Benefits of Earl Grey Tea

In today’s word where herbal teas are a thing, how can we forget earl grey tea. Been there for hundreds of years, one cannot overlook the benefits of it. Let’s talk about it today:

What is it and Where it came from?

Earl Grey Tea is a herbal tea rich in antioxidants and many other beneficial compounds. It is a concussion of black tea and bergamot Orange extract which gives it a slight citrus flavor. Leaves of Earl Grey Tea are taken from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Bergamot Orange is the Fruit of a citrus tree called Bergamia.

Traditionally this tea is made by either spraying tea leaves with bergamot extract or essential oil. Another way to prepare it by mixing tea leaves and dry bergamot rinds to give the citrus flavour.

It’s was first made in England for British Prime Minister Earl Charles Grey in 1830s. That is where its name comes from. This makes it native to English however the recipe is Chinese and widely used in south East Asia. Also it is cultivated at a large scale in southern Italy.

Earl Grey Tea is there from history but now it has gained popularity globally. It is being marketed as a modern health trend. It can replace the traditional tea and coffee because of the immense benefits it provides to the body.

Benefits of Earl Grey Tea

Not only does it give you a tasty treat at the end of the day, it sure does come with several benefits. Let’s have a look at some of them:

1. Boosts Energy

A warm cup of Earl Grey Tea can be an excellent energy booster. If you are not a fan of coffee, it will provide you with an ample amount of caffeine. It is not high in caffeine but has enough needed to keep you going through a busy office day, or a night of study before exams.

2. Boosts Dental Health

Earl Grey Tea is a rich source of Fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that helps to fight dental decay and protects our teeth against dental caries. Usually we get this from our plain tap water, but if you use bottled water Earl Grey tea can fulfill your daily requirement.

3. Improves Digestion

Are you always feeling uncomfortable because of your indigestion issues? You despise your favorite meals because you are afraid to get a heartburn afterwards? Earl Grey Tea can ease your all digestive issues like, gut motility, indigestion, colic and nausea. Moreover, it helps with intestinal worms.

4. Improves Mental Health

You might have heard of the latest trend of healing with aromatherapy. Many types of herbs, teas and essential oils are being used for their calming properties. Earl Grey tea is one of such ingredients that can give an instant boost to your mood. Thus, it can be helpful in depression, stress or anxiety. Or just a relaxing cup of tea to wear off tiredness of the whole day.

5. Helps in weight loss

Earl Grey Tea is very effective for removing excess fat from the body because of its high citrus content. This makes it rich in vitamin C which speeds up your metabolism. Adding to this it also breaks down fat and has cholesterol lowering properties.

6. Prevents Cardiovascular Disease

So if Earl Grey Tea has cholesterol lowering properties, it will also prevent arterial coagulation. This makes it beneficial for heart health. Studies show that drinking 3 cups of Earl Grey Tea daily can reduce triglycerides in blood and increase levels of good cholesterol. Furthermore the high concentration of antioxidants present in it fights tissue damage by removing free radicals from the body.

7. Immunity Booster

Recent pandemic situation of COVID made us hear a lot about immunity. Earl Grey Tea is filled with natural immunity boosters. You can use it as a remedy for seasonal cold and flu. Moreover, it helps you in COVID-19 also

8. Hydrates your Body

Other teas and Coffee will leave you dehydrated because of its diuretic properties. However, miraculously Earl Grey Tea is Anti-Diuretic. This is because of its high potassium content. It will regulate your body’s fluid balance and keep you hydrated.

9. Prevents Cancer

How can tea prevent a deadly disease like cancer? Sounds unbelievable? Indeed this is true. Earl Grey Tea is rich in antioxidants which remove free radicals from the body. Free radicals if increase in level start cell damage and irregular growth forming tumors. In addition to this, it boosts immunity against cancer.

10. Improves sleep

Does insomnia haunt you all night? Counting 100 sheep might not help but a warm cup of Earl Grey Tea will give a relaxing effect. It will soothe your muscles and help you sleep well.

Side Effects of Earl Grey Tea

Excess of Anything is bad. If you are taking a recommended amount of Earl Grey Tea ie; 3 cups a day, it is indeed very beneficial. But if you exceed the quantity to a level that it starts harming your body it can have side effects too. Let’s have a look at what side effects it poses;

Increased intake of Earl Grey Tea might give you blurred vision and muscle cramps because of high potassium content. However, studies showed these effects after taking 16 cups of tea a day.
Next Earl Grey Tea has a compound called Tannins. Tannins if taken in high quantities interfere with iron absorption. To avoid this risk you can take tea in between meals.
Another problem can be its caffeine content. Although it is not as much as coffee, if you take tea in high amounts, caffeine content in the body rises. Moreover, if you are allergic to caffeine it can trouble you.

The good news is that decaf versions are also available in markets.

How To Make Earl Grey Tea?

Earl grey tea is easily available in hypermarkets and herbal stores. You can find it in both forms, tea bags and loose tea leaves.

To prepare soothing Earl Grey Tea take boiling water and steep tea bags for 2-3 minutes. If you like your tea stronger, you can steam it up to 5 minutes.

If you are making Earl Grey Tea using loose leaves, add one tablespoon in a cup of boiling water. Or steep 14grams of leaves in 250ml of water for 3-5 minutes. Strain and serve hot.