How about tea for breakfast? We Germans, a nation of coffee drinkers, are not easily convinced of this idea. There is a lot of goodness in the brewed leaves. Studies have shown: tea drinkers are on the safe side. They suffer less often from serious diseases and live longer.
There is a wide range of teas to choose from, and green, black or white tea is guaranteed to bring healthy variety to the table.
A difficult start – the European history of tea
The first green tea was transported to the Netherlands in 1610 by the ships of the Dutch East India Company. The tea was introduced via Java. Soon taken on board by every Dutch ship. From Holland the tea arrived in the middle of the 17. In the early twentieth century for the first time in the supposed home of tea England. The tea leaves had to undergo an arduous journey and, stored on ships for more than half a year, often lost quality. Opinions were divided in Europe about the healthfulness of the new beverage.
The advocates of tea in history
But there were some advocates who managed to convince the skeptics:
– Dutch doctor Cornelius Bontekoe recommended drinking large amounts of tea to sick people in 1679 – Catherine of Braganza founded the British tea culture in 1662 – The first tea store in Germany opened in Hanover in 1743
Tea for young and old
If the whole family wants to switch to tea and also include the offspring, then there is to consider that the leaves of black and green tea are caffeinated. The caffeine content of tea leaves is even about 5% higher than that of coffee beans. Since tea is infused with more water than coffee, however, the caffeine content is reduced. Letting the tea steep longer causes the tannins to bind the caffeine. The stimulating effect is reduced. These teas contain no caffeine. Can be safely enjoyed even by young children. Therefore, one should always have a supply of herbal teas handy. These can work wonders for stomach aches, coughs or colds. Not every herbal tea becomes the children's favorite drink. Those who refine it with honey or fennel syrup are on the safe side.
Apart from tasting good, tea can also help with ailments:
– An infusion of valerian helps children fall asleep. – Annoying cough can fight tea from marshmallow root. – Peppermint tea is not only tasty, but also relieves stomach and intestinal complaints. Herbal teas can help nursing mothers produce more milk. Also has a positive effect on the baby. Fennel tea stimulates the flow of milk. Is extremely easy on the stomach. Caraway tea can help improve the taste of breast milk. The tannic acid contained in walnut leaves is ideal for weaning. An infusion of walnut leaves reduces milk production.
Video: Tea vs. Coffee
Black, white, green – not all tea is the same
The mentioned teas differ in preparation, taste and ingredients.
– Black tea is dried in wicker baskets. Then the tea leaves are rolled and fermented. Fermentation should be carried out at about 30 degrees so that the tea leaves take on their typical copper-red color and do not burn. The fermentation is followed by drying for about 20 minutes to preserve the taste and ingredients. The tea leaves are then mechanically separated according to their size.
At the same time in:
– White tea is only lightly fermented. This happens quite naturally, during the drying process, which is completed in several steps. The name of the tea can be traced back to the delicate buds of the tea plant, which are enclosed in a white fluff. The tea is of high quality. Mild in taste. The best known representative is the tea Pai Mu Tan. This gently processed tea is low in caffeine. Thus also recommended as a family drink. – In green tea, fermentation is deliberately prevented. So all the ingredients remain. The amount of vitamins, carotenes, magnesium, zinc or fluoride is above average. Caffeine content varies widely. The Bancha and Kukicha varieties are most suitable as tea beverages for families due to their low caffeine content.
This might also interest you: Healthy diet for your child
Image source: Copyright PhotoSGH – shutterstock.com
Related articles
How to give up sugar? – How to get rid of sugar
Sugar, fat and wheat are not only fatteners, but negatively affect health. So what could be more natural, on snacking .