Tea is one of the olden refreshments that people like to have in the form of beverage. You can prepare it by soaking the dried leaves in water/milk. There are thousands of varieties in tea. Tea is the second most well-liked beverage after water in the world. India stands at number one position in tea-consuming countries. It is the second largest exporter of tea. There are different types of tea in India with different aroma and flavors that will brighten your day.
Today, tea is an essential beverage in India. You will see people sipping masala chai, Darjeeling tea and others at home, or office. People in India believe in super power of tea and the health benefits each type of tea has. Most of the people here feel that relishing a cup of tea keeps them happy and healthy. The Indian family members enjoys the luxury of exotic brews in a cup of hot tea on daily basis. There is something outstanding and unique in this simple beverage. Let’s have a look on the types of tea in India with their amazing health benefits:
Types of tea in India:
1. Masala tea
Masala tea is one of the most popular types of tea in India. It is also believed to be a home remedy for many ailments. People in India make tea in a variety of ways. There are different recipes coming out from all kitchen across India. The combination of black tea leaves and aromatic spices enhance the taste. The spices may be cinnamon, cloves, ginger and cardamom to name a few of them. The brew from masala tea is the heart of India. It is the right source of tea with many health benefits. The method of preparation of masala tea varies as per taste and customs of that place.
Benefits of Masala Tea
Cinnamon and clove present in the masala tea helps to boost immunity. Ginger in this tea helps to improve blood circulation and reduces aches and pains. Tulsi leaves and cardamon in the tea helps to aid digestion. The spices present in masala tea contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. They help to reduce inflammation. Many research has shown that this tea has anti-oxidizing properties. It helps to prevent cancer. The spices in masala tea have few side effects and a cup of masala tea helps to increase energy levels.
2. Assam tea
Assam tea is one of the teas coming from hilly estate of Assam. This tea contains leaves of camellia sinensis. It is grown in a warm and humid climate and at sea level. This gives a unique malty taste. The tea has a rich and strong malty flavor enjoyed not only in India but all over the world. People collect the leaves and dry them. This process is for oxidizing and fermentation. Assam tea is also called as Irish breakfast tea or English breakfast tea. It has a powerful dose of caffeine content which many people love to have.
Benefits of Assam Tea
Assam tea boosts mental alertness. It helps to prevent ovarian and lung cancer. The rich antioxidants in assam tea helps to boost immunity. They are helpful for better heart health. Consumption of Assam tea helps to reduce unwanted fats from our body. The tea helps to improve oral health and prevent cavities. You can do this either by drinking Assam tea, gargling with the tea or chewing the leaves. Assam tea has a natural source of vitamin A and vitamin E. This helps to improve our skin health.
3. Kashmiri kahwa
Kashmiri kahwa is a pleasure-seeking blend from the remarkable land of Kashmir. The tea has a perfect mix of green leaves with spices like cinnamon, cardamon and saffron. You can also add dried rose petals to it as per your taste. We can also add silvered almonds at the top. You can add any sweetener like sugar or honey as per the need. Kahwa is also called as kehwa, qehwa, or kahwah. The tea is a wake-up call for most of the Kashmiris. It is a fantastic choice for a winter day. Kashmiri kahwa is not only a beverage but it is also a cultural symbol of Kashmir customs and traditions.
Benefits of Kashmiri Kahwa
Kashmiri kahwa is the best remedy to reduce stress. It helps to improve concentration and provides better eyesight. Kahwa tea cleanses the digestive system and boosts the metabolism rate if the body. The tea is the best home remedy for cough, cold and also helps to reduce congestion in chest. If you feel tired and lethargic drink this tea. Kashmiri kahwa tea recharges your body and mind. Each brew of this blend provides a healthy and glowing skin. The antioxidants in the tea helps to moisturize the skin and reduce acnes.
4. Noon Tea
Noon tea is another in demand Kashmiri tea. It is also called gulabi tea or pink tea as it is pink in colour. Mix the green tea leaves with specific spices. These spices are cinnamon, clove, green cardamom, and star anise. Add baking soda after the first boil, this gives pink colour to the tea. This mixture is then added with milk and sugar. Earlier people used to add salt, but now-a days they add sugar to give a richer taste. You can garnish the tea with thin slices of almonds and pistachios. The tea is creamy and has a good fragrance.
Benefits of Noon Tea
The cardamon and baking soda present in this tea helps to prevent heartburn and bloating. The polyphenols in the tea reduces bad cholesterol. The spices in the tea contains vitamin C, potassium and magnesium. This helps to strengthen the bones and boost immunity. The pink tea gives relieve from constipation. It also reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It is a perfect healthy drink as it has low calories. The tea contains L-theanine (component of amino acid). It helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Thus it acts as a perfect mood booster.
