BLACK TEA- THE UNIQUE HEALTH DRINK AND A KEY TO A HEALTHY LIFE

Soundararajan S., Gargi Saha* and Mohan Kumar P.

ABSTRACT

Black tea is consumed as the most popular natural beverage next to water since time immemorial. The purpose of this review focusses on the research output received from various projects funded by National Tea Research Foundation (NTRF) which highlights the putative biological actions of black tea and its components. The research on tea and health reveals that polyphenols present in tea with its quality and therapeutic values make it as a unique beverage which exert different beneficial effects to our health. Evidence from research findings ascertained that black tea, a potent health promoting beverage keeps us healthy. Various epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that black is tea associated with protective role against cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases etc. Tea consumption exert general health promotion.

Keywords: Black Tea, Antioxidant, Theaflavin, Thearubigin, Health Promoting Beverage.