Blog - All About Teas
Green Tea vs. White Tea Which Is Better?
Tea is arguably the best beverage you can have, but with so many options, it can quickly become confusing. Of course, you should try all sorts of teas and research their benefits, but as you drink more teas, you'll develop preferences for taste and properties.
PROCURED TOP 5 TEAS FETCHING THE HIGHEST PRICES IN THE PAN-INDIA AUCTION BY TEA BOARD OF INDIA
PROCURED TOP 5 TEAS FETCHING THE HIGHEST PRICES IN THE PAN-INDIA AUCTION BY TEA BOARD OF INDIA
Herbal Teas Boost Immunity During Monsoons
That’s right! Herbal tea is a boon during the monsoon season. You can opt for various herb blends to calm your senses, stabilize your body temperature, and prevent the onset of wet weather-related illnesses, especially cold and allergies.
The Best Teas for Digestion
Tea has traditionally been a medicinal drink for thousands of years, treating digestive problems, illnesses, and ailments for generations. Modern science has also proved and linked the health benefits of various teas with digestive problems and other issues.
The best part is that most of these digestive teas are widely accessible and very easy to make, making them the perfect beverage when you have stomach issues.
The Best Teas for Digestion
Here are some of the best teas for digestion that can help you improve digestion and treat symptoms of digestive problems.
Black Tea
Black tea is perhaps the most common tea globally, black tea is a great digestive tea with many health benefits. It is packed with healthy compounds and antioxidants that suppress inflammations to protect from stomach ulcers and relieve indigestion. It may also help with other digestive issues like constipation.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint oil is known and often used to reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), such as gas, bloating stomach aches, and intestinal inflammations. Peppermint tea may have the same effect, mostly due to the menthol in the peppermint leaves, which helps improve such digestive problems.
However, further studies on peppermint tea are needed to prove these benefits conclusively. Still, anecdotal evidence has repeatedly shown that the effects of peppermint tea are consistent with those of peppermint oil.
Divine Potpourri - Licorice, Peppermint, Rose, Fennel, Hibiscus & Green Tea
An energizing blend of fine green tea with Licorice, Peppermint, Rose, Fennel and Hibiscus is perfect for the health-conscious. This specially crafted blend makes for an extremely aromatic and flavourful cuppa.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is a great digestive tea if you are not sensitive to caffeine. It helps your digestive system by alkalizing the tract, and it can also help people with stomach ulcers and acid reflux by reducing inflammation.
Moreover, oolong tea can help clear up the bad bacteria in your stomach because of its slightly antiseptic nature.
Sparkling Oolong Tea - Tin Can
Extraordinary oolong tea from Darjeeling, a go-between black and green tea having properties of both. Tenderly Grown and expertly processed in select estates, Darjeeling Oolong Teas are made from finely plucked leaves, usually two leaves and a bud. This beautiful leaf tea-type is semi-oxidized and abundant in anti-oxidants with several health benefits.
Masala Chai Tea
Masala chai has plenty of anti-inflammatory properties, and ingredients like clove, cardamom, and tulsi are incredible digestive aids. In specific, masala chai tea with cardamom can help increase saliva production, which is great for oral and digestive health. If you add ginger to your masala chai tea, the benefits for digestion increase exponentially. (more on ginger ahead)
Green Tea
There are countless known and proven benefits of green tea, and some of them are great for digestion. The polyphenols and catechins found in green tea are highly effective for digestive issues. They can reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, and ulcers in the stomach, and soothe the system for an overall healthy digestive system.
It also helps that green tea is one of the least processed loose leaf teas you can find, making it a highly organic, natural, and healthy option for digestive aid.
Ginger Tea
Ginger is a spice packed with shogaol and gingerol compounds. This spice is great for promoting stomach contractions, soothing the stomach, and helping you empty your stomach. Hence, ginger tea is ideal for indigestion, gas, bloating, and stomach cramps.
It is also incredible at reducing nausea from motion sickness, pregnancy, or chemotherapy. While sliced fresh ginger roots are your best option for making ginger teas, ginger tea bags are also highly effective and soothing.
Conclusion
The digestive teas we have included in this post are great for digestion and preventing stomach issues. Regular drinking may also help protect your stomach from health issues like stomach ulcers, inflammations, and cramps.
Of course, all loose leaf teas are extremely healthy and great for many other things apart from improving digestive issues and symptoms.
To learn more about the best teas for digestion or the best loose leaf teas for other health benefits, visit our website.
Green Tea or Black Tea - Which Tea Is Better in Summer?
