For the connoisseurs of fine tea, here’s the second edition of PEAKLIFE’s very own ‘tea trail’ with Radhika Batra Shah who is the Founder of ‘Radhikas Fine Teas & Whatnots’. In this edition, Radhika helps us understand the benefits of different tea leaves. Look out for a new take on teas every Wednesday… Read on, and enjoy. 

So, we dwelled upon the types of teas earlier and it starts from White Tea goes onto Green, Oolong, Black and Tisanes. What makes a tea leaf so special and precious you might wonder!! Each type of tea resonates with feelings. Each tea has benefits. And, thus, a lot of purposes!

White Tea

Let’s begin with White Tea which is the freshest as good as plucked and packed, and what makes it fabulous is the benefits that come in a brew. Due to the highest antioxidants, it calms and relaxes the body. Thus a perfect cuppa for the multitasking you! I love to call it the “MeTime” tea and advise to have it any time of the day as it’s caffeine level is the lowest amongst all kinds of teas.

Some examples of my favourite white teas and our best sellers are Darjeeling White leaf, Chinese Silver Needle White leaf, Darjeeling White buds. All these resonate feelings of calm so when your wired and stressed sip away all of it and see the difference

Green Tea

Then we come to Green leaf a very popular type as you know especially coined as the slimming tea in our country for most. Too much pressure on the poor leaf here!! Ironically, no tea on this planet can make you lose weight if you don’t support it with a healthy lifestyle so eating junk food and not sleeping on time but sipping away green tea won’t help you achieve proper weight management!!

The benefit of the Green Tea leaf is that it revs up your metabolism so a “great go to” to keep healthy as its antioxidants and caffeine keeps you up and about all day. However not a good idea to go Green Tea at bedtime as it takes away to sleep! The Darjeeling Green leaf is splendid so is China’s breakfast tea Longjing Green to name a few.

Oolong Tea

This one is next in line in type of teas. Oolong tea is known as the champagne of teas as it is truly exquisite, as it takes in the best of Green and Black in terms of the leaves characteristics. It is partially exposed to the environment post plucking and that gives it its beautiful flavours. Smokey and toasty this leaf are great for Midday as it wades away fatigue. In my story, it is known as the “energetic tea” unlike coffee that gives sudden highs and lows Oolong is a constant and thus doesn’t play with your sugar levels. Formosa Oolong of Taiwan and the DarjeeOolong are some of the finest teas to try for sure.

Black Tea

Black Tea is the most liked and end of the types of teas in that order.  It is processed or fermented to its fullest and thus sparks a great stimulation to the mind. A favourite amongst us as “chai”, like we call it that if brewed with milk and Assam tea.  It is a smooth robust one if it is an Assam, mild subtle if a Darjeeling. The alchemy of this tea is such that it resonates hope and happiness. A perfect “go to tea” to liven up the spirits.

Tisanes

Anything that isn’t ‘tea leaf’ is called ‘tisane’ and would have flowers or fruits or herbs or spices. A pure decaff version, this brew is awesome if you wish to avoid caffeine but still want the benefits similar to that of tea.  So, take a Chamomile that calms and aids sleep, or the Crysanthanum that soothes the tummy, or the Butterfly Blue Pea tea that is anti-aging, or  Rosemary, sage and oregano that aid digestion.

A wonder leaf is equal to “Tea” by now you would start seeing it in different roles depending on what benefit you seek. So, it’s best to taste each type of tea and then decide which is yours than blindly following what the world tells you to sip. As my experience tells me Tea brewing and sipping is a mindful experience invoking Wellness for all the senses, so if your entire being feels good post a brew that is your leaf. On that note, we talk next time in the fascinating world of blends.
Till then, happy brewing and blending…!