Delicious & Nutritious: The Health Benefits of Fruit-Infused Tea
There is nothing like a fresh fruit-infused glass of iced tea to keep you cool during hot summer days. Or, you can create a warm and inviting version of fruit tea for the cooler months. Whether you like a cold brew or a hot cup, delicious and satisfying fruit teas have health benefits. They taste great and are excellent for the overall well-being of body and mind.
This article will examine how fruit teas help the body heal, rejuvenate and regenerate - and relax the mind. If you find yourself selecting strawberry, reaching for raspberry, or feeling you must-have mango, skip the fruit juices! Fruit teas offer a ton of nutrients and flavor with every sip and can satisfy even the most discerning tea lovers.
The Difference Between Fruit, Black And Green Tea
Fruit tea is a term used to describe a beverage that brings together dried fruit or fruit leaves, herbs and spices, and dried tea leaves that can be brewed in hot water and served as a tasty beverage. However, many fruit teas don't have the same level of quality. Some varieties of fruit tea, especially those in tea bag form, use over-pulverized tea leaves and artificial flavoring to achieve a fruity flavor. Most of these teas have no or very little nutritional value.
The fruit part of fruit teas
To get the most out of your fruit tea and its potential health benefits, choose fruit teas that use pure dried fruits and whole tea leaves. Perhaps you like pineapple or mango pieces to give your fruit tea an exotic blend of flavors? Or maybe you prefer a warming cup with dried fruits like apples or pears with a hint of cinnamon or a simple cup of lemon tea to help soothe a sore throat on a cold day? The best fruit teas offer a pure base tea like organic green or black tea with a healthy blend of delicious fruits. Some of the more popular fruit used to make fruit teas are:
Mango
Apple
Lemon
Pineapple
Berries like strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries.
These teas contain the highest levels of essential vitamins and minerals and provide the most potential health benefits - not to mention the purest fruit and tea flavors! When you combine fruit teas with a balanced diet and a daily exercise regime, the tea's natural compounds and nutrients contribute to a sense of well-being and can help you to achieve optimal health.
The tea part of fruit teas
Most fruit-infused teas use black or green as the tea base. Both black and green teas come from the same tea plant (Camellia sinensis). The difference between black and green teas comes from the drying and oxidization the leaves undergo.
Black tea is dried longer green tea and has a darker color, and when brewed in hot water, it lets off a dark brown color and a more robust and smokey flavor. In comparison, green tea leaves are a brighter green, brew with a lighter yellow-green color, and have a more grassy flavor. Steeping times may vary between the different teas, but a general rule of thumb is that black teas are typically brewed for around three to five minutes. In contrast, green teas are brewed for up to three minutes.
Black and green teas are not caffeine-free, with a caffeine content of about 45 mg in one cup for black teas and about 40 mg for green teas. If you are caffeine sensitive, consider a caffeine-free tea option.
Let's not forget herbal teas! Herbal teas are naturally caffeine free because they are not considered a "true tea" since they are not made from the tea plant. Instead, herbal teas are made from other plants' seeds, leaves, flowers, and spices. These teas include chamomile tea and ginger tea and can also be combined to create a fruit tea blend.
Combing the dried fruit and fruit leaves with tea leaves can give your cup of tea a unique flavor and color. The best part about fruit-infused tea is that it is so versatile! Adding a few pieces of fresh fruit and mint sprigs can create a cold refreshing glass of iced tea for a hot day. Or toss in a cinnamon stick and some allspice with a few apple pieces to warm yourself when the temperature drops. Whatever way you like it, you'll get all the health benefits of fruit and tea with each sip.
What Are The Health Benefits of Fruit Teas?
From antioxidants to amino acids and vitamins and minerals, tea offers many health benefits - and we all know fruit is good for a healthy body! Packed with vitamins and minerals, fruit is one of the best foods to consume, and these nutrients are just as potent when used in a cup of fruit tea.
Tea infused with fruit offers more than a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals; it can also assist body systems to function better and even heal. Whether you want to soothe an upset stomach or give your immune system a much-needed boost, fruit tea can help.
#1. Immune-boosting properties
Most fruit teas are high in vitamin C. This potent vitamin is known worldwide as a cure for the common cold. It helps strengthen your immune system and fight off infections and viruses. Fruit teas containing fruit like strawberries, mango, pineapple, and raspberries are rich in vitamin C, and the level of antioxidants from the black or green tea gives the immune system what it needs to work more effectively in keeping the body in a state of overall well being.
