Know more about your cup of tea

I like to add a little bit of milk to a steaming hot cup of tea. I like that there are so many different types/flavors of tea on the market to choose from.
I enjoy both hot and cold tea. I sometimes add a small amount of lemon to my tea.
The following, courtesy of Newspaper Metro, gives you Myths and Facts about tea.
Tea is a popular beverage that has been enjoyed for centuries. An estimated three billion cups of tea are consumed across the globe every day, with many people looking to tea when they are sick or to prevent illness.
As popular as tea has become, certain misconceptions about tea have spread over the years. The following can clear up some of the more common misunderstandings about tea.
Myth: Different tea varieties come from different types of tea plants.
Fact: Commercial tea comes only from the leaves of the camelia sinensis plant. Different methods of processing determine which variety of tea is produced. Black and oolong tea develops from oxidizing and fermenting tea leaves, while green tea is produced by steaming wilted leaves.

Myth: Adding milk to tea negates the health benefits.
Fact: According to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the same amount of catechins, which are antioxidants associated with a reduced risk of some diseases, can be absorbed tea that contains milk as tea that does not.
Myth: Anything with the name “tea” is true tea.
Fact: Only tea from tea plants constitutes real tea. Herbal varieties of tea are actually tisanes made from flowers and bark of other plants.
Myth: Fruits and vegetables contain more disease-fighting antioxidants than tea.
Fact: Research indicates that tea has about 10 times the amount of antioxidants of vegetables and fruit. Individuals who consume reduced-calorie diets often find tea that is a good, no-calorie source of antioxidants.

Myth: Antioxidants can turn back aging.
Fact: Antioxidants may contribute to l longevity, but they cannot reverse signs of aging. Antioxidants have been known to neutralize free radicals in the body that can contribute to many different diseases, including various forms of cancer.
Myth: Tea never goes bad.
Fact: It may take some time for properly stored tea to spoil, but the level of antioxidants in tea does begin to diminish after a few months. Research by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry indicates catechins in green tea decrease by 32 percent in just six months. Tea is most beneficial to human health when it is consumed within six months of its production.
Myth: Tea has much less caffeine than coffee.
Fact: The amount of caffeine in tea can vary. The average amount of caffeine in tea ranges from 14 to 61 mg per eight-ounce cup. Coffee, on the other hand, can contain between 27 and 200 mg per serving.

Myth: Hot tea is better for you than cold tea.
Fact: As long as the tea is steeped in water long enough, both hot and cold tea provide the same bang for your buck.

Accent Editor Myra Miller can be reached at myra.miller@eunicetoday.com