Many tea drinkers ask about green tea vs. black tea for summer. Let's discuss this in some detail to understand each tea, its benefits, and which tea you should have in the summers.
Bedtime Teas for Better Sleep
You may not know this, but there are several types of teas that can help you sleep better at night. It may sound odd, considering that tea contains caffeine, but there are teas with low caffeine that can often help with sleep.
Future of yoga and corporate wellness is inextricably linked together
First published on The Telegraph India ; contributed by Madhav Sarda, Managing Director, Golden Tips Tea
Against the backdrop of the pandemic, the ancient practice is thought to be even more significant in terms of building immunity and addressing mental health concerns
Covid-19 has been an unprecedented human tragedy which has thrown almost every sphere of life completely out of gear. This once-in-a-century pandemic, beyond its impact on physical health, has also given rise to mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, as Covid-related restrictions were introduced all over the world in various forms. There is an urgent need to address the mental health aspects of the pandemic in addition to the physical ones. In the search for a holistic solution, many people globally have embraced yoga to stay healthy and rejuvenated.
Now, against the backdrop of the pandemic, yoga is thought to be even more significant in terms of building immunity and addressing mental health concerns. The fatalities caused by Covid were maximum in individuals with co-morbidities and reduced immunity levels. A weak immune system leaves us vulnerable to diseases and also undermines the body’s ability to fight various ailments. Yoga can build up immunity and preserve good health of the body and mind. Today, the ancient Indian philosophy of yoga has attained world-wide approval.
Recognising its universal appeal, on December 11, 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by a resolution. The day aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga. In fact, yoga is very relevant in our modern lifestyle too.
Importance of yoga in promoting corporate wellness
From an outsider’s perspective, yoga on the one hand and business organisations on the other seem to be worlds apart. But are they really? Practising yoga can have a lot of benefits for those who work in the corporate world and can go a long way in helping employees to give their best to their respective organisations. That is the precise reason why many brands have included yoga in their corporate wellness programmes.
The biggest issues employees face today are stress and ailments relating to bad posture and job pressure. Yoga, through its many asanas and breathing techniques, teaches us to move in ways that realign posture, help release tension, and promote more functional movement patterns.
In today’s modern corporate world, where digitisation has engulfed almost all business verticals, employees spend 12-13 hours a day sitting in front of their laptops and other electronic devices. The repetitive movement that these devices demand can cause neck and shoulder strain and back problems apart from mental stress.
Coupled with these reasons, a fast-paced life, pressure to perform and shallow breathing patterns drain employees’ energy levels and increase vulnerability to various ailments. As a result, yoga sessions at workplaces are becoming increasingly common because they are a relatively low-cost and a preventive healthcare measure.
Given the severity of stress levels in the corporate world, especially in the senior management, yoga could turn out to be a lifeline for holistic well-being and a means of steering the radar of sustainable growth and development of an organisation.
It will serve corporate houses well if they could organise yoga sessions in the office premises regularly. Yoga could enhance productivity indirectly too. As the employees enjoy good health, the number of sick leaves taken due to health and stress-related complexities could reduce, which could give a fillip to the productivity per employee.
Some user-friendly asanas to relax the body and mind
Not all yoga asanas are complex and cumbersome. Some easy asanas which help us deal with stress and keep us young and energetic are described below.
Pranayama
Pranayama is one of the most popular yoga asanas as it helps to reduce stress, increase oxygenation and improve blood circulation to the face and other parts of the body. Devoting a few minutes to practise Pranayama daily allows a natural cleansing of the system. Close one nostril with the fingers followed by breathing in through the other nostril. The air should be inhaled in short sniffs. Then close the second nostril and breathe out. Breathe in again through the other nostril and breathe out the same way. Do this eight-10 times at a stretch. This purifies the bloodstream and reduces stress.
Shavasana or the corpse pose makes you mindful of your breathing, lowering hypertension, ensuring enhanced focus and mental well-being. Lie down on your back, arms around six inches away from the body and legs slightly apart with palms facing upwards. Take deep breaths, relax your mind and body. But be mindful that you do not fall asleep.
Shavasana
Dhanurasana
Dhanurasana is known as the ‘bow pose’ and is one of the easiest yogasana that strengthens the digestive system as well as the back and abdominal muscles. It also increases the flexibility of the spine. It helps prevent diabetes, relieves back pain, and strengthens the thigh muscles. Dhanurasana is also excellent for removing toxins and flushing the system. It promotes blood circulation and reduces stress too. It benefits the skin, making it clear and adds a glow.