5. Green tea
Green tea originates from a plant species called Camellia sinensis. It has ample nutritional values and contain antioxidants. The best time to drink green tea is the gap between two meals. One should not drink green tea on an empty stomach as it may lead to gastric problems. The flavors of green tea may vary from toasted vegetal to sweet, sea-weed like taste. It differs depending on in which territory was it grown. Green tea does not contain any chemical substances. Hence it maintains all the healthy properties and components.
Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea promotes relaxation and improves mental health. Drinking green tea protects a person from diseases like Parkinson, and Alzheimer. Consumption of green tea helps to control diabetes. The tea is beneficial as it supports healthy weight management. Green tea boosts productivity and helps to live longer life. The tea has disinfectant and deodorizing properties. This is beneficial in reducing bad breadth. A cup of green tea daily protects against the formation of blood clots on the linings of blood vessel. It is a main reason for heart attacks.
6. Nilgiri tea
The other name known for nilgiri tea is blue mountain tea. The tea is grown in nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu. Major production of this tea is in southern parts of Western Ghats. Nilgiri tea has strong aroma with a rich taste with subtle sweetness. You can improve the sweetness in the tea can by adding few drops of lemon. It has a minty and fruity flavor. The taste of this tea is also good in the form of iced tea. One can process some part of nilgiri tea by hand. It gives amazing flavors and aromas. The tea production faces two monsoons in a year. This increases the growth and production cycles of the tea.
Benefits of Nilgiri Tea
Nilgiri tea has rich source of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. This helps in the healing process. It may help to control blood pressure levels and diabetes. Consuming nilgiri tea helps to keep the digestive tract healthy. Nilgiri tea helps to slow down the aging process. The tea has rich source of flavonoids. It strengthens the heart and gives positive heart health benefits. Having a cup of Nilgiri tea on regular basis helps in boosting the immune system. It also increases bone density. Consumption of Nilgiri tea may help to lower the risk of kidney stone.
7. Butter tea
Butter tea is popular in the Himalayan region of India. In the cold climatic conditions, the tea provides energy and calories. In ancient times people use to make it from butter obtained from milk of Yak. They boil the milk and keep it in a solar-powered device that separates the butter. Then they boil the tea leaves in water for few hours till they get a dark brown color. The next step is to pour this mixture in a container having fresh yak butter and salt. This is a thick liquid ready for people to drink. They serve this tea in tiny cups. The Himalayan people have this tea up to thirty cups in a day.
Benefits of Butter Tea
Butter tea enhances the blood flow in the body. It helps to boost bone and muscle strength. People stay at high altitudes. Consumption of butter tea helps in reducing stress of farming and other work. Butter tea is a good choice for appetite suppressant. It reduces the hunger level and keeps your body feel full. Butter tea helps to keep the skin and lips moisturized in the winds of mountains. Drinking butter tea helps in improving digestion and stops bloating. The antioxidants present in butter tea helps to improve brain health.
8. Darjeeling tea
Darjeeling tea is grown in the hilly regions of Darjeeling. People process the tea leaves in the same manner as black tea. They harvest it by plucking plant’s top leaves with the buds. The harvesting season is from March to November. The tea is available for a limited period of time. The tea is thin, light in color with a floral aroma. Darjeeling tea has three flushes. They are: first flush, second flush, and the autumn flush. The first and second flush are the best teas. They have a rich, aromatic taste and you can have it without milk and sugar.
Benefits of Darjeeling Tea
Darjeeling tea helps to prevent gastric ulcers and obesity. The tea removes the toxins from the body and helps to boost digestion. Drinking the tea daily helps in reducing the deficits of antioxidants in the body. Adding a cup of Darjeeling tea on regular basis will help to increase the levels of hydration. The tea contains polyphenolic compounds. It reduces the growth of cancer and stops tumor development. Consumption of Darjeeling tea on regular basis helps to boost the metabolism of our body. It also helps to keep our guts clean.
Tea is an important beverage for people in India. It acts as a refreshment at home and in an official meeting. All families in India relish a hot cup of tea on daily basis. If you are a tea lover, let us know which type of tea you like the most. It may be possible that you were not drinking tea earlier. After reading this article you may tempt to have tea. Share your experience! Any tea that you choose have many health benefits. It improves your mood, detoxifies the body. They boost your energy levels and keep you active throughout the day. Thank you for reading this post.