teas
14. Teas have long shelf life
15. Drinking teas is just a fad and a hoax.
Don't hold your breath anymore. For here are answers:
1: Different teas come from different plant varieties and sources.
Answer: FICTION.
This is not true. All teas, the authentic ones, all come from one plant source - the Camellia sinensis. The four main types of teas are: Black tea, Green tea, Oolong tea and White tea. The types of tea are different in terms of color and flavor not because they come different plants but because of the processing each one has to undergo. For example, the black tea. This is probably the most popular type of tea in the United States of America. Its tea leaves are allowed to be fully oxidized. Therefore, the leaves are exposed to the air until such a time they turn to black. Green teas, however, are less processed than black teas. This is so as to preserve its green tea color and flavoring some people find delightful. Oolong teas are partially oxidized. They are a mix between black and green teas in terms of oxidation.
2: Tea and coffee are no different from each other. They contain the same amount of caffeine.
Answer: FICTION.
Yes, just like coffee, teas contain caffeine. But it is known for a fact that a typical cup of tea contains about 50 percent of the caffeine a typical cup of instant coffee has.
Preliminary research revealed that when the level of caffeine in coffee and in tea is equal, still, alertness throughout the day may be more consistent in the tea drinkers than in coffee drinkers. Scientists infer this is due to the combination of L-theanine and caffeine in teas. With this combination, positive effects of tea to alertness are achieved.
So this makes tea a great alternative for coffees.
3: Tea is money to some people.
Answer: FACT.
This may sound incredulous, but until the nineteenth century, solid blocks of tea were used as currency in their country. This is in Siberia. Just imagine the status tea has during those times. How much they believed in this wonder drink those days!
4 : All tea is produced by China
Answer: FICTION.
It is for a fact that tea originated in China. And we have them to thank for producing such a healthful drink. But it does not mean it is the ONLY tea producers in the world. Tea has come a long way since then. In fact, many countries grow and produce tea. India and Africa are famous for producing wonderful black teas. Japan is known for its sencha and mancha green teas. In South America, they grow matte, a different type of tea. And other cultures are also catching up with their own local herbs and root teas. Let us not forget the United States of America. Lipton teas, a very popular tea brand, are grown in South Carolina. Even Hawaii is starting to make and improve tea crops. Taiwan is also known for their Oolong teas. Like Wu'Yi and An'xi. But still, let us not forget China. They are hailed for making the best green and white teas. They are usually found in mountainous areas like in Hangzou and Fujian.
5: Green tea has lighter color than black tea. Therefore, it contains less caffeine than black tea
Answer: FICTION.
The truth of the matter is, you cannot tell how much caffeine a tea contains basing it solely on its color. Take for instance the finest Japanese green tea - Gyokuro. It is known to contain more caffeine than the black tea Lapsang Souchong. This is because high grade green tea is made from buds and young leaves instead of regular green tea leaves. The younger the tea leaf, the more caffeine it has. So it is not just simple coincidence that the finest green tea from China such as Longjing or Dragon. Well, and Japan's Gyokuro has higher caffeine levels than other regular teas available in the market.
Black teas come from larger, more matured tea leaves source. This only means that a high-grade loose green tea can have the same amount, and even more caffeine content than a black tea can have.
The next 10 are on the next article...
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