Frequently Asked Questions about Tea

The botanical name for tea is Camellia Sinensis, it is a part of the evergreen family. There are over 300 varieties of Camellia Sinensis but only two types of Camellia sinensis are used for tea cultivation, the China plant, and Assam plant.

Camellia Sinensis China is also found in Darjeeling estates and is used to make white, oolong, green and black teas. Camellia Sinensis Assamica is native to Assam and is used to make white, oolong, green and black tea.

Tea, a drink made from the leaves and buds of the shrub Camellia sinensis. It is the second largest drink consumed after water.

Broadly all teas can be classified into four basic types: White, Oolong, Green and Black. They are all made from Camellia sinensis. The difference is in the manufacturing process and the amount of fermentation /oxidation required to make each type of tea.

Tea has been consumed for ages and has always been regarded as the safest beverage. Tea is the most popular beverage in the world because of its attractive aroma, exceptional taste, health promoting and pharmaceutical potential. Tea is the richest source of Antioxidants and contains polyphenols (specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), catechins, theaflavins, tannins, and flavonoids), these are known to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-cancer health benefits.

Tea is known to take care of infections like, colds, flu and known to take care of headaches and muscular pains. Tea is a diuretic and produces both warmth and coolness in the body. The steam of hot tea moisturises the nose, mouth, and throat and can help you clear your sinuses.

Research done in India, Europe, and other countries show that consumption of Drinking 3 or more servings of tea daily was associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, thought to be attributed to the high flavonoid content. One meta-analysis found that regular tea drinking reduced the risk of having a heart attack by 11%. Some observational studies have linked tea drinking with a lower risk of cancer – particularly colorectal cancer.

Given high content of antioxidants in tea. Research has shown that Consumption of 3 or more servings of black tea per day resulted in a reduced risk of heart disease while, for type 2 diabetes risk, the benefit was seen at intakes of 1 to 4 servings per day. Observational studies suggest that drinking black tea may reduce the risk of a stroke.

Any tea which is consumed without milk and sugar is Zero calories. It is the healthiest beverage after water.

Green Tea is a type of tea made from Camellia sinensis. The drink brewed from the dry leaves is a popular beverage in Asian Countries and is one of the most popular beverages in Japan and China. It is gaining popularity worldwide because of its numerous health benefits.

Green Tea has been around for many centuries and ancient documentation by the Chinese which dates back to 1191, (Kissa Yojok Book of Tea), written by Zen priest Eisai, describes the benefits of green tea. Modern day research shows that regular consumption of green tea is known to reduce cholesterol, aid in burning fat and reducing cardiovascular disease and cancer

Green tea is one richest natural source of antioxidants called polyphenols (specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), catechins, theaflavins, tannins, and flavonoids). These antioxidants are known t o have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-cancer health benefits. Green Tea is also known to aid weight loss, control glucose, and is also a photoprotective agent which protects the skin, prevents tooth decay and promotes bone density.

The tea plant accumulates fluoride from the soil, fluoride is known to protect teeth from dental caries. A cup of tea is a natural source of fluoride.

Recent research suggests that drinking tea can actually have a positive effect on bones. Studies among older women have found that women who drank four or more cups of tea a day had improved bone density compared to women who were non-tea drinkers. It is a known fact that Milk is a source of Calcium which is good for bone health. Assuming that we drink four cups of tea a day and if we add milk, it provides 21% of an adults daily Calcium requirement.

Antioxidants are molecules that inhibit oxidation of other molecules reducing free radical cell damage and leaving the body generally healthier.

Tea is a natural source of antioxidants called polyphenols (specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), catechins, theaflavins, tannins, and flavonoids).

Yes, it does contain some caffeine, there are several factors that go into determining the caffeine level, these can be attributed to the plant, type of tea, season of plucking, and the duration of infusion.

Beverage             Approximate Caffeine Content (in milligrammes)*

Coffee                                                     40–170

White Tea                                             6–20

Oolong Tea                                           9–50

Green Tea                                             8–30

Black Tea                                            40–100

Masala Chai                                        20–50

*assuming 100 ml of water for brewing.

The caffeine content in tea is less than half of coffee.

Yes, Green Tea does have caffeine approx 8 mg to 30 mg, this helps the brain remain alerted.

There are many versions of the History of Green Tea, the most popular and oldest documented book dates back to a book written by Lu Yu in 600-900 AD (Tang Dynasty), "Tea Classic". The Kissa Yojok Book of Tea, written by Zen priest Eisai in 1191, describes the benefits of green tea and its effect on five vital organs. These books are considered important in green tea history.

Green Tea is made from the same tea plant from which we get White, Oolong and Black tea. Green Tea is nonfermented, which means that it does not undergo oxidation. The processing method is different (fixing, rolling and drying).

Fixing: after plucking the leaves are taken to the factory immediately where the leaves are “fixed” or de-enzymed by application of heat, this stops the leaf from turning brown/oxidising.

Rolling: Once fixed the leaves are either rolled by hand or put into a rolling machine and given shape.

Drying: After rolling, the leaf is dried in either industrial dryers or pans. Drying is carried out until the moisture content is reduced to about 1% of the total weight of the leaves.

No colour, preservatives, additives are added to Green Tea. The tea leaves are processed in a way to keep their original character, after brewing loose leaf tea, the leaf should be green.

Single Estate Tea means that the tea is from a particular estate. It has not been blended with other tea.

Tea blending is the blending of different teas together to produce a final product. This occurs chiefly with black tea. Tea is blended so that customers get can get the same taste every time which means quality, character, and flavour of the tea is constant, this is despite some teas being seasonal or in short supply due to adverse weather conditions in one or other of the growing regions.

Blended tea means, that it more than two or three varieties of tea, these teas are blended carefully by blenders who have rich experience. Teas are selected from regions, grades, gardens so that there is consistency in the taste, colour, and quality.

It takes great skill to make a blend, years of practice goes into perfecting a blend. The one golden rule of blending is: Every blend must taste the same as the previous one, so a consumer will not be able to detect a difference in flavour from one purchase to the next.

This is a secret blend of various types of tea made by Master Tea Blenders, the secrets of which is only known to them and is a closely guarded.

Oolong Tea is partially fermented tea it is between a black tea and a green tea, it is made from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Oolong teas are highly valued for their rich flavour and its numerous health benefits. Oolong tea can enhance focus because of its caffeine content. Caffeine helps to stimulate the frontal cortex of the brain and this results in intense focus, improved memory function, and enhanced thinking abilities.

Teacupsfull takes great pride in offering the highest quality full leaf teas in the market. Our Tea Masters have worked in the best estates of Goodricke Group – India’s second largest producers of tea. A unique point of differentiation is that these retired Tea Planters have in-depth knowledge of manufacturing, planting, and harvesting which is important when we select our teas, they have trained the second generation that continues to take the legacy forward.