Bagged Tea: Health Benefits and Contraindications

Humanity is progressing, and today you can drink tea almost everywhere. There is no sense to argue about the convenience of bagged tea: you can take it with you, it brews quickly. But is every producer diligent about his product, and what are the dangers of low-quality tea? This article will discuss in detail the benefits and harms of tea in bags.

History of Tea in Bags

It is well known that China is a motherland of tea, but the appearance of tea bags is attributed to a different country.

In the twentieth century, Thomas Sallivan became very active in trade of tea. To promote his product, he needed to send out small portions of different varieties for tasters to try. Back in 1904, all tea producers transported their products in massive tin cans. But this was not always practical or profitable.

At that time it occurred to Thomas Sullivan to wrap a pinch of tea in a piece of silk fabric and send it off in this way for tasting. As you can conclude, the tea bag was created by accident and originally had a slightly different purpose.

The Germans started brewing tea in bags during the First World War. A German tea company borrowed Thomas Sullivan's idea, and, replacing silk with gauze, started supplying tea bags to the front. The drink became popular with the soldiers and was dubbed the 'tea bomb'.

What are the tea bags made of?

Silk was replaced by gauze, but even this option was rather unprofitable. By the thirties of the 20th century, the first tea bag factories began to appear. In order to increase profits, they needed to find a new substitute for the material used to make tea bags.

The American Fay Osborne decided to try making a paper version of the bag. Cigar packing paper was taken as an experimental sample. Subsequently, the production technology changed a little, and paper bags began to compete with gauze bags. Thanks to their low cost, all factories soon came to use paper sachets. It was a German company that first patented them, so Germany can safely be called the birthplace of this bagged drink.

Composition and calories

Tea bags consist of finely ground leaf tea. Conscientious manufacturers do not add anything to the bags except ground leaves. The exception is the flavorings prescribed in the recipe and indicated on the package.

Caloric value of the main types of tea:

• Herbal tea - 1
• Green tea - 1
• Oolong tea - 140.9
• Red tea - 151,8
• Linden tea - 0
• Ginger tea - 10.8

These average values do not include additives like sugar, honey, jam, etc.

How is tea in bags useful?

The modern market offers a huge variety of flavors of this bagged drink: from the most neutral to the most pronounced flavors and shades. But in addition to its pleasant taste, tea in bags has beneficial properties and is able to have a positive effect on the body.

There are still debates about what's healthier: whole leaf tea or ground tea in tea bags. One thing is certain: if you buy quality tea from a reputable producer, you will notice improvements after only a few weeks of drinking it regularly. This paragraph will look at the benefits of tea bags for different groups of people.

For women

The body of the fairer sex is often very sensitive to what goes into it. The bagged tea in this case has an advantage over the non-packaged tea: a strict dosage of the product will not allow extra caffeine to get into the body of a woman. One serving, as a rule, is designed for 200 ml of water: this is not enough to cause harm, but enough to cheer up.

Green tea in bags is known for its diuretic properties. Therefore, women who want to lose a couple of extra pounds can resort to its help. Also, having a bag prevents the risk of pieces of the leaves getting into the gastrointestinal tract, which helps to protect the woman's body from unnecessary strain.

For men

The useful properties of tea in sachets for men are amazing: it strengthens the vascular walls, promotes digestion, cleanses the body of toxins and contains antioxidants. As far as men's health is concerned, green tea is an excellent helper. Its moderate consumption will help to normalize the prostate, clean the urethra.

There is a lot of zinc in green tea, which is the main building material for male hormones. The representatives of the stronger sex, who suffer from tachycardia, kidney pathologies or suffer from hyperacidity of the stomach, it is better to refuse from the green tea bags.

If you are pregnant

Women who are pregnant, should completely reconsider their diet and the drinks they consume. This also applies to tea. If you limit the use of this drink to two cups a day, brew it lightly and buy tea from reputable manufacturers, then it is possible not to remove it from the diet.

Tea will help to strengthen the immune system and prevent colds. It will also gently cleanse the body of the expectant mother from harmful toxins and help her to maintain good health and good spirits. Black tea relieves fatigue, but pregnant women should prefer the green varieties. They have the same caffeine content, but the harmful effect on the fetus is negligible because of the slow digestibility.

When breastfeeding

Most women after childbirth for a long time still have to control their diet. After all, everything they eat will affect their baby, who drinks breast milk. Women who face the problem of insufficient lactation are recommended to drink tea with milk. A hot drink stimulates the production of milk.

As for the choice between black and green tea, it is better to opt for the latter when breastfeeding. The caffeine in it is absorbed more slowly, and the baby will not be as restless as after black tea. It is important to remember that all babies are individual, and in the case of colic after a hot drink with milk, such drinking should be excluded from the diet of the mother.

