An Overview of Tea, a Health Tonic and Its Beneficial

Science Letters (2020) 19-22 Contents list available at Science Letters journal homepage:Science http://www.scienceletters.org/ Letters An Overview of Tea, A Health Tonic and its Beneficial Impact on Human Health Worldwide a* b c d a BabitaDepartment Kumari of Biotechnology,d , Hitesh Sophitorium Solanki Institute, Humeraha of Technology Nazneen and Life Skills, AnoopKhurda, Odisha-752050, Sharma India. b , LokeshDepartments Verma of Botany, Gujarat University, Ahmadabad, Gujarat-380009, India. c Department of Botany, Nizam College, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India. d Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies, Faridabad,- 121004Haryana, India. ArticleA R T History I C L: E I N F O CamelliaA B S T sinensis R A C commonly T called “tea” is the second most extensively consumed beverage in the world, following water, and has a slightly cooling, astringent flavor. The drink is prepared from the evergreen perennial shrub called Camellia sinensis (L.). The tender leaves are processed Received 28 November 2019 to make a drink that gives people the crucial pep and stimulus necessary for doing mental and Revised 1 January 2020 7 January 2020 physical work. It is principally consumed as fermented tea or black tea. In addition to use as Accepted 2 January 2020 a beverage, tea leaves are consumed as vegetables, such as in the Burmese “leppet tea” and Available Online Keywords: “meing tea” of Thailand which are consumed as semi-fermented or pickled tea. Also, tea has considerable therapeutic value and can cure many diseases, including cancer. Tea, Health Tonic, Therapeutic value, Health Beverage, Camellia1. Introduction sinensis. Camellia sinensis is a species of evergreen shrubs or small shrubsUnder n ormal conditions, tea plants can grow as high as 20–30 Theaceae.Tea is m, but for ease of cultivation, they are maintained as evergreen by pruning. In the tropics, harvest of the apical bud trees in the flowering plant belongs to family and the young leaves continued throughout the year, but in the most widely consumed beverage in the world taking only temperate environments, plucking is done seasonally. second place to water. Over three million tonnes are grown annually for tea consumers worldwide. China was the first TheyScientific are commoncalled name: “tea plant”, “teaHigher shrub”, classification:and “tea tree”. country to use tea as a medicine and drink (Acharya 1996, a Family: Theaceae Kingdom: Plantae Order: Camellia sinensis, Ansehn 1990) and plants that are more than 1,500 years old Rank: Camelli , , , Ericales, are still blooming in the Yunnan province of southwestern China (Aspres et al. 2003, Bassett et al.1990). Species The tea plant is an evergreen shrub that provides us with * Corresponding Author: Babita Kumari black, white, yellow, and green tea as well as oolong and puerh E-mail Address: [email protected] tea. It is the leaves and leaf buds that are commonly used to DOI: 10.46890/SL.2020.v01i01.004 produce the teas we enjoy. The difference in taste is how they © 2020 by the authors. The license of Science Letters. This article is ans are processed and how long the leaves are left on the shrub open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommon before harvesting. Interestingly,© in Tanzania, tea plants have org/licenses/by/4.0/). been noted to esc pe from cultivation in areas of Amani and 2020 Science Letters. All Rights Reserved. Babita Kumari et al./ Science Letters (2020) ar 3.2. Ceylon Tea 20 ound Mount Kilimanjaro and are considered to be invasive a in parts of the UsambaraMountains. The tea plant can live Ceylon te is a single origin black tea grown and manufactured anywhere2. Distinguishing between 30 Features and 50 years. of Tea in Sri Lanka. Ceylon is a medium-bodied tea with a citrusy quality. Ceylon tea is well-known and enjoyed around the 3.3. Darjeeling Tea Although the tea plant is most often referred to as being an world. It is commonly used in tea blends (Figure1 B). evergreen shrub, when left in the wild undisturbed it grows a into a tree with a bowl-shaped canopy. The bark is rough and typically greys (Bayller 1979). The tea plant branches with Darjeeling te comes from the Darjeeling District of India and alternate2.1. Flowers elliptical leaves that are leathery in texture. is one of the most well-known types of black tea. It is a light- colored tea with a “muscatel” flavor. Darjeeling has three major plucking seasons and its characteristics depend on the time of Flower blossoms are white, are quite fragrant, grow on their