Tea Recipes

Tea Sweeteners You Can Use To Make Your Next Tea That Much MoreDelicious

June 27, 2022

Every cup of tea is unique — just like the person enjoying it. We all have specific ways to enjoy our favorite brew, but sometimes it’s good to mix it up a little. The next time you reach for your favorite leaves, consider trying a new type of sweetener than your favorite go-to. After all, no two sweeteners are alike, with different additions often offering a rich and delicious, more nuanced taste to your favorite tea blends. Below, we’re discussing five of the most popular ways to sweeten tea below and covering the health benefits and taste profiles of each.

What is the healthiest way to use tea sweeteners?

This question is entirely subjective and depends on the user’s health goals. The best way to sweeten your tea is to consider if you’re looking for a sugar substitute. Those who have diabetes may be interested in such an option or those trying to lose weight. If so, you may consider safe plant-based alternatives that aren’t as glycemic all demanding.

If not, you might consider a more organic or whole food alternative to traditionally bleached table sugar. You also may benefit from reviewing the six main types of teas and flavor profiles that you’re looking for and experimenting with different sweeteners across your favorite blends. Dietary goal setting is your first step to help you determine what the healthiest way to sweeten tea is for your unique physical needs.

Below, we’ve outlined some of the top tea sweeteners that you can enjoy for your next cup of tea:

1. Raw sugar

What is the difference between raw sugar and table sugar? Fundamentally, they come from the same source. The only difference between raw and regular sugar is the refinement process. There is no proven health benefit to either one besides acting as an additional form of energy. Raw sugar is slightly less refined and maintains certain levels of molasses in its final form. With traditional table sugar, you will not see any of the molasses content, and it will often go through an additional bleaching or refinement process. Raw and traditional sugar make delicious additions to your favorite teas, often pairing well with high-quality loose leaf green tea with it’s lighter, grassier flavors.

2. Agave

Agave does not come from sugarcane, instead sourced from the agave plant. It is as refined as sugar but is made of fructose instead of sucrose. This allows it to have a lower glycemic index while still offering double or triple the sweetness of traditional table sugar. This powerful sweetness also means that you can use less over time, which is a cost-effective benefit that you can enjoy. You can also use your agave outside of tea time as a naturally-sourced sweetener for your next amazing tea infused brownie recipe (or dessert of choice!)

3. Honey

Honey has long been associated with tea time, with its rich, golden stream and botanical flavors to enjoy. Honey is unique because it will take on different flavors based on whatever plants the bees have recently pollinated. This is why regional honey often has different tastes depending on where you travel. Honey is a fantastic inclusion to any tea blend of choice, tasting particularly delicious against the bold palettes of black caffeinated blends. However, while honey offers a deliciously scented, warm addition to your favorite cup of tea, it is incredibly high in glucose and is not considered vegan. These are essential considerations to take for more conscientious tea drinkers.

4. Stevia

Stevia has risen in popularity over the years, becoming a popular “sugar-free” option to enjoy in your favorite teas, drinks, and desserts. Stevia is harvested from plants in the chrysanthemum family, giving it a more deep, floral taste than traditional sugars. Before its rise in popularity in America, it was a favorite in South America and the Asian islands. While it comes in many forms, the FDA currently has only approved the crystallized form available at grocery stores for safe ingestion. Additional studies will continue to be done on the effect of pure leaves used for edible purposes. Stevia is safe for diabetic patients as it promotes lower blood sugar levels than traditional sugar.

5. Maple Syrup

While this is untraditional, maple syrup can give any of your favorite fall teas a delicious, earthy flavor. Depending on how you source your maple syrup, you may enjoy additional health benefits along with its unique and deep flavor profile. This sweetener can be used seamlessly in virtually any tea blend of choice and adds an infusion of “fall” into every cup. You can also use it interchangeably with sugar in your favorite tea time recipe or dessert.

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Tea Health Benefits

Can Tea Help You Lose Weight?

August 30, 2021

According to an online survey, over 50% of Americans list weight loss as one of their top New Year’s Resolutions. It is no secret that obesity is a prevalent issue in America with over 40% of our population fitting into that description. But when it comes to losing weight, there are thousands of unsustainable “fad diets” out there that people subscribe to. People all over the world are always looking for the next best “quick fix” to reach their goal weight or shed a couple pounds. But the truth is, there is no quick fix. Everyone’s body reacts different to different things, which makes it impossible to have a single solution to help you lose weight. One thing people have looked at to aid in their weight loss journey is tea, but does it really help you lose weight? Let’s break it down.

