Do You Get Health Benefits from Bottled Tea?

Bottled teas can be said to be more convenient than fresh-brewing (and more delicious?) teas, but is the benefit far greater as well?

Bottled Tea vs Freshly Brewed Tea

When it comes to bottled tea, you might be wondering if it's a healthy choice compared to freshly brewed tea. Well, it all depends! Bottled tea has become super popular around the world, including in Australia, because it's so convenient. But here's the deal: not all bottled teas are created equal when it comes to healthiness. Some of them sneak in added sugars, artificial flavours, and preservatives that can take away from the good stuff. So, keep an eye on the label and go for brands that keep it real with natural ingredients and minimal additives.

In the past 10 years, there has been a rush of bottled teas, fueled by the flurry of health benefit studies which have been coming out virtually every week. However, there is one important question we need to consider: does these benefits also apply to bottled tea?

According to a study, the answer to both of these questions is a resounding “no.”

Isn't this a little surprising? Actually, most bottled teas on the market have more sugar than anything like the fresh-brewed alternative.

In fact, most bottle teas only contain less then 10 milligrams of polyphenols – the healthy chemical compounds which give us most of our health benefits – per bottle.

Alternatively, a cup of fresh-brewed tea has about 150 milligrams of polyphenols for a similar serving size. In short, you have to drink about 15 of those bottles of tea to get the same amount of antioxidants – that’s a lot!

More about Bottle Tea vs Freshly Brewed Tea

Let's talk about the differences between bottled tea and freshly brewed tea. Picture this: you're making a fresh cup of tea at home. You have control over everything, from the tea leaves to the water. No added sugars or artificial flavours. Just pure goodness. That's where the magic happens. Freshly brewed tea lets you savour the natural flavours and possible health perks without any funny business.

One thing to keep in mind is antioxidants. These bad boys, like the catechins in green tea, can do wonders for your health. But here's the scoop: bottled teas might not have as many antioxidants as freshly brewed ones. You see, during the bottling process, some of those awesome compounds can take a hit. Sad, but true.

Oh, and let's not forget about the taste. Bottled tea can go through all sorts of high-temperature processing and pasteurisation to stay on the shelves longer. That can mess with the flavour and even reduce the power of certain compounds. On the other hand, when you brew your own tea, you're in control. You can let those tea leaves steep to perfection, brining out the full flavours and health benefits .

But hey, life can get crazy busy, and bottled tea has its perks too. Just remember to keep it in moderation and consider going for the freshly brewed goodness whenever you can. Whether you're chilling with a bottled tea or brewing your own, find what works for you and enjoy the refreshing taste and potential health benefits. Cheers to that!

So, we'd like propose an intervention on the bottled tea-drinking Australian public: put down the bottle. PLEASE!

Take the few extra, relaxing minutes to steep up some fresh tea leaves – you’ll be glad you did! For a hassle-free, fun brewing experience, you can steep your favourite loose leaf teas in Tavalon's Gravity Teapot!