by Madison Ogashi

Created on: June 11, 2008   Last Updated: November 29, 2010

The Differences in Teas

Black Tea

For Black Tea, the water should be at about 100 C or 212 F in temperature. Many of the active ingredients in this tea don't develop well at lower temps, causing the tea to taste bitter. The water temps have a big effect on how the tea's taste.

Black tea's are normally brewed for about 4 minutes, and should not be steeped less than 30 seconds, or for more than 5 minutes. Anything much longer will make the tea bitter to taste.

Health Benefits of Black Tea

Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and the Environment found a relation between regular intake of black tea and reduced risk of stroke. Researchers looked at data from a study on the the health benefits of food that are high in flavonoids - phytonutrients with antioxidant benefits. While some of the flavonoids were obtained from fruits and vegetables, 70% came from black tea. Researchers concluded that the flavonoids in black tea reduced the production of LDL - the "bad" cholesterol that can lead to stroke and heart attacks. Furthermore, men who drank over 4 cups of black tea per day had a lower risk of stroke than men who drank only 2 to 3 cups per day.

Green Teas

The water for the Green Teas should be about 176 to 185 f (90 to 100 c) The brewing vessel should be warmed up. Anything hotter will burn the tea leaves and cause a bitter taste.

Health Benefits of Green Tea

here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is said to be helpful:

Cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, infection, impaired immune function

Evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract used more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo. Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque.

Oolong Teas

This water needs to be 90 C to 100 C (194 F to 212 F), The traditional brewing vessel for this is the Yixing Purple clay teapots. The best water to use for oolong tea, is the spring water as that brings out more of the tea flavor. High quality oolong tea can be brewed up to 5 times using the same tea-leaves. This tends to improve the taste in re-using. The 3rd brewing is usually

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