1. The Benefits of Tea ”

2. About This Presentation: This presentation on the health benefits of tea is directed towards men and women +16 years of age;  But more specifically, this presentation is provided as an event held at the Wisdom Tree Center after a Thursday night meditation class. During the presentation, participants are encouraged to try samples of hot teas (black, green, oolong, & white) and at the end of the presentation, participants who passed the quiz (score of at least 8/15) are given four servings of a tea of their choice, along with a teacup strainer. Participants over the age of 50 do not have to take the quiz.

3. Key Messages/SLO's: Participants of this event will  Know the differences between black, green, oolong, & white teas.  Understand the benefits of each  Understand how to brew a cup of each  Understand and be able to identify the pros of drinking tea rather than drinking sodas, coffee, et cetera.

4. Green Tea

5. About Green Tea: Tea has been cultivated for centuries, beginning in India and China. Today, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, second only to water. Hundreds of millions of people drink tea, and studies suggest that green tea in particular has many health benefits. In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, practitioners used green tea as a stimulant, a diuretic (to help rid the body of excess fluid), an astringent (to control bleeding and help heal wounds), and to improve heart health. Other traditional uses of green tea include treating gas, regulating body temperature and blood sugar, promoting digestion, and improving mental processes. The antioxidants in green tea help to interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers! They also prevent clogging of the arteries, help with heart and cardiovascular difficulties by improving cholesterol.

6. About Green Tea: Green tea reduces the risk of stroke and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In one Swiss study, MRIs revealed that people who drank green tea had greater activity in the working-memory area of their brains. The fluoride content in green tea helps to prevent tooth decay. It's a smart swap for sugary drinks. All things being equal, if you substitute 1-2 cups of green tea for one can of soda, over the next year you'd save over 50,000 calories. Green tea helps keep blood sugar stable in people with diabetes. Because catechins lower cholesterol and blood pressure, they can help protect against the damage a high-fat diet can cause.

8. Brewing Green Tea: Temperature is important!  If the water temperature is too hot, the tea will be too bitter and much of its delicate aroma will be lost; if the water temperature is too cool, the full flavor contained in the leaves will not be extracted.  The overall flavor and sweetness of green tea is determined by a variety of amino acids and natural sugars. Brewing green tea at lower temperatures will ensure that its sweet and complex flavors will not be overpowered by the bitter-tasting flavors.  As a general guideline, green teas are brewed at temperatures between 140°F - 185°F.

9. Brewing Green Tea: Steeping  Too long a steeping time will result in more bitterness and a less balanced flavor. Experiment with a range of 1 - 3 minutes. Japanese green teas generally taste best at 1 - 2 minutes Chinese green teas seem to prefer 2 - 3 minutes (the smaller leaves of Japanese teas will extract faster than the generally larger leaves of Chinese teas).  Steeping time should be balanced with water temperature: the lower the temperature, the longer the tea can be steeped.

10. Your Perfect Cup: For an even healthier cup, add a slice of lemon!  The Vitamin C makes the healthy compounds in green tea easier to absorb. Adding dairy, on the other hand, makes absorbing the catechins more difficult for your body.

11. Black Tea

12. About Black Tea: The health benefits of black tea have been well documented. The big difference between black tea and other types of tea, like white and green tea, is that it is more oxidized. As a result of this increased oxidation, black tea is a lot more flavorful and caffeine-laden than its counterparts. Another difference is that the flavor of black tea is retained for quite a while longer - sometimes, up to several years longer - than the flavor among other teas. If you drink black tea that is pure and plain, and without the addition of sweeteners, you are drinking a beverage that is ultra low in sodium, fat and calories. This property of black tea is an advantage for people who want to lose weight or even just control their weight. If you merely substitute the intake of other kinds of beverages like unhealthy soda drinks with black tea, you are already sparing your body the intake of weight gain causing calories. Unlike other drinks that have a relatively higher caffeine content, the low amounts found in black tea can help enhance blood flow to the brain without over-stimulating the heart.

