Green Tea Vs. Black Tea

According to a new analysis published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, green tea is much more likely to help with reducing the risk of heart disease. The risk of heart disease drops by 10% for each cup of green tea that a person drinks every day.

Catechins in green tea and to a lesser extent in black tea are capable of keeping blood vessels healthy, reducing cell damage and inflammation. Green tea and black tea vary widely in the amount of catechins they contain. Black tea that is less fermented can have significant amounts of catechins, and some green teas may contain less catechins than others. Loose leaf tea contains more catechins than tea bags and bottled types of tea are devoid of catechins.

Green tea can also protect the brain from developing Alzheimer’s disease and plays a vital role in protecting the body against cancer. Compounds in the post digestive tea extract can bind selectively with toxic chemicals in the brain and protect the neurons and synapses that are essential in learning and forming new memories.

The main benefit of green tea is that is loaded with EGCG or epigallocateching gallate, but in black tea this compound is converted into other compounds. The theaflavins and thearubigens compounds in black tea are also beneficial for our health but the caffeine content in black tea is higher. Over doses of caffeine can lead to side effects such as restlessness, insomnia, headache or nausea.

Green tea and black tea are processed differently, while green tea is dried over gentle heat, black tea is allowed to oxidize. During the oxidation, the phytochemicals in the tea change form. Catechins are replaced by theaflavins and thearubigins. Theaflavins present in black tea possess a similar antioxidant potency to catechins present in green tea.

The taste of green tea may be a major turn off for some people, the grassy aftertaste is considered unpleasant by many. Black tea tests sweeter and is more commonly accepted especially in Western culture, while in China and other Eastern countries, the taste of green tea is preferred to black tea.