Once upon a time, tea was the obvious choice both to start the day and to wind down from it. However, starting with the Boston Tea Party in 1773 — coffee rose to unprecedented popularity.
And in the past few years, tea has re-emerged on the market as a trendy beverage option, largely thanks to being a healthier caffeine choice.
Although most teas are largely without nutritional value in terms of calories, protein or other macronutrients, dietitian Colleen Tewksbury, Ph.D., MPH, RD, CSOWM, LDN, who manages The University of Pennsylvania’s bariatric program, points out that the beverage is packed with antioxidants. “The type of tea determines the type of antioxidant,” she explains. “The three most common are flavonols, theaflavins and catechins.”
All three of these antioxidants are natural compounds called polyphenols, which Elad Tako, associate professor of food science at Cornell, says can be found in both caffeinated and herbal teas. “These substances may help reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases,” he explains. “During processing, some of the polyphenols in tea are destroyed, [though]. Thus, tea powders, decaffeinated teas and bottled tea drinks may not offer the same health benefits [as steeped tea].
Companies like Atlas Tea Club have jumped on this rising tea trend, with Tea of the Month Club subscriptions that allow you to travel the globe via ethically sourced tea from Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, South Korea and a host of other countries.