Teas are often defined as comforting and soothing health drinks. A pleasant cup of tea can warm you up on a cold day, refreshes you in the morning, helps you relax after a long day, and soothes your tummy ache.
While coffee may be the winner when it involves supplying you with a daily boost of energy and focus, a cup of tea can deliver a similar amount with an exceptional dose of relaxation in each sip. Besides, tea can help with various health issues when consumed regularly. Pair it with a box of healthy and scrumptious snacks from Sapideon, a good day is definitely guaranteed.
Find out the functions of these different types of tea and what they can do for you. Here's a list to get you started.
Table of Contents
- 11 Best Tea Brands in Malaysia
- Types of tea
- Does tea help stomach pain or bloating?
- What is the best ingredient to look for when shopping for teas?
- What is the best tea to drink all day?
- Which tea has the most antioxidants?
- Is there any side effects of drinking too much tea?
Editor
Expert
Dr. Prabhjot Sidhu chevron_right
Table of Contents
11 Best Tea Brands in Malaysia
- OSK Japanese Green Tea
- Cane’s White Tea
- Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile
- Twinings Australian Afternoon Tea
- Traditional Medicinals Organic Pregnancy Tea
- Yogi Woman’s Raspberry Leaf
- OSK Japanese Green Tea
- English Tea Shop Organic Chamomile Lavender>
- Ahmad Tea Peppermint & Lemon
- Premium Tea Luo Han Kuo Pu Erh Tea
- Jade Ti Tea Kuan Yin Oolong Tea
- Homemade French Rose Tea
- Cane’s White Tea
Disclaimer: The products listed in this article does not constitute any endorsement by Dr Prabhjot.
Are you on a weight-loss mission? Japanese Green Tea can help shed all that lockdown couch potato weight. Research has suggested that the flavonoids and caffeine in green tea can help increase metabolic rate, increase fat oxidation, and even improve insulin activity. One study showed that those who consumed green tea lost an average of 2.9 pounds during the 12 weeks while sticking to their regular diet.
OSK Japanese Green Tea is one of the best green tea in Malaysia. Green tea is the most consumed beverage in Japan and is valued for its health and restorative properties. Drinking green tea is a custom that has been interwoven into Japanese culture, with almost every meal in Japan being accompanied by a freshly brewed pot of green tea. It is considered an embodiment of Japanese hospitality.
Why do Japanese people love green tea so much? The high levels of antioxidants in green tea such as polyphenols, catechins, and other types of flavonoids help improve overall health and boost the body's immune system. Furthermore, it contains L-theanine, a unique amino acid that can work synergistically with caffeine to improve brain function.
Tea is an ideal solution for those that are seeking to calm down, relax, or reduce their overall stress levels. Black tea, green tea, oolong, or white tea all contain L-theanine. This is an amino acid that is found exclusively in tea and some mushrooms. White tea, however, is commonly used for relaxation as it contains higher doses of L-theanine.
Purple Cane's processes their White Tea eco-friendly and do not disrupt the nutrients of the leaves. White tea goes through least adulteration and processing methods which is why it has maximum antioxidant content. It has the lowest amount of caffeine content in it, which makes it even healthier.
White tea has several skin benefits, the antioxidants present in this tea protect our skin from radical damage. It helps in reducing signs of ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles. Furthermore, it helps maintain youthful and radiant skin for a longer duration.
Due to various compounds present in white tea, regular consumption of this tea daily can ensure glowing and healthy skin.
During these heavy times, it feels we are living in virtual reality. News cycles raise fears and anxiety, and even well-intended activities like sharing concerns with loved ones or managing family emotions can cause stress and leave us tired or restless which leads to insomnia.
A little disconnect from all of the heaviness like a warm cup of soothing Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile tea can maybe lift some of the stress off.
Brewed in the comfort of your home sweet home, Chamomile tea helps calm the stomach and contains apigenin, a substance that supports sleep, relieves anxiety, and may help reduce depression. It has a fragrantly floral and bittersweet taste.
Not only does it help with sleepless nights but Chamomile is also known to lower blood sugar levels, safe to be consumed by diabetic patients. Made from the best quality of Chamomile flowers, Traditional Medicinals teas are all organic and blended by certified herbalists, so you can get the most out of this amazing tea.
Note: This tea might trigger allergic reactions for people who are sensitive towards related plants in the daisy family, although such reactions are rare.
Apart from water, black teas are the second most consumed beverage in the world. Obtained from a plant called Camellia Sinensis, black teas have the same properties as green and white tea. Often, Black Teas are blended with English Breakfast and Early Grey, giving the famous tea a flavourful taste and delicious aroma.
It is also known for its high caffeine content, higher than green or white tea. However, the caffeine in black teas is far less to coffee.
Twinings Australian Afternoon Tea is known as one of the best teas. Great to be drunk after a heavy luncheon, black tea improves one's focus as it contains caffeine and a type of amino acid called the L-theanine. Suitable for students or to drink during office hours to combat sleepiness and tiredness.