Drinking tea will introduce antioxidants into the system that help fight harmful free radicals. They can cause several problems as they attack and damage cells creating an environment for health conditions like cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, and even cancer. Black tea, green tea, and many berries and other fruits have an abundance of antioxidants that help protect and repair cells preventing these diseases.
#2. Weight loss and gut health
Fruit teas naturally have caffeine and a certain flavanoid called catechins, which can help boost metabolism, burn fat, and break down fat cells in the body quickly. And fruit gives you just the right amount of sweetness without a ton of calories. Combining tea's fat-burning properties with low-calorie fruit is a great way to burn fat, lose weight, and help keep those pounds off.
Many fruit teas have been used in traditional medicine as a way to help heal ailments of the digestive system. For example, a fruit tea blend of strawberry leaf, ginger, and lemon can help soothe a sore stomach and support better gut health. Blackberry can also aid digestion and heal an upset stomach.
#3. Healthier skin
Fruit tea is known to promote better-looking skin. The anti-inflammatory properties in tea help reduce inflammation, improve circulation and fight against free radicals, which are known to cause premature aging. The abundance of minerals and vitamins in fruit tea is essential to a person's overall health, including keeping your skin smooth and glowing. Antioxidants are great at healing skin and reducing and preventing the onset of skin-related problems such as acne and psoriasis.
#4. Better heart health
Tea, especially green tea, contains the polyphenol component EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate), which offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show that consuming tea rich in EGCG may help prevent atherosclerosis by reducing the build-up of fatty material in the artery walls.
The overall result is reduced inflammation, prevention of cell damage, and better heart health. Many fruits like lemon, strawberry, and apple also contain high levels of polyphenols, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, vitamins, and fiber that benefit your heart and may help prevent heart disease.
#5. Stronger bones and teeth
Green tea is one of the best sources of bone-building polyphenols. These powerful polyphenols can help increase the process of mineral deposits on the bone matrix to develop the skeletal system.
These polyphenols also help delay the reduction of bone mineral density and increase the amount of vitamin D in the body. And fruits like strawberries and blackberries are high in vitamins, which help build and strengthen bones.
Fruit tea may help prevent cavities in your teeth by reducing the bacterial and tooth-decaying acids produced in your mouth. Green and black tea naturally contain fluoride, which can help stop the onset and spread of tooth decay. Tea and certain fruits that are high in antioxidants can help reduce gum inflammation and prevent gum disease.
#6. Hydration
It is essential always to keep yourself hydrated. Fruit teas are an easy way to get a refreshing and hydrating drink as an alternative to plain water or sugary canned drinks. You not only get the benefits of thirst-quenching water, but you'll get a ton of flavor from the tea and fruit. And the best part is that you can enjoy your fruit tea hot or cold. Add extra pieces of your favorite fruits, or drink the fruit tea blend as is. It is a hydrating versatile beverage you can have all year round.
Get The Most Out of Your Fruit Teas
Selecting fruit teas comes down to two critical factors - your favorite flavors and the quality of the tea. Choosing high-quality fruit teas like these ensures you'll get the most flavor and nutrients from your tea-drinking experience. Some tea brands use artificial flavors and colors or tea bags that contain overprocessed tea that is low in flavor and nutrition.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for high-quality fruit teas:
Organic and natural ingredients - Organic fruit tea tastes better and isn't exposed to pesticides or chemical additives.
No added sugars or flavorings - Stick to a fruit tea blend that doesn't add sugar, flavor, or color. Fruit and even tea are naturally sweet all on their own and provide a delicious taste with equally pleasing color and aroma.
Possible Side Effects and Precautions
Drinking fruit tea is considered generally safe, and the benefits of fruit teas are numerous. However, it is essential to note that there may be rare cases where fruit teas can cause minor side effects. Talk to your doctor before introducing any new food or beverage, like fruit tea, into your daily routine.
Caffeine sensitivity - Fruit teas may contain black or green tea, which are generally not caffeine-free.
Allergic reactions - Some people are allergic to certain herbs, fruits, flowers, or spices used in fruit teas.
Interactions with medications - Certain ingredients in fruit teas, like fruits, herbs, and flowers, may interact with prescribed medicines such as blood pressure or blood sugar medications.
Enjoy Your Favorite Fruit Tea Flavor Today
It's incredible to think that boiling some plain water with tea and fruits can create such a delicious and nutritious beverage that is both naturally healthy and loaded with flavor! Whether your fruit tea blend contains apple or strawberry, mango or blackberry, we're sure you'll enjoy all the wholesome goodness fruit teas can provide. For a fantastic selection of fruit teas, visit our site today!