Purple Tea: A Healthful Option
Are you looking for an alternative to traditional teas? Have you heard of purple tea? If not, keep reading and you’ll learn everything you need to know about purple tea, its health benefits, and how to enjoy it.
What is Purple Tea?
Purple tea is a variety of Camellia sinensis, the same tea plant used to make black, green, and white teas. Purple tea has a unique deep purple hue that is derived from anthocyanin, a naturally occurring antioxidant found in plants. Unlike other varieties of Camellia sinensis, purple tea is grown at high altitudes, typically on the slopes of the tea-rich Kenyan mountain Mount Kenya.
Health Benefits of Purple Tea
Purple tea has plenty of health benefits that make this unique tea worth incorporating into your diet:
- Full Of Antioxidants: Purple tea contains high levels of anthocyanin, an antioxidant compound found in other fruits and vegetables like blueberries and beets. These antioxidants help to protect cells in the body from damage.
- Potent Caffeine Source: If you’re looking for a pick-me-up without relying on coffee, purple tea is a great option as it contains caffeine — as much as white tea — but its mild flavor means it’s less likely to give you coffee jitters. Plus, its natural caffeine content means it won’t mess with your sleep schedule the way regular coffee does.
- Supports Weight Loss: Studies have found that purple tea can help boost metabolism and reduce body fat. A study on mice found that those who consumed purple tea extract for 8 weeks lost body weight and had reduced fat mass compared to the control group.
How to Enjoy Purple Tea
Purple tea can be prepared similarly to other teas. You can steep the tea leaves in hot water or cold-brew it for a smooth, mellow cup of tea. You can also use loose-leaf purple tea to make bubble tea or use it to make the traditional purple tea milk tea.
Purple tea is now widely available across the United States in stores and online, so start your journey with this healthy and rejuvenating tea today.