While one cup of tea is not going to instantly make you lose weight, researchers have suggested that pairing tea with a sustainable diet and exercise can help you to shed a couple pounds. Although tea will not directly lead you to weight loss, there are weight loss properties that can assist. Tea contains specific compounds that can aid in weight loss, but it is not the end-all be-all answer to losing weight. It is important to remember that losing weight is an independent journey that requires individuals to find what works best for your body, so don’t be discouraged if something that works for a friend does not work for you.

According to WebMD, the caffeine and flavonoids found in tea have been proven to boost your metabolism, improve insulin activity, and increase fat oxidation. This means your body can break down fat at a faster pace. There are also polyphenols found in tea that are plant compounds that can help block fat absorption, which can prevent you from gaining weight.

Appetite Suppression

Tea is a natural appetite suppressant that can help you lose weight. Herbal teas have been proven effective in suppressing one’s appetite because of the plant compounds and antioxidants found in tea. The hormones found in tea can also activate the sympathetic nervous system which results in a decreased desire to consume food. Caffeine is also an active ingredient in tea that is a known stimulant and appetite suppressant.

Metabolism Booster

Although it is at a much lesser scale than other stimulants or supplements, tea can serve as a metabolism booster. It contains specific flavonoids called catechins that when paired with the caffeine compounds found in tea, can speed up one’s metabolism. (via Medical News Today)

Improves Insulin Activity

According to a study found in the National Library of Medicine performed by Richard A. Anderson and Marilyn M. Polansky, black, green, and oolong teas were all shown to increase insulin activity, but not herbal teas. Insulin activity matters in association with weight loss because it plays a key role in your metabolic health. When someone loses weight, it can improve insulin sensitivity which is an added benefit to someone who might be at risk for developing diabetes. Balanced insulin levels are also something that can stem from a balanced diet and routine exercise/activity.

Increases Fat Burning

With the help of caffeine and a fast metabolism, tea can help your body to break down fat at a quicker pace. According to Healthline.com, one study showed that “men who took green tea extract before exercise burned 17% more fat than men who didn’t take the supplement. The study suggests that green tea can boost the fat-burning effects of exercise…. Several other studies confirm these findings, indicating that EGCG boosts the burning of fat — which may lead to reduced body fat in the long term.”

Different types of tea contain different amounts of compounds and properties that may be associated with weight loss. Some examples of how to include tea to potentially supplement weight loss include drinking a cup before working out to increase fat burning and drinking a cup of tea at the beginning of the day or before a meal to avoid overeating. However, it should be noted that a healthy diet and moderate exercise are recommended to experience weight loss. There are weight loss properties associated with tea-drinking, but it is not a simple solution.

The moral of the story is that drinking tea while maintain a healthy diet and exercise can lead to weight loss, but it is a time-consuming process that requires you to figure out what works best for your body. Whether you decide to opt for a green tea that contains high caffeine amounts to see the above results or a different type of tea for a different reason, we recommend conducting your own research to figure out which tea will benefit you the most in regard to weight loss and check out our online collection to start your journey today. Consult a doctor before making any extreme lifestyle changes.

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Tea Health Benefits

Why You Should Start Drinking Tea Now

May 22, 2017

The ceremony of tea evokes a grey-haired British grandmother with Victorian fine silver teapots; porcelain cups hand-painted with violets; Emily Post place settings on rustic William and Mary style antique chestnut dining tables; doilies on every available surface; dusty heirlooms and curio cabinets – you get the picture. And, certainly, the British have owned the domain of tea—originally discovered by China—since the 1600s and the advent of the East India Company.

And yet tea is not just for elderly grandmothers or the British. The beverage appeals to all generations and cultures. What’s more, the beverage provides certain health benefits as we age. These can only be fully taken advantage of by creating your tea drinking habit sooner rather than later. Here’s our guide to getting the most from your tea. The fountain of youth may very well be flowing with tea.

Detoxification

In the article, “Anti-Aging Research Brief” published by the Academy of Anti-Aging, tea is brimming with antioxidant polyphenols called catechins, flavonols, theaflavins and thearubigins. Antioxidants ultimately help prevent cancerous cells from forming, repair damage to cells and to protect blood vessel walls from free radicals. The article cites a study from King’s College in London that compared a group of black tea drinkers with a group of coffee drinkers. Scientists studied the health of both groups after one year, and found “that the tea drinkers’ risk of a heart attack approached half of the non-tea drinkers.” The scientists speculated “that tea’s beneficial cardio effects are due to the beverage’s large amounts of flavonoids.”

