DRINK YOUR GREENS! WILD TEAS = MORE ANTIOXIDANTS

Recent scientific research indicates wild plants contain higher anti-oxidant levels & more nutritional value than farmed crops.

Looking to get enhanced antioxidant benefits from your daily cuppa? Go wild… because drinking just a cup or two of tea made from wild tea bushes, may be the equivalent of very many cups of tea made from farmed plants.

Interestingly, ancient folklore backs this up. Since ancient times in China, wild teas were highly sought after as “elixirs of immortality” because they were thought to have very powerful effects on the prevention of aging & disease.

China’s is the world’s oldest tea producer, with an enormous biological diversity of tea plants. These native tea plants which have spread throughout tea growing areas of the country.

As wild teas are found in remote areas, they take far more effort to pick & manufacture, so they are often a higher price than other teas. However, as wild teas may contain significantly higher levels of antioxidants, just one cup of wild tea, can be the equivalent of many cups of tea made from farmed tea bushes. Since they can pack such a powerful antioxidant punch, they are actually a pretty good deal when you stop to think about it. Drink wild teas on their own, or simply add a pinch (less than ¼ teaspoon) of wild tea to a cup of green or white tea, to further amplify the benefits of your other green & white teas.

Our Jade Spring tea allows you to maximize the benefits of green tea while allowing you to enjoy the convenience of a teabag. It is a blend of green teas & contains some wild tea leaves. Sip your daily dose of green tea antioxidants at work & on the go. Jade Spring also has a refreshing, deliciously smooth taste & can be enjoyed hot or iced.

In addition to Jade Spring, we have other wild teas available in-store on a limited basis. Our selection of varies – stop by our retail locations & inquire about which wild teas are currently in stock.

Other factors to consider to maximize the healthful benefits of your tea drinking:

Freshness is an important element in the antioxidant levels of all teas, & it’s especially the case with green & white tea because the antioxidants in these teas do not have a long shelf life – they decline quickly. When tea isn’t fresh, much of the beneficial antioxidants are lost – just like vitamins, past their expiry date. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that health benefits studies on green tea primarily take place in Asian countries where the supply of green tea is much fresher than what can normally be found in North America. You’re not necessarily getting the same benefits if the tea is stale. For that reason, in Japan & other parts of Asia, green & white teas are sold with a “best before” date. In fact, it’s estimated that the majority of green teas sold in North America are stale before a consumer purchases them. For this reason, at SILK ROAD TEA we place a huge emphasis on freshness in our teas, ensuring pure, healthy goodness in every sip.

We’ve also created a way for you to maximize the benefits of green tea while enjoying the convenience of a teabag. Sip your daily dose of green tea antioxidants at work & on the go with our Jade Spring tea. It has a refreshing, deliciously smooth taste & can be enjoyed hot or iced.

Avoiding pesticide residues in your tea is another valuable tip to keep in mind. Stick to organically grown teas to prevent exposure to harmful chemicals. As well, studies indicate that organically grown plants develop higher antioxidant levels so there’s several reasons to choose organic.

Read tea labels carefully. Avoid artificial flavours – they contain many chemicals, dyes & additives such as gluten or soy, that you may also be wanting to avoid.

Even if your teas are fresh & organic to begin with, keep them that way by storing in an airtight tin in a cool cupboard. Don’t store in a glass jar because exposure to light causes the tea to go stale, & lose antioxidants. As well, make sure your container is airtight because air will also cause the tea to lose antioxidants.

One final tip: make sure you follow our brewing instructions which vary depending on the type of tea you are making. White & green teas are particularly affected by brewing. Click here for the secrets to brewing a delicious & healthy cup of tea every time.