Tea and herbal teas: a thousand-year-old sensory experience

Tea is a drink originating from China, made from tea leaves, where it has been consumed for thousands of years. Herbal teas , on the other hand, are made from flowers, fruits or roots of plants, have older origins and are widespread throughout the world.
The first evidence of its use dates back to the 2nd century BC in China , for medicinal and ritual purposes . It arrived in Europe in the 16th century, brought by Portuguese explorers, as an expensive drink and appreciated only by the aristocracy.

Tea is still produced today from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The leaves are harvested, fermented (in the case of black tea and oolong tea) or unfermented (in the case of green tea and white tea). They are then dried and made into tea.

The most important active ingredients in tea are caffeine , which improves attention, concentration and memory, polyphenols , antioxidant compounds, catechins , particularly present in green tea and relevant for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer and finally L-theanine , an amino acid that increases states of calm and concentration.

Herbal teas , like infusions, can be produced from a variety of plants. The most common ones used to produce them are chamomile , mint , lavender and lemon balm, which are first collected and then dried. Their active ingredients are derived from those present in plants, such as antioxidants , flavonoids , tannins, mucilages , which can help protect the stomach and intestines, and finally essential oils , with numerous aromatic and medicinal properties.

Today, tea and herbal teas are drinks consumed daily by millions of people around the world, in the morning, to start the day with energy or in the evening, to relax and promote sleep.