Q. Is tea good for you?

A. Recent studies in the last 10 years undertaken at major medical universities in the United States have found that black tea and green tea are rich in antioxidants named polyphenols. Antioxidants are well-known as cancer inhibitors and studies have shown that people who consume four or five cups of tea per day have exhibited up to a 50% lower probability in contracting specific types of cancer such as breast and colon cancer. Also, in the last two or three years, initial study results are showing that there is a lower incidence of heart disease amongst those who consume three or more cups of tea per day.

Q. Does tea contain caffeine?

A. Yes, unless it is decaffeinated or it is an herbal tisane, tea contains caffeine. Health Canada reported that a six-ounce cup of regular coffee contains about 100 mg of caffeine, whereas a six-ounce serving of tea contains about 3 mg. It should also be pointed out that a pound of tea contains about the same amount of caffeine as a pot of coffee. The important difference is that a pound of tea will make about 180 servings, whereas a pound of coffee makes about 60. Even though tea and coffee contain the same amounts of caffeine pound for pound, the difference in yield results is a cup of tea having about 1/3 the caffeine than a cup of coffee.

Q. Does green tea have less caffeine than black tea?

A. Green tea and black tea come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, and as such contain more or less the same amount of caffeine. The difference is in the method of preparation. Caffeine is highly water-soluble at high temperatures and goes into solution very quickly. Generally green tea is prepared with water between 170°-180°F, whereas black tea is prepared with water between 200°-212°F. Since black tea is generally prepared with water that is at a higher temperature, more of the caffeine leaches into the tea resulting in higher caffeine readings. If green tea is prepared at the same temperature as black tea the caffeine levels are virtually the same.

Q. What is the difference between green and black tea?

A. Green tea is produced mainly in China, Japan, Taiwan and Sri Lanka. These are teas that are non-oxidized. The leaves are picked, aired (in order to reduce their humidity), and then heated for a few minutes. They then undergo a mixing and drying process, which is repeated several times. Depending on the methods being used, each tea develops its own appearance and characteristics: it may be flat, twisted or rolled, but all green teas share the common characteristic of being highly perfumed.

Black teas are fermented teas. After picking, the leaves are dried and then rolled. They are then fermented. In fact, it’s a process involving oxidation with enzymes. This part of the process gives black tea its characteristic colour and astringency. The fermentation is stopped prior to the process of desiccation. The last step consists of sorting the leaves according to their size: whole, broken, crushed, etc.

To summarize, green tea is not fermented, whereas black tea is fermented. Green tea is dried immediately after processing and very often the level of processing is less than black tea. Fermentation gives a tea strength and body resulting in a stronger brew. Green tea tends to be somewhat weaker and has a vegetative character because it does not go through the fermentation process.

Q. Why is tea sometimes bitter?

A. Tea contains tannins and if a tea is allowed to steep too long (over-steep), more of the tannins are released, causing what some people say is a bitter taste. A dash of sugar can reduce this bitterness or alternatively add some milk, as this will reduce the pH level of the tea.

Q. What does milk do to tea?

A. Milk alters the pH balance of tea and tends to make the tea smoother by reducing the acidic nature of tea.

Q. Should I drink tea with milk or without milk?

A. The consumption of tea with or without milk is a personal preference and it is for tea drinkers to make their choice and consume the tea in the manner they enjoy best.

Q. What is ETP and what does it mean?

A. ETP stands for Ethnical Tea Partnership. It means that our teas are not cultivated by slave labour, but by people paid good wages. When we select our teas, we pay particular attention to the way the workers are treated on the plantations. The producers we deal with respect both the land they are cultivating and the workers they employ. The agricultural systems they are setting up are therefore ecological, sustainable, and fair.