Green tea or black tea - Which is better in summer?

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Most of us love sipping a cup of tea after meals, not only because of its health effects, but tea-drinking has also become a daily leisure practice.

Though both black tea and green tea are obtained from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, there are a few differences between them due to their processing methods.

Green tea leaves aren't fermented, but picked immediately dried after harvest. This makes them rich in EGCG (epigallactocatechin gallate), a popular antioxidant known for fighting cancer, cardiovascular conditions and many more. Whereas black tea go through an oxidation process, called fermentation.

Green tea, the perfect summer drink!

As per traditional Chinese medicine, one should drink tea according to their physical fitness as well as choose the right tea in different seasons of the year.

Usually green tea is highly recommended in summer because it's unfermented. From being an excellent thirst quencher, the properties in green tea can help remove heat and toxic substances, strengthen heart.

Also, caffeine - the key active ingredient and a stimulant - content in green tea can help improve brain function and perhaps even aid in weight loss. But too much consumption can keep you up at night, so limit your intake to 2-3 cups daily.

Black tea, on the other hand, is considered to be an ideal drink in winter as it contains rich protein that aids in digestion as well as nourish and strengthen the body.