Which is better: Black or Green?

Not olives; tea.

Even though I am a big coffee drinker, tea is a significant part of my life. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. This world loves tea, from Europe to Asia and places in between, and the U.S. is no exception. Lucky for us, tea is not only a flavorful alternative to water; it has health benefits.

Many people have their favorite type of tea: hot green tea or iced black tea. Sweetened or not, sometimes with a bit of milk or lemon, but not together. Don’t do that. It isn’t harmful, but adding an acid to milk curdles it, and you have a whole mess in your cup of tea.

Green Tea vs. Black Tea vs. Herbal Tea

Green tea and black tea are the same plants. The difference is what happens after the cultivation of tea leaves. Both are dried, but green tea leaves are steamed, and black tea is oxidized.

Lesser-known white tea is also from the same plant but is a much younger leaf than green or black tea leaves.

Herbal teas are not technically teas, but an infusion, since it contains no tea leaves. Some herbal teas have health benefits but differ from authentic tea and its benefits. Most herbal "teas" are naturally caffeine-free.

Health Benefits of Tea: Green and Black

Tea contains flavonoids, naturally occurring plant chemicals in fruits, vegetables, cocoa, coffee, and wine. Flavonoids are antioxidants that contribute to heart health and may help reduce cancer risk, among many other things in emerging research. Tea is also linked to better bone health, reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, and reduced risk of cavities (yep, in the teeth).

Tea can contribute to most people’s fluid needs since it is like flavored water with benefits. However, there is caffeine in both green and black tea. I often encounter people who think green tea has no caffeine, but this isn’t true. Both types contain caffeine, about 40 mg per cup (compared to coffee’s 120 – 150 mg per cup).

tea in jar with lemon — When there is no added sugar, tea is **calorie-free**.

However, there could be added calories depending on how tea is flavored. For example, I love orange spice-flavored tea containing no calories. But the flavored or sweetened iced teas you buy in bottles or get at the restaurants have added calories.

For example, the medium-sized sweet tea at McDonald’s contains 130 calories, and other restaurants that offer peach or raspberry iced tea (or any number of flavored teas) will also have calories from added sugars.

Iced or Hot?

Tea is versatile since it is common to have hot or iced tea. As mentioned, it can have added milk to hot tea. We can use lemon hot or cold tea. You don’t want to mix those two, though, since, as already stated, the acid from the lemon will cause the milk to curdle.

There are health benefits whether the tea is prepared hot or iced. So, enjoy it either way or both. I tend to go hot in the cold months and ice in the warmer months. Go figure.

How do you like your tea? What is your favorite?

For more information on tea, visit the Tea Association of the U.S.A.