Ever since its origin in ancient China in 2700 B.C., tea has become the world’s most consumed beverage after water. Its long history and global appeal have always brought people of different cultures and traditions closer to each other. Black tea and green tea, along with all other types of tea, come from the leaves of the same plant, Camellia sinensis, but their different treatments make them have different properties and tastes.
The Treatment of Leaves
The leaves of the tea plant give us two broadly consumed types of tea when treated differently. First is the black tea, which is made by drying and rolling back the leaves. This breaks their cells apart, allowing maximum oxidation and giving it a dark color and rich flavor. The Green Tea does not under heavy processing. This gives green tea a grassy taste but makes it retain all the antioxidant properties to the maximum.
Black tea offers rich flavor and aroma and has a slightly smoky taste, while green tea has a refreshing, mild, and delicate grassy flavor.
Both types of tea have significant health benefits, and in some cases, one is superior to the other.
Caffeine Dose Comparison of Black and Green tea
Black tea is slightly higher in caffeine than green tea, which is one of the reasons why some prefer it. Caffeine is a chemical that promotes alertness and relieves tiredness. It does so by reducing the Adenosine interaction with the brain cells, which eventually makes you feel less sleepy. So if you want to pull an all-nighter, black tea can help you better than green tea.
Health Benefits Comparison
In 2020, a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology indicated that habitual tea consumption lowers the risk of heart-related diseases and all types of death. This makes tea not only a source of relaxing beverages but also an extremely valuable component in one’s balanced diet. The details of benefits of each is mentioned below
The Wonders of Green Tea Consumption
The study showed that green tea consumption was associated with almost 25% decreased risks for incident heart disease, stroke, fatal heart disease, and all-cause mortality. For black tea, no significant observations were made.
The reason lies in the fact that green tea is rich in polyphenols, which help to prevent cardiovascular disease. This further decreases risk factors like dyslipidemia and high blood pressure. Black tea undergoes brewing, in which polyphenols are converted to pigments and lose their antioxidant properties.
The Black Tea Consumption Charisma
Many other studies have spoken in favor of black tea as well. Research has shown that black tea doesn’t have the same quantity of antioxidants as green tea, but they do share a similar effect on health, though less pronounced. Some experts believe the oxidation may give black tea some benefits different from those of green tea.
Black tea has been proven to decrease the risk of heart disease by 8% due to the presence of flavonoids. This, in the long term, causes decreased chances of stroke and heart failure and helps regulate blood pressure better.
Black tea helps to regulate sugar levels and improve focus. Black tea has been associated to fighting skin and oral cancers as well.
All this combined with better flavor makes one think black is the better option, but it all comes down to you.
Cautions of Black Tea Consumption
Black tea must be consumed without sugar or milk to preserve its benefits. It should also be consumed in moderation, as it has relatively more caffeine than green tea, and a high caffeine dose can make a person restless and anxious with a high heart rate.
Which is better, black tea or green tea?
The choice should be made based on your body’s demands and taste preferences. It is perfectly fine to like one over the other, as the health benefits of both are unmatched, but one must be aware that artificial flavors, added sugars, canned tea, and adding milk are not nutritious and ruin your health in the long term.
The choice between black tea and green tea ultimately depends on individual preferences and health goals. Black tea offers a robust flavor and potential cardiovascular benefits, while green tea provides a lighter taste and a range of antioxidants. Both have their unique qualities, making them valuable additions to a balanced diet.