Heaven of Tea

Bottled teas have become ubiquitous in grocery stores these days; you can even buy bottled organic green tea if you really look. And powdered versions of your favorite teas are also available in the perfect size for your bottled water. But are the ready-to-drink and bottled teas as good as loose-leaf teas? In short, they are better than not drinking tea, but not better than drinking loose leaf teas.

In 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture did a study on the flavonoid content of selected foods. Flavonoids are a key element of the health benefits of tea. They have “an inherent ability to modify the body’s reaction to allergens, viruses, and carcinogens. They show anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer activity.” [Wikipedia: Flavonoids] To explain, flavonoids are essentially antioxidants that help heal the body and avoid cancers, allergens, and viruses. Why do I bring this up? Because the USDA study showed that ready-to-drink and bottled teas have only about 20% of the flavonoids that loose-leaf teas have. So you’re missing out on 80% of the beneficial flavonoids by choosing the bottled or powdered teas, rather than choosing a loose-leaf tea.

And besides, loose-leaf teas are more fun and more delicious. They are fresh when you make them, so you aren’t drinking stale tea. You don’t have to shake your cup in order to mix the tea back up! And you can mix loose-leaf varieties for a unique tea that fits your tastes perfectly. I know the bottled and ready-to-drink teas are easier than brewing a pot of fresh tea, but that convenience is costing you some of the health benefits (shortcuts are always like that). And with our Perfect Tea Maker, brewing loose-leaf tea really isn’t that difficult anymore!

Brew up some of your favorite blend, pour it into a recyclable glass bottle or thermos of your liking and get out there and enjoy life, one delicious (and healthy) sip at a time.