Belinda
New Study Finds Black Tea May Help You Live Longer: The Health Benefits of Drinking Tea
Updated: Nov 28, 2022
Most people know that drinking tea is good for you, but new research has found that black tea may help you live longer. The study, which was conducted by scientists at the University of Leeds, looked at how black tea affects health markers such as cholesterol and blood pressure. The results showed that drinking black tea can improve these markers and may help reduce the risk of heart disease and other health problems.

The study, which was recently published in the journal ‘Food & Function’, set out to investigate whether black tea could improve health by reducing levels of LDL cholesterol and blood pressure – two important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The research team recruited 80 participants aged 60 or over who were randomly assigned to consume either black tea or water for six weeks, with neither group knowing which they were receiving. At the end of the study period, those in the black tea group showed significantly lower levels of LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure compared to those in the water group.
These findings suggest that regular consumption of black tea may help to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, although more research is needed to confirm this.
The implication of this study is that drinking black tea could help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in women and men.
Black tea is rich in antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damage. Antioxidants are also thought to play a role in cancer prevention. Black tea contains caffeine, which can boost your metabolism and increase mental alertness. Caffeine can also help you burn calories and fat.
So there you have it, black tea is not only delicious but it’s also good for you! If you’re looking for a healthy way to improve your health, add black tea to your diet.
Black tea origins
Tea has a long and rich history, dating back thousands of years. It was originally from China, but black tea has become increasingly popular in recent years. Black tea is more oxidized than green tea, and it contains more antioxidants and caffeine. It also has a number of health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer.
Tea has traditionally been a product of China. But the delicate, fresh green tea has gained in popularity and remains a key element within Eastern culture. As tea was spread and the tea was processed for export to commerce across the country and later across the ocean the study revealed that more oxidized black tea had the better freshness and flavor during longer distances than its minimally oxidized cousin. From early days on the borders of China, Tibet, and other neighbouring countries tea is fermented and compressed into bricks for currency. The British were the first to discover black tea when they began importing it from China in the 1600s.
Black tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, which is native to Asia. The leaves are withered, rolled, and fermented before they are dried and roasted. This process gives black tea its characteristic flavour and colour. Black tea contains more caffeine than green or white tea, but it also has a number of health benefits.

Types of black tea
Black tea is produced around the world and processed in different geographic and climate environments. Three major manufacturers of black tea currently are India, Sri Lanka and Africa. Almost half of all world tea produced comes from India. Among the most popular types of black tea that are made in this high-producing region are:
Assam tea: This type of black tea is grown in the Assam region of India. It has a strong, full-bodied flavour and a reddish-brown colour.
Darjeeling tea: This type of black tea is grown in the Darjeeling region of India. It has a light, floral flavour and a golden colour.
Nilgiri tea: This type of black tea is grown in the Nilgiris region of India. It has a smooth, mellow flavour and a dark brown colour.
Black tea consumption and caffeine content in black tea
Between black tea and green tea coffee usually has a lot of caffeine in its brew then black tea follows green tea in brew form. Like with any beverage brewed with caffeinated plants, caffeine levels are important. The recommended caffeine dose is 8 ounces or less. This is about what you would find in a typical cup of black tea.
Brewed for the recommended amount of time, black tea has between 14-70 milligrams of caffeine. The average cup of black tea has 47 milligrams of caffeine.
How to make the perfect cup of black tea
To make a good cup of black tea, start by boiling water and then let it cool for about two minutes. Then pour about eight ounces into your teapot or teacup. Add one teaspoonful of loose tea leaves or one teabag for each cup of water. Steep the tea for three to five minutes, depending on how strong you like it. After steeping, remove the leaves or bag and enjoy.
Black tea can be enjoyed plain or with milk and sugar. Milk helps to mellow the flavour of black tea and makes it more creamy. Sugar helps to balance the bitterness of black tea and brings out its sweetness.
Black tea processing
For a complete knowledge of how the green tea is made it is necessary to know that tea comes in the same exact plant. Depending on how a plant's leaf are harvested, the tea is determined whether its berries become black or green.
The processing of black tea is a complex, multi-step process that can vary slightly depending on the type of black tea being produced. The basic steps include withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying.

Withering: The leaves are withered to reduce their moisture content and make them more pliable.
Rolling: The leaves are rolled to break down the cell walls and help the enzymes start the fermentation process.
Fermentation: The leaves are fermented for a period of time to give them their characteristic flavour and colour.
Drying: The leaves are dried to stop the fermentation process and preserve the tea.
After the leaves are processed, they are sorted and graded according to their quality. The best quality black teas are made from the youngest leaves and contain more tips, or buds. These teas are typically more expensive than lower quality teas made from older leaves.

All of the different black teas have health benefits that come from drinking it. It's important to find what works best for you and start enjoying those benefits today! Whether you like Assam, Darjeeling, Nilgiri or some other type of black tea, make sure to steep it for the right amount of time and add milk and sugar to taste. Who knows? You may just end up living a little longer by making this delicious drink part of your daily routine.