Before we get into the benefits of organic tea - lets first understand the origins of where tea comes from.
Tea is the most popular beverage in the world after water.
There are four basic types of tea: green, black, oolong and white. All tea comes from a single species of plant, Camellia sinensis. The different flavours and types of tea are the result of the unique environments in which tea is grown, how the tea is harvested, processed, selected for blending and packed. Tea comes from the newest, most delicate and tender leaves of the tea plant, including the buds from new growth. Tea is picked by hand or machine and processed under controlled conditions to wither, oxidise and dry. It’s then sorted, graded and in most cases, blended, before packing.
Madura Tea cultivates tea in an extensive estate in northern New South Wales, Australia. It also sources tea from select estates throughout the world.
Organic Green Tea with Ginger & Turmeric
What Is Organic Tea?
Organic is a popular buzzword but what does it really mean? In Australia, products are certified as organic by seven organisations accredited by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. When you see these logos on products you buy, you can be assured that they are produced, packaged and marketed under strict conditions that protect the purity and preserve the quality and nutritional value of the product.
Organic certification is based on the principles of safe food production, best land-use practices and protection of the environment.
By contrast to non-organic methods, Organic crop cultivation focuses on the use of natural nutrients and minerals to foster and promote the growth of plant material and the use of naturally sourced extractions and methods to deal with invasive insect pests and weeds. The resultant taste, nutritional and health attributes of organic food is a factor of the quantum and quality of the natural inputs made during the period from planting to harvest. Organic tea is grown in accordance with these principles and without resort to concentrated, industrial alternatives. Certified organic facilities must meet stringent conditions to gain accreditation and be periodically monitored by third parties to keep the certification valid. Madura Tea operates on the principles of environmental sustainability.
Madura Offers A Delicious Range Of Organic Teas That Are Accredited And Certified By Australian Certified Organic.
Regardless of whether they are organic or non-organic, Madura tests all its teas in an independent government laboratory for residual chemicals and bacterial contaminants to a standard more stringent than that set by the global Codex or EU standards for food, to satisfy ourselves as to the purity of our teas at the time they are packed. Madura monitors its estate as part of its environmental commitment, regularly testing the quality of the water in its creeks as they flow onto the estate and as they leave, ensuring its operations have no environmental impact. In fact, the estate’s expansive tea bushes and an array of native rainforest trees and shrubs, planted by Madura many years ago, now act as a significant carbon sink and attractive eco-system to an array of birds and animals.
Importance of Organic Cultivation and Production
Organic cultivation of crops ensures that the growing cycle does not harm the environment. Achieving the ideal balance between applying organic nutrient to cropping and introducing active microbes to the soil achieves natural conditioning of the ecosystem keeping it in balance for subsequent cropping. Natural fertilisers replace important nutrients in the soil that are taken up by crops during their growth cycle. Organic growing practices enhance biodiversity and can retard soil erosion. The result is a healthier environment that supports high quality, nutritious produce. In the case of organic tea, which is not dissimilar to all organic cropping, taste and nutritional value is impacted by soil health and the quality and balance of the natural nutrient applied.
What are the Health Benefits of Organic Tea?
For centuries, there have been claims made about various health benefits of tea. Many Asian cultures use tea as part of their medicinal pharmacopoeia, as a stimulant, to soothe and to promote sleep. In recent years, tea has been studied under controlled conditions to verify the claims of such health benefits. As a result, scientific studies suggest that there are important health benefits associated with drinking tea. Teas contain micronutrients and compounds that contribute to the taste of tea. Tea is rich in antioxidants, phenols and polyphenols. Polyphenols include catechins, flavonoids, tannins and theaflavins. These same compounds also promote health. They're good for the heart, may prevent cancer, reduce the risk of diabetes and may help prevent clogged arteries. Studies associate drinking
black tea with a lower incidence of heart attacks. Drinking green tea is associated with lower 'bad' cholesterol levels and higher beneficial cholesterol levels.
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Green tea is also associated with weight loss, reducing the risk of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and reducing the risk of stroke. Although studies about tea and cancer prevention are sometimes conflicting, research suggests that polyphenols, especially catechins, may have a role in preventing some types of cancer. Japanese researchers found that people who drink green tea have less incidence of tooth loss. Research suggests that tea lowers the pH of the mouth, which retards the growth of bacteria that causes gum disease. The antioxidants in all teas have overall health benefits, including reducing inflammation and boosting the immune system. Researchers are not sure how long tea should be steeped and how much should be consumed to get these health benefits, but studies indicate that longer steeping increases the amount of flavonoids released into the brew. All agree that drinking tea is a health benefit as long as it is not loaded with sugar or other ingredients that add calories. As with all foods, beverages and supplements, consume in moderation and in conjunction with an overall healthy lifestyle.
Green Tea Vs Organic Tea - What’s the Difference?
Organic tea is grown, harvested and packaged according to strict guidelines that focus on protecting the environment in which the tea is grown and protecting the harvested tea from any subsequent chemical contamination. Organically grown teas, once harvested, are processed the same way that non-organic teas are processed. Green tea undergoes relatively little processing and is not oxidised. In contrast, black teas are oxidised, which turns the leaves from green to brown. Both green and black teas are rich in antioxidants. Madura Tea offers a range of both Organic and Non-Organic teas, all of which are independently tested for chemical residues, regardless. Our organic teas are certified by ‘Australian Certified Organic’. In addition, we are certified under the Safe Quality Food Program (SQF), which verifies that food safety standards have been met from source to packet.
What are the Types of Organic Tea?
Madura Tea offers several types of accredited organic teas. Our
single-origin blend of organic black tea comes from an estate in North India. This flavourful blend averages 2.2% of caffeine by weight. Enjoy it throughout the day as a healthful, tasty beverage. Our
organic green tea is also a single-origin blend from a North Indian estate. This delicate tea is full of antioxidants and micronutrients. It also averages 2.2% of caffeine by weight. Madura Tea infuses black and green teas with the flavours and essences from orchards and gardens. Our blend of
Organic Black Tea with Lemon & Lime adds a hint of the tartness of lemon and lime into the brew. It can be enjoyed hot or cold. For a soothing brew, try our
Organic Black Tea with Cinnamon. Cinnamon adds the complexity of spice and sweetness to our organic Indian black tea. The sweet taste of apple melds with the traditional flavour of organic tea in our blend of
Organic Green Tea with Apple. Use it throughout the day as a hot or cold beverage. Our
Organic Green Tea with Ginger & Turmeric is a spicy blend full of nutrients that helps reduce inflammation and aids digestion. We also offer the classic flavour of English Breakfast tea in our
Organic English Breakfast blend. If you want satisfying, healthful beverages that can be drunk every day, try all of our certified organic teas. In addition, our other teas include blends of traditional flavours such as green tea and mint or green tea and jasmine. For the unusual, try our blends that meld native Australian herbs, such as lemon myrtle, with pure green tea.
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