MighTEA Myth Busters

It's time to take a tun towards tea & let go of some of the heavy myths that are weighing down your cup.  Tea is a terrific beverage with a whole lot of personality that goes far beyond the flavor.  Let's pour away the myths & stir up some of the truths behind the world of tea.

1. Different Plants Produce Different Tea Leaves

Four types of tea come from one singular plant: Camellia Sinensis.  These leaves differ in flavor, & color, which is why they each have their own taste profile.  The difference between black & green tea is in the oxidation process - black tea requires air drying with oxidation while green tea requires processing first.  Moral of the story, all of the teas come from the same family branch but separate in their terms of processing after their harvest.  White tea & oolong also come from the same plant but overall, the time the leaves are picked & their process is what leads to the unique appearance & taste. 

2. Coffee & Tea contain the same caffeine

If you thought that tea & coffee are on the same game when it comes to caffeine, think again.  Before processing, tea has more caffeine due to its process of being infused multiple times.  On one hand, a cup of expresso & black tea can have the same amount of caffeine that gives you an equal boost.  The bold and sharp flavor from black tea is what makes not only the caffeine content strong, but its own taste.  Similarly, a pack of black tea can range from 47mg to 90mg of caffeine which is slightly less than a cup of coffee.  Herbal teas, however, are mostly marked as caffeine free but can vary up to 12mg of caffeine that is not on the product label.  So if you're looking for a strong start to the day, tea towards the caffeine team, but if its a light boost that'll have less of a crash, make a dash towards the tea.

3. Drinking Tea makes your skin... Tan.

It was once told that if you were to drink tea, your skin would grow darker in pigment.  However, this is not the case.  There is no scientific evidence that tea causes your skin pigment of melanin to darken.  Once considered a "Grandma Myth" is now truly a real belief for the books, only.  It may have arose from the fact that drinking a lot of tea can make you dehydrated, & this can in turn lead the skin to look dry & lifeless.  Perhaps this is what one would confuse the skin to look darker in color rather than other characteristics. Another reason is that stress & anxiety may lead to liver dysfunction which can cause the skin to look yellow, & could be confused with a skin-darkening change.

4. Organic Tea Takes the Cake

Just like the health advocates tell the rest of the buyers, organic does not make a difference in the quality of the tea.  All this means is that this method requires no chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers to process the tea after it has been harvested.  Instead, they will use an approach like sticky bug catchers or solar-powered energy to make the tea from an organic place.  Although some may prefer this organic method to feel safer about their taste, it does not make much of a difference when it comes to the end product.  The crops that are protected from the pesticides may actually touch the other crops that are sprayed, & so there is never a super "clean" environment.  It also does not make much of a difference with the taste.  Some may think that organic teas don't taste better than conventional teas due to personal preferences.  More of the story, pick your tea based on its character & flavor, & not the label!

5. The tea timeline is lengthy, & long-lasting

Some may say drink your tea & save for another day, but others may veto this idea.  Tea does, however, have a lifespan that is not infinite. Tea can go bad depending on how you store it.  If you are looking at two years worth of a lifespan then try storing the tea in a sealed container in a cool, dark place so the humidity & light do not affect the chemical composition.  The shelf life of loose leaf tea is around 6-8 years where it starts to lose its antioxidants after that time.  After opening, the tea should be consumed as soon as possible to avoid a stale or moldy taste.  Pinky's up & finish your cup!

These statements put an end to the tea myths that are taking the health department by storm.  With just enough evidence to back up these false claims, the tea game can remain strong.  Next time you are choosing your tea make sure you pick what is right for you & star clear of any falsely-labeled, or overly health-dependent choices.  Choose the right cup with love & enjoy it with ease.