Paschimottanasana pose is a simple and traditional hatha yoga asana in which the back of the body is stretched out. It is one of the best yoga asanas for the healing of the entire body. In Paschimottanasana, your body is folded inwards, stretching the areas from your calves to your hamstrings to your spine.
Paschimottamasana has tremendous health benefits and covers up the entire body system. Its primary focus is on the spine, but it is also responsible for boosting energy levels of the body.
Paschimottanasana
Trend of Mushrooming Cafes and Bakeries alongside Tea Boutiques
First published on Hospitality World ; contributed by Madhav Sarda, Managing Director, Golden Tips Tea
Tea is one of the most loved beverages in India and across the world. PM Modi’s “tea connection” has caught the imagination of an entire generation. People have enjoyed tea since time immemorial and consider it to be one of the most cherished parts of their native culture. The love of Indian audiences for this super beverage has given the tea industry a loyal customer base in the country.
According to expertmarketresearch.com, the Indian tea industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 4.2% in the 2021-26 period and reach an approximate valuation of 1.40 million tonnes by the end of this period.
Like a bolt from the blue, the Covid pandemic has changed the world forever. A new normal has emerged in almost every aspect of life. This has resulted in tea retail brands to tweak their business strategy and start opening bakeries and cafes alongside their boutiques to cater to popular demand. Not surprisingly, branded tea cafes are frothing up across India’s cities, as an upgrade to the ubiquitous CHAI stalls.
These cafes are located either adjacent to, or within the tea boutiques themselves. They are offering specialized tea mocktails and snacks like cookies, macarons and sandwiches to guests along with premium teas. This combination is a hugely popular concept brewing all over India.
As per a study by Numr Research, about 443 million Indian millennials spend more than Rs 4,000 on their wellness and experiential activities every month. They form the largest group of consumers who will drive consumer demand and result in economic growth in the next decade. They are in fact, accentuating this trend of opening tea bars alongside tea boutiques.
Earlier, tea stalls were a common sight across India, but they were fragmented and unorganised. Tea café chains like the one started by Golden Tips are emerging across India and giving consumers a midway option between at-home consumption and the humble roadside stall. These tea cafes offer a comfortable alternative as against roadside tea vendors and which provide people a more relaxed setting, with proper seating and snacks.
Another narrative worth a thought is that coffee is not a common man’s beverage in India and which allowed cafés to position coffee as trendy and as a consequence of which, coffee outlets became aspirational places. They offered a chic ambience, with an assortment of beverages, snacks along with free wi-fi, and thus became hangout areas for college going crowds and young professionals. Tea companies tried to copy this model, but initially it did not take off since tea is a common man’s drink in India. As a result, tea brands quickly moved towards enhancing the overall tea-drinking experience for the customer by opening plush tea bars.
More importantly, they have positioned themselves as casual Vis-à-vis coffee shops’ sophistication, encouraging customers to make multiple visits a day in contrast to coffee chains. This is in line with how tea is seen in India – as a people’s drink consumed - sweet, milky or even without milk - several times a day.
Post Covid, this homage to Indian roots is mainly what tea companies are bringing to the table in a contemporary setting. This shift in strategy appears to be paying off for the tea brands. Providing more varied options than coffee chains at lower price, goes a long way in appealing to consumers, especially experience-hungry millennials.
For example, a cup of MASALA CHAI at Golden Tips tea bar is priced at INR 80 with complimentary cookies as well, whilst the cheapest coffee at Starbucks could set you off by INR 200 or more. Targeting Millennials is not surprising, since almost a third of the country’s population is in the 15- 35 age group, who are also likely to share their experiences on social media and other platforms.
Meanwhile, personalisation is a major selling point for Golden Tips tea bars. Customers can choose from our eclectic variety of teas and a range of herbs and spices at reasonable rates. With these options of customising their tea, patrons can conjure up a cuppa that appeals to their palate and preference.
This highlights the need for brands to constantly reinvent themselves to reach out to newer customers, not only with product innovations but also with formats that cater to changing times and needs. This can go a long way in acquiring new audiences without alienating traditional brand loyalists.
Madhav Sarda is the expert tea taster and managing director of tea retail brand Golden Tips Tea
What Time Should You Drink Green Tea?
Green tea is universally known to have a myriad of health benefits. It can help with brain function, healthy skin, inflammations, and weight loss. Drinking green tea can even prevent a range of heart-related issues like high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.
These are just some of the benefits, and there are plenty more. But, green tea is even more effective for certain things at particular times of the day.
