Tea is an aromatic beverage commonly prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to Asia. After water, it is the most widely consumed drink in the world. There are many different types of tea some teas, like Darjeeling and Chinese greens, have a cooling, slightly bitter, and astringent flavor, while others have vastly different profiles that include sweet, nutty, floral, or grassy notes. Tea originated in the southwest of China, used as a medicinal drink. It became a popular drink throughout China during the Tang dynasty, and tea drinking spread to other East Asian countries.
Tea is generally divided into categories based on how it is processed. At least six different types are produced: White: Wilted and unoxidized Yellow: Unwilted and unoxidized, but allowed to yellow Green: Unwilted and unoxidized Oolong: Wilted, bruised, and partially oxidized Black: Wilted, sometimes crushed, and fully oxidized (called 'red tea' in China) Post-Fermented: Green tea that has been allowed to ferment/compost ('black tea' for the Chinese)
Drinking tea could help reduce the risk of heart attack. Tea might also help protect against cardiovascular and degenerative diseases. Drinking tea is linked with a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease. When considered with other factors like smoking, physical activity, age and body mass index, regular tea drinking was associated with a lowered risk of Parkinson’s disease in both men and women. Regular tea drinking might also counteract some of the negative effects of smoking and might even lessen the risk of lung cancer.