For kids

Some experts question the benefits of tea for children's bodies, but most still emphasize its benefits. Moderate consumption of warm tea can help strengthen children's bodies. Babies who have an increased appetite should also be given tea. It breaks down fats and helps get rid of hunger, not "overpower" it.

If you give a child to drink tea with milk, then his bones and teeth will be strengthened. This drink also improves bowel function and normalizes the production of gastric juice. Children who suffer from hypersensitivity of the teeth are recommended to rinse their mouth with green tea. It strengthens tooth enamel and fights hypersensitivity to cold or hot.

When losing weight

The benefits of tea for weight loss is known to almost every woman. After all, to lose excess weight it is extremely important to maintain water balance. If you have to choose between black tea and green tea, you should give preference to the latter. Its regular consumption in the process of dieting will help to increase the number of pounds lost.

Green tea has diuretic properties. In addition, it reduces appetite. By drinking a cup of tea between meals, you can eat a smaller portion than usual. Tea should not be used as a substitute for all liquid and you should not drink it only. Everything is good in moderation - and green tea bags for weight loss is proof of that.

The benefits of chamomile tea in bags

One of the most popular herbs with medicinal properties is chamomile. It is because of its ability to relieve and prevent disease, people have been using it since ancient times in dry form, in the form of infusion or supplements. Chamomile tea has become very popular with people, and with the advent of its bagged version, drinking it has only become more convenient.

The first supporters of this healing drink are people who tend to suffer from seasonal illnesses. Such illnesses as SARS or colds, often appear in the spring or fall, when the weather is very deceptive. The regular use of chamomile tea will help the body not only to fight the disease, but also to prevent its occurrence in the future.

Well, for those who are already sick, chamomile tea in bags will help to relieve the symptoms. This drink has antipyretic properties, so by replacing the pills with chamomile tea, a person will reduce the burden on the liver, which is already suffering from medication. You can also gargle your throat with chamomile tea - it will reduce pain and help expel phlegm.

In addition, chamomile tea helps to cope with depression, treats flatulence, intestinal pain, gastritis, ulcers, and normalizes stools. A pleasant bonus will be the normalization of appetite and improvement of the gastrointestinal tract.

Is green tea in bags useful?

It has already been said about the usefulness of green tea bags for weight loss. But this is not all that the ancient drink is capable of. In addition to the diuretic properties, green tea bags have a number of other useful qualities, which will be useful not only to those who want to lose a few extra pounds.

Scientists have long been studying the effects of green tea on cancer patients. It was recently concluded that this drink not only prevents the appearance of cancer, but also reduces the activity of existing tumors.

People with dry skin that is prone to rapid aging will also enjoy green tea. This drink helps fight age-related changes. All thanks to the rich content of antioxidants, which at the cellular level block the negative effects of molecules.

Other useful properties of green tea in bags:

1. Cleansing the body, getting rid of harmful toxins.
2. Normalization of digestion, acceleration of metabolism.
3. Lowering cholesterol levels, which is the prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system.
4. Combat diseases of the teeth and mouth.

We must not forget that everything is good in moderation. Tea will be able to manifest its beneficial properties only if it is used in moderation and if there are no individual contraindications.

Cosmetic applications

In addition to the beneficial properties on the internal state of a person, tea bags have found use in cosmetology.

Honey facial mask

Every girl wants to have beautiful, even, healthy and firm facial skin. But not everyone wants to try cosmetic products on her face. After all, there is a risk of buying products that are not suitable for the skin of a particular person. In this case, the ideal option is to make a mask yourself.

To do this, you need:

1. Pour 5-7 g of green tea into a container.
2. Pour hot water (not boiling).
3. Let stand for 12 minutes.
4. When teapots steamed, pour out the liquid.
5. In the remaining guts add 20 grams of honey.

Honey mask is ready. Now it should be applied for 20 minutes on a wet skin, and then rinse thoroughly. Use it no more than twice a week.

Eye compress

The skin around the eyes is the most delicate area of the face. It requires special care, and a compress will help to provide it.

Method of preparation:

1. Heat 100 ml of water almost to boiling (you need a temperature of 70-80 degrees).
2. Place green tea (0.5 tbsp.) in a container and pour this water. Leave it for 35 minutes.
3. During this time, the liquid should cool to room temperature.

The compress is ready. You need to soak cotton pads in this liquid and keep it on your eyes for 10-15 minutes.

Relaxing bath

The bath with green tea will help to bring the body in order and increase tone. You should soak 12 tablespoons of green tea in 1 liter of hot water. For small baths, the proportions can be divided in half (500 ml of water and 6 tbsp. of tea). After the mixture is infused, it should be strained and poured into a bath of water. At the same time relaxing and soothing treatment will be a great end to a hard day.

