CategoriesCeylon Tea Facts and Knowledge Tea & Health Tea & Science

Water & Tea through Science

Water & Tea Through Science | 水を、紅茶を科学する!

“命の母”水を科学の目で

H2O科学記号で表す水とはとても複雑なもので言い換えれば生き物です。

私たちの生活に欠かせない水についてあまり深く考えてことは今までないのでは?

科学の目で見るとその性質・高度の分布はとても広く、その所々で異なります。私たちはこの水は軟らかいね、硬いねといい、時には少ししょっぱかったり、少し甘かったり、イオ臭かったりと変化に富んでいるとなんとなく分かってはいますが、本当にどうなっているかはあまり深く考えたことはないかと思います。

下記のように分かりやすく図面にてご説明させて頂きます。

日本の水は外国の水と比べると硬度がとても低く大半が軟水又は超軟水に分類される、少しだけ中水もあるようです。


日本の水を油絵に例えるとキャンバスにほんの少し下地塗りをした真っ白なキャンバスとしたら大半の外国の硬い水は下地塗りが終わり絵も少し描かれた状態のキャンバスに似ていると思えばいよい。言い換えれば日本の軟水が余裕スペースありすぎに対し外国の水が余裕が少ないとのことです。ですので溶け込める成分に違いが当たり前のように生じます。水が生き物とはここに当てはまります。硬度が上がると溶け込める成分の受け入れられる領域が少なくなり、すでに水に溶け込んでいるミネラルなどの影響で味・香りに影響を及ぼします。さらには酸性、中性、アルカリ性の性質によっても色に味にこくに香りに影響が出ます。酸性、アルカリー性の強弱によってもずれが生じます。硬い水では出ない成分までも軟らかい水ですと出てしまいます。

 

すれが日本で紅茶が美味しく入れられない理由では?


水を科学の目で見るととても複雑でそれが生み出す食の世界の芸術派まだ未知の世界では?と私たちは考えております。

紅茶は水質次第でその色・味、香りを変化させる
今までになんとなくで理解していた水の世界をはっきりと科学でご理解頂き、工夫してより美味しいティタイムを、美味しい料理を楽しんで頂きたく存知ます。

市販されている硬度0~5000+までの水

その他、便利な情報:

茶を科学の目で!

CategoriesCeylon Tea Facts and Knowledge Tea & Health Tea & Science

Tea & Health

Tea & Health

Antioxidant effect

Black tea is classified as a fermented tea due to its manufacturing process, and there is a misconception that tea catechins are oxidized and lose their antioxidant properties. It is true that black tea has a weak ability to prevent oxidation of oils and other substances in the outside world, but on the other hand, there is a paper that says that the theaflavins in black tea are stronger than unoxidized catechins when measuring the antioxidant properties of active oxygen in the body, although there are differences depending on the measurement method. Thearubigins extracted from black tea at the level consumed in Japan also have the same potency as theaflavins. Recent medical research has shown that while the function of oxygen through breathing is the basis of energy, at the same time, the unavoidable traces of active oxygen that are produced cause deterioration of cell tissue and peroxidation of lipids in the blood.

At this time, enzymes that eliminate active oxygen act as a biological defense mechanism, but the production of excessive active oxygen must be countered by antioxidant substances in food and drink. This is why the intake of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and E, as well as fruits and green and yellow vegetables, is recommended. Green tea catechins and black tea polyphenols are also important antioxidant substances in the body for us. Drinking tea can eliminate active oxygen and free radicals in the body, and is therefore expected to be effective in preventing lifestyle-related diseases caused by them (such as cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes, which were previously known as adult diseases), inhibiting aging (for example, preventing the appearance of age spots and preventing the fragility of body tissues such as blood vessels), and preventing the production of melanin pigment, among other beauty benefits. Many nutritional supplement tablets containing substances with antioxidant properties have already been released in the United States, and the word “antioxidant” has quickly become associated with the image of being good for health, and the black tea industry is also focusing its promotion efforts on the antioxidant properties of black tea flavonoids.

