The Truth About Drinking Tea

You’ve heard of the classic “cup of joe,” but when its high caffeine content and natural-diuretic properties become too much to handle, it might be time to make a change. Tea, as it turns out, is an excellent alternative, given its vast variety of styles, flavors, and health benefits. So, on this National Tea Day, celebrate by hosting a tea party—or just pour yourself a piping hot mug of your favorite kind.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

There are thousands of kinds of tea, but generally they’re split up between five “true” categories: black tea, oolong tea, green tea, white tea, and puer tea. These categories are separated based on how the tea leaves are prepared and processed before drinking. In fact, all non-herbal teas are made from the same plant—Camellia sinensis plant—with that preparation process being the key factor in what determines a green, black or oolong tea.

But no matter the category, you can rely on reaping some awesome benefits from whatever tea you choose. Let’s focus on the three most popular: green, white and black.

BENEFITS OF GREEN TEA

Tea contains polyphenols, a naturally-occurring compound in many plants that acts as an antioxidant. Green teas are most known for their high levels of polyphenols because they aren’t processed as much as black tea. Research shows that polyphenols can positively impact gut bacteria, those predisposed to or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, inflammation, heart disease and obesity.

BENEFITS OF WHITE TEA

In addition, white tea has the highest concentration of beneficial antioxidants, which save the body from aging and sickness. It is actually the least processed of black, green and white tea. Though white tea and green tea are very similar, the key difference is that they protect the body against damaging compounds called “free radicals.” Similarly, white tea is a natural source of fluoride, catechins and tannins, all molecules that could strengthen and protect your teeth from bacteria.

BENEFITS OF BLACK TEA

Like green and white tea, black tea has antioxidants, such as polyphenol groups like catechins, theaflavins and thearubigins, that may help decrease your risk of developing a chronic disease. In addition, black tea has been shown to reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels and boost overall heart health. Of these three teas, black tea contains the most caffeine, but less than the average cup of coffee, making it a great alternative if you’re making the caffeine cut.

DRINK IT RIGHT

Of course, if you’re drinking a few cups of tea per day, you want to reap all its benefits. So, make sure you’re using the right kind of water. A good foundation can make or break your tea-drinking experience. Using purified water, like Primo® Water, ensures that you’re consuming safer, better water with every cup. With our 9-step Reverse Osmosis (RO) purification system, we eliminate harmful contaminates like lead, heavy metals, bacteria, trace pharmaceuticals and more that can be found in your tap water. So instead of reaching for the faucet, consider how Primo makes your health its first priority.

And lucky for you, Primo offers a wide range of full-size water dispensers that not only serve cold, refreshing water, but also piping hot water at the push of a button for that perfect cup of tea. It’s your quick and easy solution to adding Primo to your daily routine. How does drinking 25% more water every day on average sound to you? More water means more energy, giving you more time to do the things you love—like drinking tea. We call that The Primo Effect.

What’s your favorite kind of tea? Share it with us in the comments below!