Purple tea is from Kenya and though the tea leaves are from the same Camellia sinensis as the black or green tea, its leaves are purple.
This explains the purple color of the tea made out of it. Is it healthier than black or green tea? How does it differ from them?
Purple tea and its variety
Purple tea is cultivated in Kenya. It is a variety of the same tree plant from which the tea producers make the regular black or green tea.
But the only difference is that instead of green, the leaves of this cultivator are purple. This is because it has high levels of the antioxidant, anthocyanins.
Besides color, this compound also provides this tea its advantages over green tea. This purple pigment is also found in fruits and vegetables such as egg plants, blueberries, pomegranates, etc.
Purple leaves of the tea plant (Source: Just Tea)It is an entirely new variety of tea. Kenya started manufacturing it in 2011. It has a lighter flavor compared to black tea. It has less caffeine compared to the green tea. But it is slightly more than that in white tea.
The cost and nutritional facts
Though this tea is more beneficial than the regular black or green tea, and the cost is also more than that of the normal tea.
This tea is made by steeping the purple leaves in hot but not boiling water. The usual steep time recommended is 3 to 5 minutes.
Generally tea with no milk or sugar has only 1 calories. It has zero fats, saturated fats, cholesterol and 4 mg sodium and 18 mg potassium.
Carbs are 0.2 g and protein 0.1 g. There is no dietary fiber in it. There are no other vitamins or minerals in it. It has a lot of antioxidants.
Purple tea (Source: YouTube)The difference in purple tea is its higher content of anthocyanins and catechins. This tea is usually had without milk or sugar.
Hence though produced in Kenya, not many Kenyans drink it. Because they are used to having their morning tea with milk.
Health benefits
The vibrant color of the leaves and the tea is a new unique experience to have. It has been voted the best-tasting tea. It is beneficial for those who want the energy boost benefit of caffeine without its crash.
This tea can elevate mood and improve concentration without causing anxiety or lack of concentration or insomnia. This is because its caffeine content is lower than that one gets in black tea or green tea.
Purple tea (Source: Tumblr)This tea has the polyphenol called GHG which has anti-obesity and weight management properties. It also promotes the health of the heart and blood vessels.
It improves the relaxation of the blood vessels removing the strain on the heart and making it pump more effectively. Additionally, it possesses anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties.
It boosts our immune system and relieves aches and pains.
Read more: Which will be the most popular drink of summer 2022?
It improves liver and brain health. It can have a positive effect on the skin and slows the aging process. And it also has an anti-cancer and cholesterol-lowering action. It can also prevent colds and flu.