A research report that individuals have more stable energy after drinking black tea, compared to other caffeine drinks like coffee. Also, black tea is rich in antioxidants which can help remove free radicals and decrease cell damage in the body.
Compounds such as polyphenols, catechins, theaflavins, and thearubigins, are the main sources of antioxidants in black tea and may promote overall health.
If you're a tea drinker and a mama-to-be, you must be curious if it's safe to drink tea during pregnancy. Most caffeinated teas are considered safe to drink during pregnancy, as long as the total daily caffeine intake does not exceed 300 mg. But if you are usually sensitive to caffeine, 100 mg of caffeine should be good.
Traditional Medicinals Organic Pregnancy Tea is a blend curated safe for pregnancy and prepares your womb for childbirth. This tea contains beneficial herbs such as alfalfa to boost Vitamin K, which helps prevent postpartum haemorrhage. Raspberry leaf to prepare the uterus for birth and help ease labour.
Herbal Tea is a better option compared to regular tea during pregnancy is because herbal teas hydrate, provide easily assimilated nutrients, and feed the body during pregnancy. They're also packed with antioxidants and vitamin C which helps lower your anxiety and stress levels. Herbal teas can also reduce morning sickness symptoms. Sold on that!
Note: This tea is not recommended to people who are allergic to plants within the parsley (Apiaceae) family, such as fennel or dill.
Herbal teas are a great natural remedy for menstrual cramps. They can immediately help in relieving cramps and abdominal discomfort during menstruation. Abdominal cramps are a very common pre-menstrual symptom, and most women usually experience discomfort on the first and the second day of their period.
Yogi Woman's Raspberry Leaf Tea is specifically created for women's health in general. Raspberry leaves are often referred to as ‘women's herb’, and contains Fragarine, a compound that helps tone and tightens muscles in the pelvic area, which helps reduce cramping caused by the spasms of muscles. Raspberry leaves are packed with iron and enough iron can combat anaemia, often experienced by women with heavy menstrual cycles.
Moreover, raspberry leaves are high in antioxidants and contain small amounts of ellagic acids, which have been proven to neutralize carcinogens and even contribute to the self-destruction of cancer cells.
While red raspberry leaf tea is typically period cramps, some women use the herbal remedy to help with nausea and vomiting in the first trimester of pregnancy as well. Herbal teas are an excellent natural remedy for menstrual cramps.
They can significantly help in relieving cramps and abdominal discomfort during menstruation. Abdominal cramps are a very common pre-menstrual symptom, and most women usually experience discomfort on the first and the second day of their period.
If you're dealing with an anxiety disorder, you already know that the mental and physical toll they take can be tremendous. With symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, irritability, and digestive issues, finding ways to ease your stress is of utmost importance.
For centuries, herbal remedies, including tea have been used to relieve stress, with a 2007 study showing that these methods have only increased in the past decade.
English Tea Shop Organic Chamomile Lavender made best for soothing purposes is the tea to drink when stress and anxiety hits. Compounds found within Chamomile bind to the same brain receptors that sedatives, such as Valium do.
Combining powers with lavender, a sweet-smelling flower whose extract also reduces anxiety symptoms, it is the perfect blend that soothes the mind and body with each sip. Chamomile's anti-inflammatory properties also make it a drink of choice during cold and flu season, as it can reduce feelings of congestion and the accompanying muscle aches that so often make you feel as though you've been hit by a bus.
Wake up with a headache? and you want fast relief so you can get on with your day? Start your morning with Peppermint tea known to help soothes headaches and nausea which acts as a muscle relaxant and pain reliever. Peppermint tea also helps with stomach discomfort or flu as the menthol in peppermint calms the upper digestive tract similarly as to how it calms the intestines.
Ahmad Tea Peppermint & Lemon Tea is one of the best options of minty teas. Made with dried peppermint, spearmint, and lemon peels, it's one of the more aromatic teas to be sipped regularly. Even just inhaling the scent can reduce nausea or increase positive energy.
The peppermint herb contains vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and vitamins A and C. Some of these may be carried over to the tea when brewed, but only in trace amounts. Not only that, but peppermint also combats bad breath, a good choice of tea after a meal.
Incorporating healthy beauty rituals into your daily routine is a way to keep your skin healthy and glowing. One such ritual that has been practised for centuries is drinking tea. For thousands of years, various cultures have benefited from drinking tea. Pu-erh tea is the most oxidized form of tea.
Originated from China's Yunnan Province and are named for a city in southern Yunnan. These teas are highly valued in China where the processing methods have been well used and kept for centuries. The tea's anti-inflammatory properties may help ease redness, swelling, and other irritation.
They may also soothe pain caused by inflammatory conditions, like arthritis. You can apply the tea topically to treat inflamed skin or drink a cup or two to help heal your body from the inside out. Pu-erh even can help protect the skin from ageing caused by sun damage. For many, drinking a few cups of Pu-erh tea has become part of a skincare routine that already provides moisturization and sun protection.
Whether you've had a little too much to eat or just want some help to soothe your stomach and improving your digestive system, tea can be a great way to relax and unwind after a meal. Oolong is a great alternative to other teas for digestion.
