Tea - Healthy & Pleasurable
Long regarded in the Orient as a health beverage, tea is now medically accepted as having natural properties (polyphenols which process antioxidants) beneficial to health. A cup of tea generally has only 1/3 the caffeine content of a typical cup of coffee.

Health Benefits of Tea
The health benefits of tea, long recognized for many centuries by the ancient civilizations of the Orient will continue to be accepted in the years ahead. While the beneficial health attributes of green tea have received extensive media attention, all tea whether green, black or semi-fermented is good for your health. Recent medical evidence has shown that tea drinking can play an important role in reducing the incidence of strokes, cancer, osteoporosis and heart disease.

Polyphenols & Antioxidants in Tea
The natural chemicals in tea which produce the beneficial properties are called polyphenols which process antioxidants. The polyphenols in tea contain up to 30 times the antioxidant potency of vitamins C and E. Antioxidants reduce the adverse effects of oxygen in the body and protect the body from the damaging effects of pollution and aging.

Nutritional Content of Tea
Tea on its own has no calories. The average daily consumption of tea as measured in tea consuming countries (where tea is consumed with milk) provides very few calories and a minuscule quantity of fat. Valuable minerals and vitamins are contributed by tea drinking and the daily requirement of the following minerals and vitamins are obtained by the average consumption of tea:

Vitamin B1	9%
Vitamin B2	25%
Vitamin B6	6%
Calcium	16%
Folic Acid	10%
Tea has traces of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids.

Tea & Caffeine
A cup of tea has only between 1/3 and 1/2 the caffeine content of a cup of coffee, so if reduced caffeine intake is the aim then tea rather than coffee is a good start. The amount of caffeine in tea, although small, varies from cup to cup as it depends on a number of factors including the type of tea, where it is grown, the manufacturing process used and the method and length of brewing.

Extensive medical research on caffeine has identified a significant health hazard from normal caffeine intake as associated with average tea consumption. Decaffeinated tea is not entirely caffeine free as it generally contains a residual (about 3-10%) of the original caffeine content. The decaffeinating process is usually a chemical one and the question as to whether such a process is more harmful than a moderate amount of caffeine remains unanswered.

The longer that tea leaves are fermented the greater the caffeine content, so green tea will naturally contain less caffeine than black teas. Also the shorter the brewing time the less caffeine is extracted.

Caffeine content can also be significantly reduced by infusing the tea for one minute and pouring the first infusion away. The tea is then infused again and although the flavor and aroma is reduced so will the caffeine content.

Capital Teas has a decaffeinated black and green tea in our range. It is a quality leaf tea decaffeinated through the CO2 high pressure process. No solvent is used and the flavor is very similar to the original tea.

Organically Grown Tea
Production of organic tea is rigidly controlled and the plantation must be certified under strict rules. Production and agricultural methods are constantly monitored and natural organic matter and nutrients are exclusively used on such plantations.

Tea, Healthy & Pleasurable
Tea is one of life's great pleasures. It is low in caffeine, improves your mood, disposition and blood circulation. It is not as harsh as coffee and contains less caffeine. Above all it is a quick and relaxing escape from the hectic pace of modern life. Take your time to enjoy a cup of tea. Better still give yourself the pleasurable and healthy experience of brewing a good cup of premium quality tea.