So what teas contain the highest levels of antioxidants? Many brands you can purchase at large chain grocery stores contain high levels of antioxidants, including Celestial Seasonings Green Tea, with 217 milligrams (mg) of antioxidants, Lipton Green Tea (201 mg), Bigelow Darjeeling Blend (164 mg). Surprisingly, a few brands of popular teas have absolutely no antioxidant content, including Lipton Lemon Iced Tea and Snapple Peach Iced Tea.

Prevent Cancer

Studies have shown that caffeine and consuming two cups of coffee can “harden a person’s arteries for several hours afterwards. This puts extra pressure on the heart, thus increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.” Further, “it is evident today that many of our cancers are related to a dominance of estrogen. In a world flooded with estrogen and estrogen-like compounds, it is important for our bodies to have as low of an estrogen load as possible.” So drinking more than two cups of coffee can increase estrogen and lead to breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Reducing caffeine is integral to cancer prevention, and replacing coffee with tea can easily half caffeine consumption and decrease the risk of cancer.

Blood Sugar Regulation

Teas, especially the variety of green tea known as matcha, can help regulate blood sugar. Matcha is actually powdered green tea leaves prepared with boiled water and a bamboo whisk, and is known to stabilize metabolism for those with hypo- or hyperglycemic maladies. Taking an active role in regulating blood sugar at a younger age can help prevent complications down the road.

Weight Loss

An ingredient in matcha tea, EGCG, boosts metabolism. While matcha has a high level of caffeine and may contribute to higher estrogen levels, which will help you burn fat and lose weight.

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Tea History & Culture

How Tea Will Fulfill Your New Year’s Resolutions

December 27, 2016

As the New Year approaches, it’s time to set goals for 2017. There are a number of prevalent resolutions made by people from coast to coast and farm to city, like “lose weight” and “save money.” Who doesn’t want to get healthier and pad her wallet? We’re here to let you in on a secret weapon to meet your resolutions: tea. That’s right, our favorite beverage is often a gateway to fulfilling your deepest desires. Here’s how choosing tea will help you achieve five resolutions you’ve probably made:

1) Lose Weight

Whether you want to shed those pesky last few pounds or half your body weight, tea is a smart beverage choice. Calorie-free and tasty, it’s a great alternative to soda and juice that doesn’t sacrifice flavor. Plus, there are certain tees that promote weight loss. Kelly Choi explores how certain teas can help you slim down in her book The 7-Day Flat-Belly Tea Cleanse, co-authored by the editors of Eat This, Not That. The book explains that green tea burns off fat cells, oolong tea boosts your metabolism, white tea prevents fat calls from forming in the first place, rooibos tea reduces stress hormones that cause hunger and fat storage, and mint tea can suppress your appetite. After a healthy dinner, try ending your day with a cup of mint tea. It tastes great and may ward off your desire for the midnight snack you really don’t need. The verdict is in: if the pounds need to go, tea should be coming right up.

2) Be Healthy

Beyond its ability to support weight loss, tea delivers a host of exciting health benefits, some of which we wrote about already. But here’s a few more per Today: Drinking tea may promote strong bones and reduce your risk for heart attack or stroke, it doesn’t erode your tooth enamel like other beverages do, and it can nix those annoying IBS symptoms. The New York Times also linked drinking tea with lower rates of depression, reporting that a 2015 study found that “for every three cups of tea consumed per day, the relative risk of depression decreased 37 percent.” The National Cancer Institute also reports that green tea may fight cancer, as its properties have been shown to “inhibit tumor cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in laboratory and animal studies.”

3) Spend more time with friends and family

Looking to nurture your relationships this year? There’s no simpler way to do so than by sharing a cup of tea. Invite a friend over for a one-on-one tea party, check out a cool tea parlor with your mom, surprise your bestie with a tea-infused baked good, or throw a party and serve a signature tea-based cocktail or mocktail. No matter who you want to get closer to, tea is a great way to start.

4) Save Money

Small, everyday purchases can really add up. That 4-dollar cappuccino you order every morning? By the end of the year, you’ve spent almost $1500 to start your day. If you like getting your morning beverage on the go but you’re trying to save dough, opt for a simple tea bag in hot water. Your bank account will thank you!

5) Try New Things

It’s an exciting time in the culinary world. Never have we seen more global mashups and ethnic flavors available everywhere from fast food restaurants to upscale eateries. And tea is a great place to try something new. Not sure if you’ll like a new flavor? Don’t gamble an entire entre seasoned with it; order a cup of tea infused with the new taste instead and go from there. From teas that taste like dessert to teas that will introduce you to new parts of the world, the flavors abound. Say yes to adventure in 2017, and start by brewing something new.

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