Let's discuss when to drink green tea to get the most health benefits.
What Time Should You Drink Green Tea?
Here are the best times to drink green tea and the benefits of drinking it at those particular times.
Mornings
Green tea is an excellent morning tea because it has enough healthy caffeine for a good energy boost in the mornings. Unlike coffee, green tea contains L-theanine to help prevent the typical caffeine rush you may get from coffee.
Instead, it offers sustained energy for hours, which is great to start a productive and healthy day.
Before, During, and After Meals
While green tea on an empty stomach may reduce hunger, boost metabolism, and increase EGCg (antioxidant) absorption, it is not recommended because it may inhibit iron absorption. It is better to have it with a meal or after it.
Light green tea is best paired with sushi and stronger green teas with sweet foods for a superior flavor experience. Having green tea 30-60 minutes after meals may help digestion and metabolism, but more research is required to prove this definitively.
Choices of Green Tea
Before and After Workouts
Drinking green tea around 90 minutes before your workout is great for weight loss so that the caffeine and EGCg in the tea can considerably increase your fat oxidation rate during exercise. This way, you can burn more fat.
It also helps increase your brain function for more focus and endurance for exercising. On the other hand, drinking it 30-60 minutes after workouts will help you hydrate, replenish your body, and make you feel refreshed.
Evenings
Evenings are a great time for green tea as they can help you reduce stress, relax, and prepare for bed. You should opt for low-caffeine green teas with herbs like lemongrass, mint, cinnamon, jasmine, rose or chamomile during the evenings as it eases the body and relieves stress faster. The aroma and taste play a significant part in destressing and energizing your evenings.
Moreover, those who develop a habit of drinking green tea in the evenings can signal their bodies and brains that it is time to unwind and relax. Being able to have this control over their mind and body helps promote deeper and healthier sleep patterns.
Anytime
Green tea is an excellent choice of drink at any time. Generally, experts and studies suggest that you should have anywhere between 2-5 cups every day. Green tea will help keep you hydrated and energized. You will also see a boost in your immunity, feel a reduction in stress, less inflammation, and better skin.
There are no hard restrictions on when to have green tea, and while it is universally known to be healthy, there are always exceptions, and it may not help you due to your health or medical conditions, which is why you should always consult your doctor first.
Conclusion
Green tea should benefit you comprehensively, regardless of when you consume it. For example, heart and skin benefits depend not on timing but on your drink quantity. For other benefits, follow the mentioned timing, and you will get improved results for the desired benefits.
If you want to learn more about what time you should drink green tea, the health benefits of green tea, or about some of the best and finest green teas, please head to buy best green teas here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much green tea is good to lose weight fast?The amount of green tea needed to lose weight fast varies from person to person. However, studies suggest that consuming 2-3 cups of green tea per day, along with a healthy diet and exercise, can aid in weight loss.
You can drink green tea at any time of the day, but it's best to avoid drinking it on an empty stomach as it can cause acidity. Some people prefer to drink green tea in the morning to boost their metabolism, while others prefer to drink it in the afternoon as a mid-day pick-me-up.
The best way to drink green tea for weight loss is to consume it without any sweeteners like sugar or honey. You can add a slice of lemon or a few mints leaves to enhance the flavor. It's also best to consume green tea before or after meals to aid in digestion.
Yes, drinking green tea every day is healthy. It's packed with antioxidants and has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases, improving brain function, and aiding in weight loss. However, excessive consumption of green tea can cause side effects, so it's best to consume it in moderation.
Yes, green tea is good for health. It's rich in antioxidants called catechins, which can reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and improve heart health. Green tea also contains caffeine, which can boost energy levels and improve mental focus. Additionally, it's been shown to have anti-cancer properties and may help prevent type 2 diabetes.
The Best Morning Teas for Breakfast
You'll love morning teas if you are an avid tea drinker or like teas in general. They are a great option for anyone and offer different benefits depending on the tea. They can give you a boost of energy and even substitute your morning coffee.
Top 5 Health Benefits of Ginger Tea
You may have heard about the countless health benefits of green tea, but have you heard about the benefits of ginger tea? Today, we will dive deeper into some spicy ginger teas and discuss the top 5 benefits of this incredible tea.
Choose the Perfect Tea for Every Mood
For over a millennium, people have been mixing and dipping leaves in their hot drinks to make a concoction known popularly as “Tea” today. It doesn’t surprise us that tea is such an integral part of our traditions and cultures. As we endure the winter season, there’s no better way to beat the cold than with a warm cup of tea.