Made from the leaves, buds and stems of the Camellia sinensis plant, oolong tea is slightly fermented, giving it a taste like black and green tea. There are a wide variety of oolong teas, but the most famous oolong comes from the Fujian province of China.
Consumption of oolong tea help to the alkalization of the digestive tract and so it neutralizes the acidity in the system. It stops the corrosion of the digestive tract lining thus preventing problems such as ulcers.
Oolong is also an incredible natural antiseptic. Drinking at least a cup of oolong a day can help eliminate bad bacteria available in your stomach and your gut requires a balance of bad and good bacteria.
Extremely common and frustrating, constipation can affect anyone. Before rushing to find an over the counter medicine, try French Rose Tea which may help you give quick relief in no time. French Rose Tea gives a diuretic effect, it also prevents urinary tract infections a perfect remedy for constipation.
Rose tea cleanses the liver to removes sluggishness, promotes bile flow, prevents fluid retention, helps to fight the infection in the digestive tract, and re-establish the normal bacterial population of the intestines.
Rich nutrients and organic acids help to prevent digestive problems and eliminate the toxic waste and substances that can build up in the intestines. Drinking dried rosebud tea helps reduce the pain of dysentery, diarrhoea, and gastroenteritis.
This homemade French Rose Tea is made locally in Malaysia and is extremely affordable. It's recommended to steep the rosebud tea with a covered glass teapot. Use about 2 teaspoons for every 500ml of water and steep the teas with hot water at 95°c for 4 minutes for the first and second brewing. Increase temperature and minutes for next brews.
Types of tea
True teas and herbal tisanes are the two main forms of tea: true teas and herbal tisnanes. True teas like green teas, black teas, pu-erh teas, oolong teas, and white teas are all made from the same leaf (the Camellia Sinensis plant). They are distinct because they are processed in different ways. Here’s a fun fact: green tea, is the least processed type.
Herbal tisanes, on the other hand, are infusions of spices, flowers, and herbs that do not contain any tea. They include hibiscus tea, chamomile tea and masala tea. With that being said, herbal teas, as you've already guessed, are a blend of the two.
Does tea help stomach pain or bloating?
Yes, according to Dr Prabhjot! The reason behind this is that tea is high in antioxidants, minerals, polyphenols, and flavonoids, all of which are beneficial to humans. It is no surprise that tea has been utilised as Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, even to this day.
When it comes to the gut, teas normally function by influencing our gut microbiome, as tea can enhance the healthy bacteria in our gut. But if it is specifically for abdominal pains and bloating, peppermint oils and teas (less proof but still likely to work) can assist with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal aches, and in rare cases nausea and vomiting. Here are some other benefits of specific teas:
- Ginger tea – helps treat nausea, indigestion, and constipation
- Green tea – aids digestion, helps with weight loss
- Black tea – assists with bloating, helps with weight loss
With consultations, patients may give them a go and see what works best for them and their needs.
What is the best ingredient to look for when shopping for teas?
As a gastroenterologist and a consumer, Dr Prabhjot advises that the most straightforward option is to select the tea with the fewest ingredients. It’s best to stick to organic teas, avoid artificial flavours (even natural ones), and choose loose teas as some tea bags have plastics and toxins in them.
He suggests that more costly tea is frequently, but not always, sourced from the least contaminated sources. But all in all, it really comes to the tea of your choice itself. That’s a personal one balancing between what you’re using it for to the flavour to the amount of caffeine in it. Keep it simple.
What is the best tea to drink all day?
Having too much caffeine isn't all that good for us in the long run. Therefore, caffeine-free teas such as herbal teas are great to drink all day long. Herbal teas are just an infusion of herbs, plants and flowers, hence why they have no caffeine in them.
It is best to drink herbal teas when they're hot and with a tiny amount of pure honey, not leaving out H20 as our main daily liquid intake.
Which tea has the most antioxidants?
There are different types and amounts of antioxidants in different teas and their effects on the body are largely the same. Doesn't matter what type of tea you drink, you're getting antioxidants like catechins and polyphenols in your system.
All teas have high antioxidants but target or aids in different health problems or diseases. Nevertheless, your preference for tea will always be largely based on the amount of caffeine you want in your system and the specific benefit that come with every variety.
Are there any side effects of drinking too much tea?
As with everything else, too much of a good thing may be dangerous. Tea has only a small amount of caffeine, but drinking too much of it can cause palpitations, irregular heartbeats, loose stools, abdominal discomfort, and insomnia, to mention a few.
Additionally, peppermint that is present in peppermint tea can make GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) worse. As such, it is best to stay away from peppermint teas if you have kidney stones. And while drinking more than 8 cups of green tea a day is probably also unsafe, green tea extract has been linked to liver injury, can hinder iron absorption, cause sleep disturbance, reflux and nausea.
In addition to that, Dr Prabhjot stated that tea can also interfere with some medications and some herbal teas like Rooibos and chamomile aren't safe to drink while pregnant. Hence, it’s crucial to consult with your doctor for the right recommendations. Lastly, remember to take extra precautions and keep your tea intake moderate especially when your health is at stake.
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