Black Tea vs. Green Tea: What's the Difference and Which One is Healthier?

If you love all kinds of tea, then you might be wondering what the difference is between black tea and green tea, and which one is the healthier choice.

Black Tea vs. Green Tea

Black tea and green tea are both made from the camellia sinensis plant, but what makes them different is that black tea is oxidized while green tea isn't. In a nutshell, oxidation refers to the process in which tea leaves are dried and darkened through air exposure to give it a darker color, and a stronger flavor and scent. Both oxidized and non-oxidized tea leaves, however, have their own set of benefits.

Black Tea vs. Green Tea: What Are the Shared Benefits?

They are good for the heart.

Both black tea and green tea contain flavonoids, which are said to protect the heart by reducing inflammation and bad cholesterol in the body. One study on green tea actually found that those who drank one to three cups of green tea per day had a 19% reduced risk of heart attack and a 36% reduced risk of stroke compared to people who drank less than a cup a day. On a similar note, another study found that those who drink three cups of black tea could have an 11% reduced risk of heart disease.

They could boost your alertness and your mood.

Since both black tea and green tea contain caffeine, both types of tea can keep you awake and alert throughout the day. Caffeine is also known to stimulate the nervous system. Alongside L-theanine, this can help release feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine.

The Benefits of Black Tea

Black tea has theaflavins in it, which are polyphenols that are formed during oxidation and therefore cannot be found in green tea. Theaflavins may support the production of natural antioxidants in the body and protect against fat cell damage, as well as reduce your blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Because of this, black tea is a great choice if you are trying to manage your weight.

If you are looking for a wide variety of black tea flavors, Adagio Teas offers flavors like Earl Grey, English Breakfast, and Black Dragon Pearls. Whether you prefer your tea spicy, malty, or nutty; their gourmet black teas can give you the boost of energy that you need every day.

The Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea's health benefits are greatly attributed to the antioxidant called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the benefits of which include de-stressing and calming down the body, reducing the transmission of certain viruses, and reducing some of the harmful effects brought about by amyloid plaques, which can be found in Alzheimer's patients. Green tea would therefore be a great choice if you need to de-stress and calm down before bed.

If you are looking for a wide variety of green tea flavors, Adagio Teas offers flavors like Jasmine Phoenix Pearls and Gunpowder. Their gourmet teas are filled with antioxidants and other helpful compounds with great taste, value, and freshness.

Black Tea vs. Green Tea: Which is Healthier?

Both black tea and green tea provide benefits that will benefit your heart and overall health. What it will really boil down to in the end is your personal taste preferences and whether you might be aiming for weight loss or a calming effect. Either way, it would be great to add both of these teas to your diet.

Get your fill of tea from Adagio Teas today.