Ceylon Tea

Tea production in Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, is of high importance to the Sri Lankan economy and the world market. The country is the world's fourth largest producer of tea and the industry is one of the country's main sources of foreign exchange and a significant source of income for laborers, with tea accounting for 15% of the GDP, generating roughly $700 million annually. In 1995 Sri Lanka was the world's leading exporter of tea,

(rather than producer) with 23% of the total world export. The central highlands of the country, low temperature climate throughout the year, annual rainfall and the level of humidity are more favorable geographical factors for production in high quality tea. The industry was introduced to the country in 1867 by James Taylor, the British planter who arrived in 1852.

The benefits of including tea as part of a healthy lifestyle are indisputable.  It seems new reports appear almost daily, showing the chemicals present in true tea from Camilla Sinensis  (not herbal beverages) are shown to protect the body against stomach, breast, colon, and skin cancers, to lower blood pressure, to lower serum cholesterol, and triglycerides, and normalize blood sugar.

Leading medical journals support the ancient proclamation that tea is the most potent health beverage ever, showing it has strong properties as a potential heart tonic, cancer blocker, fat buster, immune stimulant, arthritis soother, virus fighter and cholesterol detoxifier.  Most research shows significant health benefits in people who consumed 4 cups of tea daily, although many benefits were found in those who consumed as little as 3 cups a day.  Some of the impressive therapeutic properties about green and black tea health benefits to date are:

Green tea speeds up the metabolism to burn more calories and fat- A Swiss study showed a daily dose of 270mg EGCG (the amount in 3 cups of green tea) caused men to burn 4% more energy - about 80 extra calories a day.  Green tea did not increase heart rate, and the calorie burning was not due to caffeine.

Green tea decreases inflammation and development of arthritis and other conditions- Case Western Reserve University study found that the equivalent of 4 cups of green tea daily reduced the development of arthritis in rats by 50%.  A UCLA study found drinking green tea reduced inflammation of the stomach that could lead to stomach cancer.

Black tea can reduce tumor growth -a Rutgers University study found that a component of black tea called TF-2 caused colorectal cancer cells to "commit suicide" reduced tumor growth in colorectal cancer.

Black tea can lower the risk of Atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), stroke, and heart attack- a large 10-year study in the Netherlands, found men who consumed the amount of antioxidants called ‘catechins’ found in three cups of black tea, were 50% less likely to die of ischemic heart disease, caused by narrowed, clogged arteries.  Another study at Boston University School of Medicine found a 50% improvement in heart patients with impaired blood vessel functioning (a risk factor for heart attack and strokes) who drank four cups of black tea daily.

Tea can lower the risk of viral infections-a Harvard study indicated that tea chemicals stimulated gamma-delta T-cells that bolster immunity against bacteria and viruses.

Black tea can boost immunity and reduce the risk of influenza-a Japanese study showed that gargling with black tea boosted immunity to influenza.

promote better health, drink at least four 8-ounce cups of freshly brewed tea each day.  Note that instant, bottled, decaffeinated, highly processed, and herbal teas do not have the critical antioxidant rties of green, black teas.