There are many schools of thought on the benefits and advantages of the various teas on the market today. There are plenty of herbal teas makers also claiming to offer remedies for everything from memory loss to cold sores. But these aren’t considered “true teas” because they do not originate from the camellia sinesis tea bush, as do green teas, white teas and black teas.

So what about the real benefits of true teas? First, a few green tea/white tea facts: The three different forms of true tea all come from the same source, which is, again, the camellia sinensis tea bush. There are white, green, and black or “oolong” and each are believed by many cultures across the globe to carry their own unique health benefits. What sets them apart is how their leaves are processed between the time they are picked and packaged for sale. White tea is picked right from the buds and immediately packed, so it’s believed to be most potent. Green tea is picked and preserved before packaging and distribution. And finally, black teas are allowed to undergo some period of fermentation, which changes their composition, lowers their potency, and boosts the caffeine levels.

White Tea
History:
It is believed that the Chinese emperor Shen Numg discovered white tea some 5,000 years ago while traveling in the countryside in remote regions of China. His water had become undrinkable, as standing legend has it, so he asked for it to be boiled down. During this process, a white tea leaf is said to have fallen in his boiling water and, when he drank it, he immediately recognized its impact on his health, mind and spirit and requested it be entered into daily dynasty life.

Benefits:

• Highest level of polyphenois and antioxidants among the true teas
• Stimulates the immune system
• Fights germs and bacteria that cause strep infections and pneumonia
• Prevents tooth decay

Green tea
History: Green tea has been drunk for health and spirit and used as a traditional form of natural medicine in areas such as China, Japan, India and Thailand for more than 5,000 years, ever since the white tea leaf was first discovered. Green tea also is commonly the tea of choice today for Japanese tea ceremonies, and, across Asia and other regions, is often the tea given as a gift to ancestral leaders and to feed and honor Buddhist deities.

Benefits:

• Aids in digestion and believed to induce weight loss
• Controls bleeding, heals wounds, and regulates the body temperature
• Reduces risk of cancer and heart disease
• Lowers blood sugar levels

Black Tea
History: Although it is widely thought to have been discovered in the Sichuan province of China some 4,000 years ago, black tea is believed to have its origins in Tibet, Mongolia where it was first brewed by the Uyghur people of northwestern China. It was not until the 19th century that black tea became a more popular choice over green teas in the United States and Europe, and has since grown to account for more than 90 percent of all teas sold in the Western Hemisphere, typically n the Earl Grey and English Breakfast variety. This is probably due to price: because black tea was fermented and preserved, it was easier to pack, cheaper to ship and lasted longer on board vessels bound for Europe.

Benefits:

• Slows symptoms of diarrhea
• Lowers cholesterol
• Aids in digestion
• Sharpens mental focus

So, to say one tea is “better” for you over another is not necessarily an easy question to answer, since all true teas have something to offer. What might make the best sense if you aren’t sure which tea you prefer, is to drink a combination of all three, that way you’ll get the added health benefits from each while enjoying their individual flavors and effects. But obviously if you are trying to avoid caffeine, go for the green or white teas.

On an unrelated topic, find out about survival food & berkey water filters as a healthy approach to diet and disease management; the benefits of miso and green teas, and some pretty cool emergency preparedness gifts you can give yourself, your family or friends.

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