24 Mar Purple Tea: The New Green Tea?
Tea is widely known to be a healthy beverage, with different varieties of tea having specific benefits on our body. In eastern part of the world, traditional Chinese tea such as Pu’er and Tie Guan Yin are an integral part of daily meals. Sipping a cup of hot brewed tea is believed to aid food digestion by helping the body to break down greasy food[1].
Similarly in the west, enjoying a cup of English tea such as Earl Grey and Chamomile during breakfast is a common way of kick starting the day[2]. Not only does it rejuvenate our senses, it has been scientifically proven that tea contains polyphenols, which are micronutrients with antioxidant properties that help to reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.[3]
Among different types of tea in the world, green tea tops the list when it comes to health benefits. Regular consumption of green tea helps to slow down aging due to its high-antioxidant content, lowers bad cholesterol and blood pressure alongside other benefits[4]. Interestingly, some experts recognise drinking green tea as one of the key reasons for the Japanese’s longevity and younger-than-age appearance. Today, green tea has become a global health trend and food craze with many cuisines infusing green tea into their food preparation.
A Cup of Hidden Goodness
Compared to these common tea types, purple tea is relatively less known in many parts of the world. Unlike green tea with thousand over years of history, purple tea had only been developed by Kenya tea researchers in the last 25 years and commercialised for less than a decade. Purple tea was first observed in the Assam tea gardens of India and later cultivated on and around Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa. With tea export taking up one-tenth of Kenya’s economy, the discovery and commercialisation of purple tea helps to sustain the livelihood of small tea farmers.
The purple appearance of the tea is caused by anthocyanin, a type of antioxidant that is found in blueberries. If you have read our previous article on blueberries, you will understand that anthocyanins are coloured pigments found in plants that exhibit antioxidant properties. It is not surprising to infer that purple tea contains many powerful health benefits including aiding weight loss, reducing cholesterol and lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer[5].
In fact, the polyphenol content in purple tea is almost double of that in green tea!
While the benefits of purple tea are increasingly gaining attention, it has yet to emerge as a “mainstream” tea flavour. There are not many brands with purple tea or purple tea-infused products in Singapore. Unique Time Rejuvenate, a healthy beverage made up of purple tea and seven kinds of berries is one of the few options available in the market. Packed in 35ml ready-to-drink sachet, Rejuvenate is a delightful thirst quencher for anyone who enjoys a natural fruity taste throughout the day.
If you are curious about a purple tea-infused healthy drink or simply love anything with berries, give Rejuvenate a try and boost your energy.
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