It is common to hear people ordering tea every day, but in reality, this drink does not even have the tea plant. The confusion is great and it is due in large part to its popularity around the world. Thus, it is common to drink an infusion or herbal tea and call this drink a tea.
The Tea comes exclusively from the plant Camellia Sinensis (roots, stems, leaves or flowers), a tree native to India and China, the family of Theaceae and up to 15 meters in height. In Europe, for example, the only known large plantations are in the Azores, more precisely on the island of São Miguel.
Camellia Sinensis usually produces five varieties of teas:
- White tea is produced by drying the tender leaves, but without being fermented, so there is almost no theine;
- Green tea results from a slight oxidation of the leaves and thus reveals a low level of theine;
- Oolong tea is a tea in which the leaves undergo a medium fermentation (has a moderate level of theine);
- Red tea is a tea in which the leaves are pressed and fermented in barrels, have a high content of theine;
- Black tea results from a strong fermentation and offers a very high concentration of theine.
For the Camellia Sinensis option, Infusion (use of heat) must be performed. The Camellia Sinensis should be placed in cold water for a few minutes and then only heat should be used, at a temperature between 80 ° C and 90 ° C, without boiling, in order to take full advantage of the nutrients offered. The infusion should last about 7 minutes, but it depends on the plant. This drink is indeed a tea.
Then, when preparing an Infusion of dry or living leaves of a plant such as chamomile, linden, lemon balm or an aromatic plant, it is considered that it is a simple infusion. Coffee is the result of an infusion of Coffea beans.
When the infusion is made with more than one type of plant – or parts of it – such as leaves, flowers, roots, fruit peels or seeds – this is called Herbal tea. For this type of Infusion, the duration varies according to the type of plants used and can go from 5, 10 or even 15 minutes, to be able to exploit all its potential. This mixture of different plants is also called mixture and is widely used for therapeutic and medicinal purposes, although it is also widely consumed for pure pleasure and there are very low doses for innovative flavors. Try a good verbena herbal tea with basil, cinnamon, and Gomphrena.
However, there are also those who use the herbal tea to flavor, for example, a white or black tea, in which case the drink becomes a Tea Blend.
We observe that drinking Tea, an Infusion or an Herbal tea makes all the difference.
This text is an awareness. Depending on the season and the moment in which you are, it is up to everyone to decide whether to consume this food. The dosage and frequency depend on the nature and physical condition of each Human Being.
