Tea Types and Health Benefits

Sangeeta Verma

Abstract: The infusion of the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant is tea, this is not to be confused with herbal teas. All types of teas including white, green, oolong, black, and Pu-erh tea, are produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Different processing methods yield the various types of tea. Tea contains over 2000 components. Caffeine, flavonoids, fluoride, and theanine etc. are found as the main bioactive chemicals in tea. Green teas are especially rich in a group of flavonoids called flavan-3-ol monomers or catechins. More complex chemicals theaflavins and thearubigins which are derived from catechins have been reported in black tea. Health benefits of drinking tea is known since ancient times, now this belief is getting stronger day by day with growing researches in this field. Tea is found useful against various ailments like cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetesmelitus, cancers and in some cognitive diseases etc.

Keywords: Camellia sinensis, caffeine, flavonoids, polyphenols, cardiovascular diseases