Zeitschrift für Lebensmittel- und Industriemikrobiologie

Production, consumption and benefits of different herbal tea: A review

Abstract

Kajol Batta, Hradesh Rajput

Tea, brewed from leaves and twig of Camellia sinensis, is considered as most widely consumed beverage after water. Tea can be classified as raw or unfermented green tea; partially fermented Oolong (red and yellow) tea; totally fermented black tea. Tea possesses significant antioxidative, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, antihypertensive, neuroprotective, cholesterollowering, and thermogenic properties. Green tea comprises of certain active components such as polyphenols, caffeine amino acids, flavonoids. Herbal tea or ‘tisanes’ is essentially an herbal mixture made from leaves, seeds and/ or roots of various plants. Herbal tea possesses certain medicinal properties such as anti-bacterial, anti- inflammatory properties. The objective of this review is to discuss various types of tea including herbal tea, summarizing their health benefits, preparations.