Green Tea vs Black Tea: Compare Health Benefits

For many people, tea is an instant boost of energy, making it their first beverage of the day. While there are different types of teas around the globe and varied ways of preparation, green tea, and black tea are the most popular. 

Both green and black tea offer multiple benefits to the body, such as boosting alertness and offering antioxidants to the body. However, they also differ in many ways. 

If you are not able to decide on green tea vs. black tea, we have got you covered. We will provide an insight into their composition, ways of preparation, benefits, and what’s rich in what content.

Green Tea vs. Black Tea

The leaves of Camellia sinensis are used for the preparation of green and black tea. However, one looks different from the other because of their way of preparation. While black tea is oxidized, green tea is not, retaining its peculiar green color. 

How Is Black Tea Made?

Leaves of Camellia are plucked from the plant, rolled, and exposed to air. As the leaves stay in the air for a long time, the oxidation process is triggered, causing them to turn dark brown. As a result, the flavor and taste of the tea intensifies. 

How Is Green Tea Made?

The method of green tea preparation is also the same, but it is not exposed to air for oxidation. As a result, the leaves do not turn brown or black but stay green with a mild flavor. 

What Are The Benefits Of Green And Black Tea?

Since both teas are synthesized from the same plant, most of the health benefits they offer are the same. Some of them are listed below-

1. Protects heart: Being a rich source of antioxidants- and flavonoids, both teas promote heart health. While green tea contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), black tea is enriched in theaflavins. Studies have confirmed that tea consumption prevents blood vessel plaque formation. 
2. Lowers blood pressure (BP): People complaining of high BP can start consuming black or green tea as studies have found their effectiveness in managing blood pressure in the body. 
3. Boost brain function: The presence of caffeine in black and green tea contributes to stimulating the nervous system. It does so by blocking the inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine. It is also believed to release dopamine and serotonin, the moon-enhancing hormones in the body. 

Now that we know how the consumption of either green or black tea can upkeep your heart and brain health, it’s time to understand how these teas help the body individually. 

How Do Antioxidants In Green Tea Help The Body?

Green tea contains the powerful antioxidant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) that helps in the following-

• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Liver protection 
• Anti-fatigue 
• Anti-microbial 
• Soothing and calming effects 

How Do Antioxidants In Black Tea Help The Body?

Black tea is a rich source of antioxidant theaflavins that form during the oxidation process. It offers the following benefits-

• Protects the body from free radical damage 
• Lowers risk of blood vessel plaque formation 
• Reduces inflammation 
• Reduces cholesterol and blood sugar levels 
• Promotes fat breakdown 

What Are The Difference Between Green Tea And Black Tea?

If you are still confused about them, take a look at the table mentioning the major differences between green tea and black tea-

Feature	Green Tea	Black Tea
Processing	Minimal oxidation, leaves are quickly heated or steamed to preserve natural compounds	Fully oxidized, leaves undergo fermentation before drying
Flavor	Light, grassy, vegetal	Bold, robust, sometimes malty or fruity
Caffeine Content	Generally lower	Generally higher
Antioxidants	High levels of catechins, particularly EGCG	Contains theaflavins and thearubigins
Color of Brew	Light green to yellow	Reddish-brown to dark brown
Health Benefits	Known for potential benefits such as improved brain function, fat loss, and reduced risk of cancer	Potential benefits include heart health, improved gut health, and antioxidants
Popular Varieties	Sencha, Matcha, Gyokuro	Assam, Darjeeling, Earl Grey
Brewing Temperature	Lower temperatures (around 175°F or 80°C)	Higher temperatures (around 200°F or 95°C)
Brewing Time	Shorter steeping time (1-3 minutes)	Longer steeping time (3-5 minutes)
Origin	Primarily from China and Japan	Originates from various countries including India, Sri Lanka, China

What’s Better For Me- Green Tea Vs. Black Tea?

When it comes to what’s better, the choice goes down to individual preferences. Since both the teas offer almost similar health benefits, you can drink any of them if you don’t mind their typical taste.

Here, it is interesting to note that some studies have suggested green tea to be a stronger antioxidant than black tea. Also, the caffeine content in both of them is slightly different, wherein green has less caffeine and black tea has more. 

If your intention is to get more antioxidants from your beverage, choose green tea. However, if you want an extra dose of alertness, choose black tea that contains more caffeine.  

Here, it is essential to mention that teas contain tannin, which has the ability to bind to minerals and reduce their capacity to be absorbed by the body. So, it is better to avoid drinking tea with meals but between meals. 

Conclusion 

Green tea vs. black tea is always a matter of debate for health enthusiasts. While some claim green tea to be the better option, others rule out the same. 

Being a rich source of antioxidants, both the teas are best to consume to give a boost of antioxidants to the body. However, taking in moderation is always the right thing. Too much tea can hamper mineral absorption in the body, causing a deficiency. 

So, always maintain a balance and enjoy green and black tea every day. 

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