13. About Black Tea: Studies funded by the Tea Trade Health Research Association suggest that black tea reduces plaque formation as well as restricts bacteria growth that promotes the formation of cavities and tooth decays. Polyphenols found in black tea kill and surpass cavity-causing bacteria as well as hinder the growth of bacterial enzymes that form the sticky- like material that binds plaque to our teeth. Regular black tea drinkers have stronger bones and lower probability of developing arthritis due to the phytochemicals found in black tea. Black tea has also been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol when consumed in moderate amounts on a regular basis. Black tea contains alkylamine antigens that help boost our immune response. In addition it also contains tannins that have the ability to fight viruses and hence keep us protected from influenza, stomach flu and other such commonly found viruses in our everyday lives.

15. Brewing Black Tea: Temperature  No matter what the black tea you're steeping, you'll use a hotter water than for most other teas—just off the boil, so somewhere around 195-205 degrees F. Steeping  You may measure a teaspoon of leaves per 6 to 8 oz of water, rinse the leaves, and then steep for between 3 and 5 minutes. You'll know where you prefer to end the extraction by the depth of flavor and level of astringency you like best.

16. Brewing Black Tea: As with all tea journeys, the final cup will tell you what you like most about each black tea, whether it's malty, creamy, orange, caramel or bright floral earthiness. Unlike green teas, which turn bitter when brewed at higher temperatures, black tea should be steeped in freshly boiled water. The more delicate black teas, such as Darjeeling, should be steeped for 3 to 4 minutes. The same holds for broken leaf teas, which have more surface area and need less brewing time than whole leaves. Whole leaf black teas, and black teas that will be served with milk or lemon, should be steeped 4 to 5 minutes. Longer steeping times make black tea bitter. When the tea has brewed long enough to suit the tastes of the drinker, it should be strained before serving.

17. Your Perfect Cup: Instead of a cup of coffee every morning, try a cup of Earl Grey black tea! It will give you energy without overstimulating your heart, unlike coffee.

18. Oolong Tea

19. About Oolong Tea: Oolong tea leaves are plucked, kept under carefully controlled conditions and allowed to oxidize. These leaves are not intentionally broken, leaving most of the cell structure intact. The production of oolong requires that the leaves be processed directly after picking. First, the leaves are wilted in the sun for a short period of time. They are placed into baskets and shaken, which bruises the leaves. The juices in the leaves are exposed to the air, which begins the process of oxidation. The leaves are then spread out to dry. After a period of time--less than 2 hours for Chinese oolongs, longer for Taiwanese oolongs, the tea is fired, which stops the fermentation process. Oolong has a flavor somewhat similar to black tea but more akin to green tea. Health claims for oolong tea's benefits include reduction of cholesterol levels, preservation of heart health, treatment of digestive disorders, strengthening of the immune system, and formation of strong bones.

20. About Oolong Tea: Oolong tea is often scented with jasmine flowers. Jasmine flowers are picked, and the tea leaves are steamed in order to hold scent well. Jasmine flowers bloom at night; they are picked early in the day and mixed in with the tea at night, when they open and release their scent. The scent is infused into the leaves, and the process is repeated over a couple of nights. Oolong benefits have been known for a long time in China. The most well known health benefits of oolong tea are its effect on the prevention of obesity and active contribution in weight loss. There are also other health benefits, including assisting in combating the aging of skin, preventing heart disease and cancer, reducing high blood pressure, prolonging and improving vitality and life span, strengthening teeth and prevent tooth decay, relieving physical and mental stress, treating skin problems such as eczema and rashes, improving brain power, lowering blood sugar levels and the treatment for diabetes patients.

21. Brewing Oolong Tea: Temperature  Water is crucial to bringing out the complex flavors and aromas of your Oolong Tea. It is recommended that you do not use tap or mineral water when brewing Oolong Tea, the minerals and additives will alter the taste of the tea. The best water for brewing is spring or filtered water. In the China's ancient past, people would travel for days to get water from a particular spring or well and many teas had water sources that were well known as being the best for a particular type of tea For Oolong Teas it is imperative that the water is around 200 degrees Fahrenheit because, unlike Green Tea, Oolong Tea is much thicker and requires a higher water temperature to allow the leaves to unfurl and release their flavor.

22. Brewing Oolong Tea Steeping  Generally 1 Tablespoon of tea is used for every 6 to 8 ounces of water. The leaves should be brewed for 1 to 2 minutes.  For each subsequent brewing, let the tea brew a little longer each time.

23. Your Perfect Cup: Oolong teas can be re-steeped multiple times! But be careful, drinking many cups in one sitting can cause a stomachache. Just place your leaves in a teacup and watch them open up while you wait, it can be a beautiful process.

