Tea Health Benefits

[esabet]

I was wondering if all Oolong teas have equal Health Benefits or are there particular ones that are better than the other.

I have the same question for Green as well as White teas.

Thanks for your reply in advance.

[chrl42]

From what I know, Oolong has less caffeine than Black and less polyphenol/tannin than Green. It's in a midway of Green and Black. I like as it doesn't touch my stomach so harshly and enjoyable casually.

White and young Puerh have the highest content of polyphenol.
Black has the highest content of caffeine.

and more...

[esabet]

From what I know, Oolong has less caffeine than Black and less polyphenol/tannin than Green. It's in a midway of Green and Black. I like as it doesn't touch my stomach so harshly and enjoyable casually.

White and young Puerh have the highest content of polyphenol.
Black has the highest content of caffeine.

and more...

chrl42, thanks for the info but I was mainly trying to find out if anyone particluar Oolong tea has more/richer health benefits than another Oolong tea (as oppose to Oolong vs. Green). Do you see what i mean?

[silverneedles]

why do you think there are health benefits?
must there be health benefits?
are you looking to prevent or treat a certain condition?
what are you looking for?

if its related to polyphenol/flavonoid/antioxidant and all that - keep in mind that you cant predict how much of whatever a tea contains, not even caffeine. There can be large variations from one oolong to another, from one harvest to another and so on.

drinking tea without sugar is more healthy than eating pizza...

[10/6]

Tea is generally healthy.

cant predict how much of whatever a tea contains, not even caffeine. There can be large variations from one oolong to another, from one harvest to another and so on.

True that.

[esabet]

.........................

drinking tea without sugar is more healthy than eating pizza...

I always drink my tea without ANY sugar. Sygar kills the taste and flavor of Tea.

[JP]

Tea has been credited with promoting health probably since it was first prepared and consumed. And the ancients were correct on the fact that those how drank tea seemed to be healthier than those who did not. But the benefits did not necessarily come from any properties of the tea itself.

The real benefit way back when was the fact that the water was boiled during preparation of the tea. That killed all sorts of things lurking in the water that could cause stomach upsets, or worse. And that is still true today in locations that don't water purification systems.

Many studies have been conducted with results suggesting various possible benefits to drinking tea. But there isn't and firm proof yet of them, but researchers are still working on it.

[ABx]

Some things have been proven, but there are many things for which they still need to do more.

If you're really interested then the best thing to do is to go to http://highwire.stanford.edu/ and search around. Just make sure that you read at least the abstract carefully of anything you're interested in - some of those will indeed say that results were inconclusive. You will also note that some will contradict others.

All tea has health benefits, but different teas will have different balances of different chemicals. So which has the most of what is going to depend on what you're looking for, as silverneedles alluded to.

[entropyembrace]

I think studies on health benefits of tea are really missing something important. They can say things like green tea has less caffeine than black tea so it's healthier....but wait...which green tea and which black tea are you talking about? Or they could say green tea reduces the risk of cancer...uhm...well which green tea are you looking at? Is Long Jing better or worse at fighting cancer than Sencha?

Anyway I think the health information out on tea is way too generalized and really applies only to trashy supermarket blends. We drink an amazing variety of tea that just isn't represented in the research or our western culture in general.

I just think any 'clean' tea is going to be healthy so I don't worry about it and enjoy.

[Nexius8510]

I just think any 'clean' tea is going to be healthy so I don't worry about it and enjoy.

Hah, that's what I say. It all basically tastes great, and if you keep a nice balance between the types, it's just healthier all the way around!

[hop_goblin]

Oh man, drinking tea just for the health benefits ..pfffft

[Proinsias]

I kinda put a bit of trust in my body knowing best.

I have a cupboard of tea, most of which I like. I want to drink tea most of the time and I figure the tea that I want to drink the most is the one I should probably be drinking.

Personally I find I tend towards darker, more processed teas in the winter months and prefer newer, fresher stuff in the summer months. If I've been out in the wind and rain all day I don't want fresh green tea, I want something that has been composted and left lying in a cellar for ten years. Similarly if I'm in all day with the heating on I enjoy drinking enough green tea to sweat my insides out.

Which tea is the healthiest really does depend on a lot of things. Young sheng pu-erh often gets a bad name for causing stomach problems but on recommendation I drank some after a greasy meal and it works wonders.

Having said that I think there is a case for matcha being the healthiest of teas. Drinking/eating almost luminous green tea in the sunshine could put your health-o-meter on overload.

[Chip]

Just drink sencha and you will be fine!

[Dreamer]

Yeah, what Chip said!

[Nexius8510]

Haha, it's okay Bill. I don't do that

Buuut yeah, sencha is quite amazing! I'm a new convert LOVE it! And VERY healthy!