Harms and contraindications

Tea is not a panacea. In addition to the positive effects, it may also have a negative impact on the body. A person does not always know in advance about contraindications, individual intolerance or unscrupulousness of the manufacturer.

Chamomile tea is considered one of the strongest diuretics. If you overdo it, you can bring the situation to dehydration. In addition, an excessive amount of chamomile tea will lead to loss of strength, dizziness. On it can manifest allergies, so for the first time this drink is recommended to try not strong and in small quantities.

Even the highest quality black tea is still a source of large amounts of caffeine. Yes, it's good for the body, but in small quantities. From one cup will not do anything, but if a person drinks several cups at a time, he becomes irritable and nervous. Girls, who are pregnant, often have to refuse this drink if they take medication, because black tea greatly reduces their effectiveness and the degree of impact on the body.

Green tea is the safest, but even it can have negative effects. By nature, its taste is quite subtle and neutral. To enhance flavor, manufacturers do not neglect excessive amounts of flavorings. It has also been found out that it is green tea bags that often contain a lot of harmful fluoride compounds.

We should not exclude the fact that many producers are unfair with the filling of the bags. Most of the products on the market today contain dust, bark, and spoiled loose leaf tea.

How to choose and store tea bags

It is best to buy bagged tea in special stores, because they monitor the quality of products, unlike supermarkets. The packaging should be tight and not damaged. There should be no dust on its bottom.

1. When storing tea you should rely on several factors:
2. Humidity. To prevent tea from spoiling, the humidity in the room should be moderate.
3. Light. It's best to store tea bags in a dark place, where there is no direct sunlight.
4. Smells. If tea is stored near strong smelling foods (such as fish), it can absorb the unpleasant odor.
5. Temperature. It should be moderately low. This will help to slow down the development of microorganisms.

Observing the basic rules for choosing and storing tea bags, you can easily provide yourself with a quality and delicious drink at any convenient time.

How to brew tea bags

Bagged tea has gained such great popularity precisely because of the ease of use. It is much easier and faster to brew than loose tea. But even here there are certain nuances.

It is better to use a ceramic pot - it allows you to preserve the flavor of the drink. After boiling water, you need to wait a couple of minutes for it to cool down. Abrupt boiling kills all the useful properties. After the bag has given enough color and flavor, you need to take it out. The tea is ready to be consumed.

How to drink tea bags correctly

Such a seemingly simple procedure as drinking tea has its own rules and nuances.

How much you can drink per day

Tea, like any other drink, can have both negative and positive effects on the body. It has almost no calories, so the figure is not at risk. However, experts still suggest limiting yourself to four cups of this drink a day (no more than 1 liter).

Can you drink stale tea?

The use of expired tea is categorically forbidden by experts. Like any other product, bagged tea at the expiration date loses both its useful properties and pleasant taste.

What is the best tea bag?

In today's market there is a huge number of competing manufacturers of tea bags. But which of them are popular because of the quality of their products and which of them are just good at advertising? There was an expert study, which revealed several of the best tea bags.

1. First place was shared by Ahmad and Sir Thomas Lipton.
2. Second place went to Greenfild and Tess.
3. In third place with a small gap goes to Lipton.
4. In fourth and fifth places went to Standard Ceylon London Tea Club and Princess Nuri, respectively.

Products of the same price category competed. We evaluated the strength of brew, aroma and taste.

Interesting facts about tea

1. People know that China is home to tea, but who was the first to think of brewing it? No one knows for sure, but an old legend has it that the Emperor Shen Nung accidentally dropped a nearby shrub leaf into the boiling pot. The decoction began to take color and it turned out that it had a wonderful taste. After this Shen Nung ordered the tea to be specially cultivated.
2. Some scholars are still looking for evidence that the birthplace of tea is not China but the East.
3. Today there are more than a thousand and a half varieties.
4. Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world. The first place is taken by water.
5. The Chinese call black tea red tea. This is because in China they referred to the color of the finished drink, which has a reddish-brown hue. In Europe, the name was given to dried tea pellets that were black or dark brown in color.
6. Tea is a tacit symbol of Great Britain. It began in the early 18th century, when the British learned to dilute gin with tea. Today, the British drink about 165 million cups of tea every day.
7. A cool infusion of tea leaves applied to the skin repels insects.
8. In Iran and Afghanistan, tea is recognized as the national drink.
9. Over three million tons of tea are produced in the world every year.
10. Despite the huge variety of varieties, they are all conventionally divided into 6 main varieties (black, green, white, red, post-fermented and yellow).
11. The most expensive tea is sold in Hong Kong.
12. One kilogram of raw material can be used to brew more than two hundred cups.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that tea has long been the favorite drink of many people for a reason. Thanks to its variety of flavors, everyone can find something to their liking. And the bagged tea allows you to enjoy your favorite drink almost anywhere and anytime.

Photo of tea in sachets