We've known tea all our lives right?
Green tea. Red tea. Black tea. White tea. Yellow tea. We've enough tea in the market and in our kitchen. For some, sipping it regularly brings comfort and therapy.
But did you know that there's a blue tea that also boosts powerful health benefits? Unlike most popular teas - green, red, black, white and yellow in the market that originated from Camella Sinensis and contain caffeine, blue tea is processed from Clitoria Ternate plant or Asian Pigeonwings and does not contain caffeine.
Yeah, it's zero-caffeine!
What is a blue ternate tea
It is officially called Clitoria Ternate (yes, that's right, derived from the word, clitoria, because it resembled a female organ) but known with other names - Asian pigeonwings and butterfly blue pea.
It has been popular in Southeast as natural food coloring and used to dye a fabric to come up with an electric blue-green color or purple when diluted with lemon juice.
Unlike Camella Sinensis that leaves need to be sun dried first before can be processed into a tea beverage, blue ternate tea can be processed right away.
For years, it gained popularity due to its powerful health benefits and it contains high amount of antioxidants.
Blue tea is actually tisane, meaning herbal teas that produced through infusion of flowering plants, spices and herbs. Unlike most teas where leaves are the primary source, blue ternate tea is made of the its flowers.
Blue ternate tea has a mesmerizing color of deep purple or electric blue but when put in a hot water, it will produce a blue-green color.
Adding a lemon juice changes the color into purple, mixing hibiscus leaves, you will have a magnificent red tea.
Grow your own blue tea
You can actually grow a blue ternate plant in your garden. It is adaptable to any weather. And can be put in a small pot.
In fact, in our home, we have a blue ternate tea my sister planted in a pot and placed just below my bedroom window. It's a vine and spread its stems and leaves to a crawling path.
Health Benefits and Properties of blue ternate tea
1. It has zero-caffeine - unlike other teas produced from Camella sinensis plant that contains caffeine, blue tea is produced from the flowering plant of clitoria ternate tea which has no caffeine.
2. Anti-aging properties - Blue ternate plant has high amount of antioxidants known to fight free-radicals in the body.
Free-radicals are toxins that trigger premature aging and the fast aging of skin. It helps improve over-all skin tone and free the skin from blemishes.
3. Alleviates fatty liver disease and weight gain - According to one study from the International Journal and Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, blue tea helps control weight gain by fighting fatty liver disease.
It contains catechin EGCG, a powerful compound of the antioxidant polyphenols naturally found in most plants. Catechin protects the body from chronic illnesses like cancer. It also speeds up calorie burning process
4. Contains high amount of antioxidants - Catechin is a subgroup of the antioxidant polyphenols which offers so many health benefits. It protects individuals from certain forms of cancer.
5. Anti-inflammatory properties - study research shows that blue ternate tea contains anti-inflammatory properties that fight infection and bacteria. It also fights inflammation in the body and joints. It may also act as a natural paracetamol that alleviates headache and other body pain.
Findings from one study shown blue tea has antipyretic properties that mimic properties similar to a pain reliever, paracetamol.
6. Helps improve eye vision - In Indonesia where blue ternate believed to have been originated, blue tea is called "bunga telang", meaning clear vision. Most Indonesians used blue tea as a natural remedy for eye ailments
Blue ternate contains proanthocyanidin, an antioxidant, responsible for increasing blood flow to the capillaries of the eyes, making blue tea good for treating retinal damage and blurred vision.
7. Remedy for stress, depression and anxiety - Blue tea has been used as a stress reliever even during ancient times. In China, it is considered a medicinal plant that used in number of symptoms like fever, headache, toothache, and yes, anxiety.
One study supported this theory. A research published in the Journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, blue tea has been shown to have a positive impact on the central nervous system.
It was revealed that blue tea contains antioxidant properties that calm nerve and relieve depression, anxiety, stress and feeling of sadness.
So the next time you feel sad, lonely, anxious and stress, grab a cup of blue tea.
8. Alleviates diabetes - blue tea regulates blood sugar level and cholesterol and shown to lower blood glucose levels.
9. Relieves heart ailment - As with most beverages that contain high amount of antioxidants, blue tea helps individuals protect from heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases.
10. Helps proper digestion - The antioxidant properties in blue tea aid digestion by relaxing muscles in stomach and also known to prevent the growth of worms in the gut.
Overall health benefits
Summarizing all the health benefits of drinking blue tea, it is an excellent beverage to protect the body from toxins, free radicals that contribute to chronic illnesses and fast-aging. relieves body inflammation and constipation.
It can help us maintain younger-looking skin, healthy eyes and hair and may protect us from acquiring cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. It can also help fight depression and anxiety.
Side Effects?
Like most tea beverages, blue tea has no known side effects, but if you are pregnant, lactating mother and taking medications, you may consult your doctor before taking blue tea regularly.
Time to switch?
Not necessarily. You can still have your regular green tea, matcha or black tea, Earl Grey in particular, in addition to blue tea.
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