24. White Tea

25. About White Tea: White tea is made from immature tea leaves that are picked shortly before the buds have fully opened. The tea takes its name from the silver fuzz that still covers the buds, which turns white when the tea is dried. The exact proportion of buds to leaves varies depending on the variety of white tea. For example, White Peony contains one bud for every two leaves, while Silver Needles, the creme de la creme of white teas, is made entirely from downy buds picked within a two day period in early Spring. Tea leaves destined to be sold as white tea undergo even less processing than green tea leaves. Instead of air-drying, the unwithered leaves are merely steamed. The result is a pale tea with a sweet, silky flavor. People who have tried both note that white tea lacks the "grassy" aftertaste so often associated with green tea. Furthermore, studies indicate that white tea is better for you. Leaving tea leaves so close to their natural state means that white tea contains more polyphenols (the powerful anti-oxidant that fights and kills cancer- causing cells) than any other type of tea.

26. About White Tea: White tea is a natural killer of bacteria and viruses. The antioxidants so abundant in white tea tone the entire immune system, providing protection against a variety of invaders and a wide range of diseases. Its helps guard against the common cold and flu, and can ease the symptoms of HIV. White tea can prevent new fat cells from developing and encourage the breakdown of fat in existing fat cells, as well. White tea's antioxidants and anti-aging properties protect and help reverse this damage to skin, and can even help skin build resistance to stress. For healthy, firmer, radiant skin, sip white tea - and consider adding it to your skin care routine, too (research has shown white tea to have topical benefits for skin, as well)!

27. About White Tea: White tea is a natural killer of bacteria and viruses. The antioxidants so abundant in white tea tone the entire immune system, providing protection against a variety of invaders and a wide range of diseases. Its helps guard against the common cold and flu, and can ease the symptoms of HIV. White tea can prevent new fat cells from developing and encourage the breakdown of fat in existing fat cells, as well. White tea's antioxidants and anti-aging properties protect and help reverse this damage to skin, and can even help skin build resistance to stress. For healthy, firmer, radiant skin, sip white tea - and consider adding it to your skin care routine, too (research has shown white tea to have topical benefits for skin, as well)!

29. Brewing White Tea: Temperature :  Most experts agree that the ideal water temperature for white tea is between 170 – 185 degrees Fahrenheit (76 to 85 degrees Celsius). For best results, bring the water to a rolling boil and let it sit for up to one minute, then pour the water over the leaves. Steeping :  White tea leaves are much less dense and compact than other types, which means that you’ll probably want to increase the amount of tea leaves that you normally use. Start by using 2 teaspoons of white tea leaves for every cup (8 ounces) of water.  Specific times can vary depending on the brand of white tea you are using. However, 5 to 8 minutes for the first steeping is generally recommended, with another 2 to 3 minutes for each additional cup.

30. Your Perfect Cup: whole leaf tea is almost always going to be preferable to bagged tea, because of both the quality of the tea inside (whole and not broken shards or dust) and the amount of room the tea will be given to expand while steeping. White tea offers a greater dimension of body, and lack some of the bitterness that you may be familiar with in other teas. Soft, delicate flavors range from buttery to sweet, fruity and floral, and of course each tea is different. Since white tea has lower levels of caffeine than other teas (and higher levels of catechins) go ahead and enjoy a few more cups!

31. More Information: Caffeine Content

32. “There doesn’t seem to be a downside to tea,” says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Katherine Tallmadge, MA, RD, LD. “I think it’s a great alternative to coffee drinking. First, tea has less caffeine. It’s pretty well established that the compounds in tea – their flavonoids – are good for the heart and may reduce cancer.”

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34. Sources (cont): http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx17rcViHY1 qbmtjno1_500.gif http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx17rcViHY1 qbmtjno1_500.gif http://1.bp.blogspot.com/- cWZNimgifMw/UFTtBBsh3QI/AAAAAAAADCo/ RSMnUWAasu0/s1600/Blooming+Tea's+gif.gif http://1.bp.blogspot.com/- cWZNimgifMw/UFTtBBsh3QI/AAAAAAAADCo/ RSMnUWAasu0/s1600/Blooming+Tea's+gif.gif http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcxl40dIRq1 qz9xsto1_500.gif http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcxl40dIRq1 qz9xsto1_500.gif

35. Presentation created by Chy Bryant