Cancer prevention effect

There are many different types of cancer depending on the location and condition, and there are fewer individual studies on how effective black tea polyphenols are than on green tea catechins. Examples include comparing green tea catechins with black tea solution, or comparing theaflavin, a polyphenol specific to black tea, with catechins. Many cancer prevention studies using animals have been conducted on various types of cancer, various locations, and progression conditions, and it is believed that black tea can prevent the progression of certain types of cancer, and that drinking black tea is effective in preventing cancer to a certain extent.

Correlation with antibacterial activity

It has been found that black tea has a stronger bactericidal effect against botulinum bacteria than green tea, regardless of whether sugar is added or not. Green tea catechins and black tea theaflavins are known to have bactericidal effects against common food poisoning bacteria such as cholera bacteria. When traveling to countries with poor sanitation, black tea is available everywhere, so it is safe to drink it as much as possible. On the other hand, tea polyphenols have no effect on lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, and as a result, the ratio of good bacteria in the intestines increases and bad bacteria decreases, showing efficacy in both constipation and diarrhea, and it has also been confirmed that it reduces the odor of stool. It has also been found to have a bactericidal effect against Helicobacter pylori, which is said to be the cause of gastritis and ultimately stomach cancer.

Diet effect

The inhibitory effect of tea catechins on sugar-decomposing enzymes is effective in dieting. Oolong tea is said to have a fat-decomposing effect, but this should be understood as an inhibitory effect on fat absorption. The above effects are also expected from black tea polyphenols. However, adding large amounts of sugar or milk to black tea, or eating large amounts of cake at the same time, will make it impossible to lose weight. Similarly, tea may have a preventive effect against diabetes, but drinking tea will be ineffective for diabetes that requires insulin injections.

Hay fever (type 1 allergy) prevention

Although there is no clinical data on drinking black tea and human hay fever, it is possible that drinking black tea may have some effect.

Caffeine's effects on fatigue recovery, stress relief, and more

The effects of black tea are also due to the effects of caffeine. Caffeine has effects such as fatigue recovery, stress relief, central nervous system stimulation, wakefulness, cardiotonic action, athletic agility, antiasthmatic action, and diuretic effect, but the effects of black tea are milder than those of caffeine alone. Caffeine is also said to have the effect of preferentially consuming fat as an energy source, so if you take it during aerobic exercise, you may be able to expect a diet effect.

Emission of harmful substances

It is believed that drinking black tea allows residual pesticides and environmental hormones to be excreted from the body in urine relatively quickly due to the adsorption of these substances to black tea polyphenols and the diuretic effect of caffeine. Several examples have been tested, but the actual effects are unknown.

Mineral supplementation

Minerals are nutrients necessary for the smooth metabolism of the body. Minerals do not increase or decrease during the tea-making process, so all teas contain a lot of minerals, especially potassium, which helps prevent stroke by replacing excess sodium in the body. Other trace elements such as calcium, manganese, sodium, fluorine, and even zinc, copper, nickel, molybdenum, and selenium are also said to be necessary for antioxidant effects.

Vitamin supplementation

The effective vitamins in black tea are the B vitamins B1, B2, and niacin, which are dissolved in relatively large amounts in the tea extract. These vitamins are necessary for the metabolism of all nutrients.

Influenza prevention measures

When it comes to influenza, regardless of the type of virus, the theaflavins in black tea and the catechins in green tea aggregate viral particles, rendering them non-infectious. This is purely a preventative effect, and once the virus has entered cells and begun to multiply, the tea has no effect. Symptomatic medication is necessary. Gargling with tea is effective as a preventative measure, but it is advisable to take measures to ensure that the tea reaches the throat and nose.

Inhibition of plaque synthesis enzymes and prevention of dental caries

Catechins and theaflavins have the effect of inhibiting plaque synthesis enzymes, so gargling with black tea can help prevent plaque. The mineral fluoride contained in black tea helps strengthen tooth enamel and is also effective in preventing cavities.

Black tea is also said to have a deodorizing effect and to be effective against athlete’s foot and ringworm.