Ceylon tea improves the immune system, great for those on a diet, good for the heart, helps to fight cancerous cells, prevents chronic illnesses, removes kidney stones, high on energy and fights oxidative stress.
In This Article:
- What is Ceylon Tea?
- Top 11 Health Benefits of Ceylon Tea
- What are the Side Effects?
- Can it be Consumed During Pregnancy?
- Can we Give Ceylon Tea to Kids?
- Simple Recipes to Try
What is Ceylon Tea?
Ceylon tea refers to the geographical region, Sri Lanka (previously known as Ceylon), in which the tea plant is grown. Green, black and white tea (known as Silver Tips) are grown in 11 tea regions in Sri Lanka.
The significance of antioxidants in the tea depends on the process before tea drying, the topographical location, soil and climate the tea is grown in. The type of plant, growth, season, and degree of maturity also influences its antioxidant components. Because of that, some people claim that Ceylon tea is the best tea in the world.
What separates Ceylon tea from other teas is its location of origin, its manufacturing process, and its high levels of antioxidants. Ceylon tea has a variety of health benefits for the heart, gut, and kidneys. Ceylon tea has plenty of anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities, which help not only with weight loss but also with treating diseases such as arthritis.
Top 11 Health Benefits of Ceylon Tea
Improves the Immune System
Keeping your immune system strong is a necessity since it fights against all disease-causing pathogens. A single cup of Ceylon tea is enough to fuel your immune system to effectively fight diseases and infections.
Great for those on a Diet
Ceylon tea is rich in properties that boost metabolism and burn body fat effectively without harming your body.
Good for the Heart
It is rich in potassium, which acts as a vasodilator, and is necessary for cardiovascular health. The flavonoids from Ceylon tea can help prevent heart disease. Ceylon tea also relaxes tension in your veins and arteries and keeps blood pressure under check.
Helps to Fight Cancerous Cells
The tea, as mentioned earlier, is rich in antioxidants that are very important in fighting the free radicals that cause cancer in the body, and is very important in fighting and eliminating cancerous cells.
Removes Kidney Stones
Ceylon tea is loaded with antioxidants and other nutrients that help break down kidney stones so they can easily pass out of your body through your urine. Drinking tea and getting rid of kidney stones this way is completely natural and non-harmful to the kidney.
High on Energy
Ceylon tea contains the right amount of caffeine to keep you energised the whole day. This tea contains various vitamins and minerals that keep you feeling active and energetic throughout the day.
Fights Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is considered to be harmful because reactive oxygen species can damage biological molecules such as fat, proteins, and DNA. Ceylon tea’s nutrients are powerful antioxidants that can help protect against this oxidative stress.
Helps Fight Diabetes
Ceylon tea can help you prevent diabetes by regulating blood sugar, reducing risks of sugar absorption and it is an all-round healthy option to help you manage diabetes.
Great for Improving the Quality of the Skin
The leaves in Ceylon contain nutrients that fight free radicals in the body and consuming warm Ceylon tea prevents oxidative damage to your skin cells. This, in turn, prevents premature aging, fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and blemishes. Ceylon tea also promotes skin health by slowing down the loss of collagen.
Prevents Chronic Illnesses
Ceylon possesses a variety of antioxidants, such as the arubigins and theaflavins, that keep you healthy in a large number of ways. Consuming Ceylon tea enriches the body with the many needed antioxidants that can fight chronic illnesses with ease.
Helps with Brain Functioning
Ceylon tea can help you maintain good mental health by preventing age-related cognitive issues such as Alzheimer’s or dementia by keeping you mentally fit and healthy.
What are the Side Effects?
Due to the high caffeine content present, people who consume Ceylon tea in large doses can have difficulties sleeping, headaches, irregular heartbeat, and increased irritability. To avoid this, it is recommended to drink Ceylon tea in moderate doses.
The caffeine in Ceylon can also mess with certain medications, such as those for heart conditions and asthma, as well as stimulants and certain antibiotics, so please consult your physician before adding this to your diet.
Can it be Consumed During Pregnancy?
Ceylon tea is a rich source of caffeine, so it is only recommended in small amounts for expecting mothers.
Can we Give Ceylon Tea to Kids?
Children can drink Ceylon Tea, without caffeine. But they must not consume tea very frequently. They can drink Ceylon Tea under the control of their parents and in minimal amounts.
Simple Recipes to Try
Hong Kong Milk Tea
Ingredients
- 6 cups hot water (1.4 L, makes about 4 ½ cups of tea after the boiling process)
- 10 tablespoons tea leaves or tea bags or tea strainers (any combination of Ceylon Orange Pekoe/Lipton Black Tea, Earl Gray, or your favorite black tea)
- 1⅓ cups evaporated milk (315 ml, ⅓ cup per serving)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk ~1 teaspoon per serving, or to taste
- a fine-meshed strainer
Directions
- Add 6 cups of very hot water to a pot. Add the tea and bring it to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- From there, pour the tea through a fine-meshed strainer that has a clean pair of stockings tied around it. This is optional to make sure you get every last bit of tea fanning out of your drink.
- Portion out the tea––one serving is a little over 1 cup. Mix in ⅓ cup evaporated milk and about 1 teaspoon sweetened condensed milk, or to taste. Stir thoroughly, and enjoy immediately!
Sri Lankan Milk Tea
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of good quality loose leaf cut black tea
- ½ cup (125 ml) good quality spring water
- ½ cup (125 ml) of full cream milk/whole milk
- sugar or cane sugar jaggery, optional or to taste (1-3 teaspoons is customary)
- stainless steel fine mesh strainer
Directions
- Preheat the teapot and teacup by pouring very hot or boiling water into them and letting them sit until ready to use.
- Heat the 1/2 cup (125 ml) of water in a kettle or saucepan to boiling (100 C).
- Discard the hot water from the teapot.
- Place the tea into the teapot.
- Pour boiling water over the tea and cover immediately.
- After 1 minute, stir the leaves and re-cover with the lid. Let sit for 4 more minutes.
- While the tea is brewing, boil the milk (watch it carefully so it does not boil over).
- After the tea has finished steeping, pour the milk into the teapot and stir with a spoon.
- Add sugar or jaggery now and stir, or wait to add it into the teacup. This will depend on how you or your guests prefer it. Sugar/jaggery can be completely left out.
- Dump the hot water out of the teacup.
- Using the strainer, pour the milk tea into the cup and serve.
Sources
https://www.verywellfit.com/ceylon-tea-benefits-and-side-effects-4163429
selfhacked.com/blog/ceylon
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