Earl Grey is claimed as one of the world’s most popular tea varieties. Tea drinkers around the globe are no stranger to this type of tea.
Besides its unique aroma and exotic taste, a great number of Earl Grey tea benefits are another reason why this tea is highly popular.
A. Getting to Know Earl Grey Tea
Despite the high popularity of Earl Grey, many people only know the tea by name without recognizing its properties. For those who are not familiar with the tea, some questions below may come up at the beginning.
The answers to those questions should be enough to help you get familiar with the well-known Earl Grey tea.
· What is Earl Grey tea?
Earl Grey refers to a type of black tea which is infused with dried skin of bergamot orange. This tea is widely available in western countries, particularly in Europe and the British Isles.
Contrary to popular belief, Earl Grey tea is not a registered trademark. Instead, it is a special type of tea which is marketed under its variety name.
· Where does Earl Grey come from?
Although Earl Grey is popular in England, its origin stems actually come from China.
Before using bergamot orange, Chinese tea makers have experimented with other types of fruits and flowers, including lychee, jasmine, and chamomile.
· How does Earl Grey tea taste?
The taste of Earl Grey tea is both unique and distinctive. It has a strong citric flavor which is a result of oil addition to the bergamot orange.
This type of tea also has a mildly spicy aroma that makes it even more appetizing to brew and sip.
· Does Earl Grey have caffeine?
Yes, but in a moderate amount. The amount of caffeine in Earl Grey is much lower than those in coffee. It can keep you energized without giving any harmful side effects, such as insomnia or mineral loss.
· Is Earl Grey tea good for you?
Definitely! Earl Grey provides numerous benefits for your health. Besides keeping your organs healthy, this tea serves as a detoxification agent, stress reliever, as well as an effective natural cure for several illnesses.
B. Earl Grey Tea Health Benefits
In addition to its unique flavor, Earl Grey tea offers a large number of health benefits. Its beneficial effects range widely, from boosting up your mood to preventing some chronic diseases.
Here are 10 Earl Grey tea benefits that should come to your attention.
1. Keeps You Hydrated
Just like water, a generous cup of Earl Grey tea in the morning can keep you hydrated during the day. This is due to the tea’s rich contents of nutrients and antioxidants.
Additionally, Earl Grey has zero calories, so you can choose it as healthier refreshment in lieu of juice or soda.
2. Increases Your Energy
Besides keeping you hydrated all day long, Earl Grey can increase your energy because of the caffeine compounds. The tea will boost your energy while maintaining the balance of vitamins and minerals in your body.
That’s the main reason why a cup of Earl Grey tea is much healthier than other kinds of energizers, such as coffee or energy drink.
3. Relieves Stress and Anxiety
Sipping a nice cup of Earl Grey tea can help you improve your mood. At the same time, it also has the ability to relieve stress, anxiety, even depression.
This benefit is the result of bergamot components in which one of them is believed as an effective stress reliever and mood stabilizer.
4. Treats Cold and Flu
When you get a cold, Earl Grey is the right beverage that can make it better. This tea is rich in anti-viral compounds which are useful to reduce fever and fight common viruses of cold or influenza.
A cup of Earl Grey tea will also help you recover faster from the cold.
5. Helps You Lose Weight
If you are trying to lose weight, Earl Grey tea is a great addition to your diet. The citrus substances in this tea are closely linked to faster energy consumption.
They can also improve your metabolic process, leading to better and quicker weight loss.
6. Improves Teeth and Oral Health
Earl Grey is rich in catechin and fluoride; both of them are beneficial for oral teeth. As a type of antioxidant, catechin is highly capable of fighting various oral infections.
Meanwhile, fluoride has been known as a useful substance that can keep your teeth healthy as well as protect them from decay and cavities.
7. Promotes Healthier Skin
Consuming Earl Grey tea on a regular basis will help you deal with skin problems, especially those that are caused by free radicals.
Because it is loaded with antioxidants, Earl Grey has the ability to prevent skin damage, premature aging, as well as skin cancer. It can also make your skin clearer and healthier at the same time.
8. Aids Better Digestion
Most tea varieties are used to treat digestive disorders like diarrhea or dysentery. On the contrary, a different case occurs to Earl Grey tea.
This type of tea is an effective cure to treat constipation. Consuming Earl Grey tea regularly will lead to a better and healthier digestive system.
9. Boosting up the Immune System
The digestive system is not the only organs that can reap the benefits of Earl Grey tea. The antioxidants contained in this tea can also improve your immune system.
They work by destroying free radicals and fighting harmful substances that are harmful to your body.
10. Preventing Health Disease
Bergamot in Earl Grey tea contains a special type of enzymes, namely hydroxyl methyl glutaryl flavonones (HMGF).
The main roles of these enzymes are finding the signal proteins of heart diseases and destroying them before they develop into the actual disease.
Their roles are in line with the statin drugs that can reduce cholesterol and prevent heart disease at once.
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C. How to Make Earl Grey Tea
If you want to get the Earl Grey tea benefits, you need to know the right ways to brew and make the tea.
In this case, several tips below can be used as a basic guide to making the best Earl Grey tea which is both tasty and healthy.
- Use spring or filtered water to brew as they have better quality than tap or distilled water.
- The best way to brew Earl Grey tea is by using a tea kettle. Brew the tea at 200-212 F (93-100 C) for a black tea base, and 150-180 F (65-82 C) for the green ones.
- Earl Grey comes in loose leaf and tea bags. If you use loose leaves of Earl Grey, use around 8 ounces of water for every 2 grams of Earl Grey leaves.
- To enhance the flavor, steep Earl Grey tea for 2-4 minutes. Steeping the tea longer than that will make the tea taste bitter.
Looking at the Earl Grey tea benefits, sipping a nice cup a day is a good and easy way to keep you healthy from time to time. So, why don’t you start right now?