year3.4. Goldenin which Monkeyit is harvested Tea (Figure 1C) own or they appear in clusters of 2-4 together on short a branchlets in the leaf axils. They grow up to 4cm in diameter with five sepals and can have 5-9 petals. The flowers are Golden Monkey te is a quality black tea that is smooth and hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are mild. This tippy tea is grown in the southern regions of China pollinated2.2. Leaves by bees. and is lauded for its sweet taste and lack of astringency. The golden tips make for a delightful and delicate brew, creating one3.5. of Keemun the finest Te typesa of black tea (Figure 1D). The tea plant’s leaves are dark green with serrated edges, and a a pointed tip. They are somewhat oval in shape and alternate. Most leaves tend to have a hairy underside and they usually Keemun te , a black tea from the Anhui province of China, is grow2.3. Height to between 5 and 10 cm in length. one of the most famous types of black tea from China. It has an aroma and flavor described as mellow, fruity, and wine- like. Keemun is the English spelling for “Qimen,” the county in This shrub can reach heights up to 9 meters (30’) although for Eastern3.6. Lapsang China where Souchon the teag is produced (Figure 1E). 2.4. Habitat cultivation purposes they are pruned to about 1 -2 meter. g Lapsang Souchon is grown in the Wuyi Mountains of the Fujian The common tea plant prefers shaded areas at (typically) Province of China. The tea leaves are dried over a fire made elevations of 2100 to 2700 meters and at forest edges. It grows of pinewood, absorbing smoke in the process. This results in in many parts of Asia, Eastern Africa and Argentina. It prefers a distinctive smoky flavor and aroma. This tea is known for light sandy soils and medium loamy soils that are well-drained. having a very strong taste. Those who enjoy this tea describe it 2.5. Edible Parts The tea plant is also cultivated in some areas of the U.S. as3.7. a niceYunnan change Tea of pace from other types of tea(Figure 1F). Yunnan tea contentTea leaves i can be eaten and in some cases they are recommended , grown in the Yunnan Province of Southern China, to be eaten as opposed to making tea because the nutrient is distinguished by leaf buds, or “golden tips” mixed in with the D s much higher when consumed as food. The flowers black tea leaves. The more golden tips, the higher the quality of are edible as well. A clear golden-yellow edible oil resembling tea. Yunnan is characterized as rich, smooth, and sweet, with a sasanqua oil is obtained from the seed (must be refined before 3. Types of Tea flavor sometimes described as earthy(Figure 1G). C ingested). 3.1. Assam Tea a A A Assam te is made of leaves grown in the Assam State of northeast India. It is a tea known for its strong malty flavour and bright burgundy color. Assam Valley, a lowland region near the Brahmaputra River, is one of the largest tea A B growing regions in the world, producing about 1/6 of the B world’s tea. Assam is one of the types of black tea often found © in tea blends (Figure 1A). 2020 Science Letters. All Rights Reserved. B C Babita Kumari et al./ Science Letters (2020) 21 4.2. Protection Against Heart Disease E Protection against Heart Disease Not many long-term studies have been done, but thecholestero ones thatl have been completed suggest green tea may help lower high blood pressure (hypertension) and keep in check, thereby reducing the risk of developing heart disease (Biju et al. 2005, Bischoff E G C D et al. 1998). One Japanese study found people who consumed five or more cups of green tea each day had a 26 percent lower risk of dying of cardiovascular disease during an 11-year period G compared4.3. Lower with Cholesterol people who drank only one cup per day. F raisingLower cholesterol specifically,. green tea has been shown to lower levels of the bad kind of cholesterol (LDL), while 4.4. Cancerthe good Prevention kind (HDL) Cancer prevention some researchers suspect the catechins E F have the ability to block cancer-causing free radicals. Research protecthas been against inconsistent, cancer. though, and according to the National Cancer Institute, drinking green tea isn’t a proven way to 4.5. Reduced Risk of Diabetes Reduced risk of diabetes ones study found people who drank at least six cups of green tea per day were 33 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabete compared with those who drank G only one cup per week. Some studies have attempted to clear Figure 1. A) Assam Tea B) Cyelon Tea C) Dargeeling Tea D) up the confusion.

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