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Should you be worried about the amount of coffee or tea you drink?

Before you reach for that cup of coffee or tea, have you ever thought about whether that caffeinated beverage is <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/debunks-vices-coffee-caffeine/">good or bad for you</a>? <iframe title="Vices: Is coffee good or bad for you?" src="https://omny.fm/shows/debunks/vices-is-coffee-good-or-bad-for-you/embed?style=Cover" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0"></iframe> Most of us will drink coffee or tea each day. It helps keep us alert, especially in a world of the nine-to-five grind. Some workers rely on caffeine to get them through shift work and night shifts. Many, like me, would just collapse in a heap if it weren’t for that liquid black gold to keep us peppy in the morning. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What is caffeine?</h2> To get a better picture of how coffee or tea affects us, let’s examine the active ingredient: <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/podcast/huh-science-explained-stirring-the-science-of-caffeine/">caffeine</a>. Caffeine is a <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/caffeine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drug</a>. It’s a white, odourless substance known to chemists as 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine and is made up of 8 carbon, 10 hydrogen, 4 nitrogen and 2 oxygen atoms. Caffeine occurs naturally in coffee beans, cocoa beans, kola nuts, and tea leaves. It is an adenosine antagonist, blocking the A1, A2A, and A2B receptors in the brain and body to promote wakefulness. Normally, adenosine (a chemical compound with a similar 3D structure to caffeine) binds to its receptors, slowing neural activity and making you sleepy. When caffeine, instead, binds to the receptors, adenosine is blocked and brain activity speeds up, making you feel more alert. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">History lesson</h2> Tea and coffee are the most common way for humans to get their caffeine fix. Drinks made using coffee beans date back more than a thousand years to the coffee forests of the horn of Africa. Legend says that, around 800 CE, an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi noticed his goats were energetic and didn’t sleep when they ate the coffee beans. Coffee then spread eastward to the Arabian Peninsula, reaching Yemen in the 15th century, and Egypt, Syria, Persia and Turkey in the 1500s. From their it made it to Europe and eventually the whole world. But caffeine is also present in other beverages like tea, cola and even some foods like chocolate. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is it bad for you?</h2> Given how prevalent the drug is, are there negative side effects we should be worried about? For one thing, it is an addictive substance. And the more you drink, the more you need. “Our body tends to adjust to a new level of consumption,” Kitty Pham, a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia and expert in nutritional and genetic epidemiology, tells Cosmos. “Your body does develop a tolerance to the caffeine. So, you start to need to drink more and more to feel the same effect as before.” Caffeine can also act as an anxiogenic – a substance that can trigger heightened levels of anxiety. Pham notes some risks associated with too much caffeine consumption over a long period of time. “Greater than 6 cups per day, we did see an increase in dementia risk,” she notes. “There’s also some research on how it might increase your cholesterol. There’s a substance in coffee called cafestol that can regulate your blood cholesterol. If you’re drinking too much coffee, it might be increasing your cholesterol. So, there are risks, but often they are at really high consumption.” <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What’s the limit?</h2> So, how much caffeine is too much according to science? “That’s, the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” Pham laughs. “There’s a lot of varying research on it. It’s hard to tell a definite limit. But generally, most studies really agree that one to two cups of coffee, or an equivalent of 100 to 200 milligrams of caffeine is safe and okay.” The average cup of coffee has about 100 mg of caffeine. On average, instant coffee with one teaspoon of powder contains about 70 mg of caffeine, while a coffee pod has 60–90 mg. Other drinks containing might have even more caffeine, making it important to monitor your consumption more carefully. A 355 mL can of Red Bull energy drink has more than 110 mg of caffeine. Meanwhile, an average bar of dark chocolate has about 70 mg of caffeine. Many people are moving away from coffee to drinks like tea and matcha which may have <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/flavonoids-black-tea/">additional</a> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/tea-drinkers-may-well-live-longer/">health</a> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/black-tea-mortality-risk/">benefits</a>. A 100-gram cup of black tea has only about 20 mg of caffeine, while matcha can have 140–170 mg of caffeine! “Looking at the US, they usually recommend less than 400 milligrams. So overall, moderation and keeping your consumption to one to two cups – that’s what I’d recommend.” Now that I’ve written about caffeine, I think I need another cuppa. It’s only my second of the day, I swear. Image credits: Getty Images <div> <h3><a href="https://link.cosmosmagazine.com/JQ4R"><noscript data-spai="1"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-198773" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/ret_img/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Apple-Podcasts.svg" data-spai-egr="1" alt="Subscribe to our podcasts" width="300" height="54" title="should you be worried about the amount of coffee or tea you drink? 2"></noscript></a><a href="https://link.cosmosmagazine.com/JQ4U"><noscript data-spai="1"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-198773" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/ret_img/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Spotify.svg" data-spai-egr="1" alt="Subscribe to our podcasts" width="300" height="54" title="should you be worried about the amount of coffee or tea you drink? 3"></noscript></a></h3> </div>  <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/coffee-tea-caffeine-debunks/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/evrim-yazgin/">Evrim Yazgin</a>.

Body

The hilarious reason Dolly Parton turned down tea with Princess Kate

It's been a remarkable year for country legend Dolly Parton, that she even received an invitation to tea with Princess Kate Middleton. Unfortunately, the icon had to decline and shared the hilarious reason why on her latest interview with BBC Radio 2. “This time, Lordy, I even got invited to have tea with Kate but I couldn’t even go," the country queen revealed about her time in London. “I thought it was very sweet and nice of her to invite me and one of these days I’m going to get to do that – that would be great," she added. When asked why she couldn't attend the prestigious afternoon tea, Parton joked: “She wasn’t going to promote my rock album so I had to say no.” On a more serious note, she said that despite her love for the people and London, she "unfortunately" doesn't have enough time to explore the city while she's there on business. The icon has been booked and busy with an upcoming rock album that is set to be released on November. Earlier this month she released Let It Be, a cover of the iconic Beatles song which she sang with two members of the band Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. She's also been very active in her charity work, particularly her Imagination Library, which she founded and is currently expanding to help more children get free books up until they turn five. Images: Getty

Relationships

Raise a cup: Founder of beloved tea dies aged 93

Tributes are pouring in after news of the passing of Merrill J. Fernando, the visionary founder of the renowned Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company. At the age of 93, surrounded by his beloved sons and grandchildren, Fernando breathed his last in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Fernando's impact on the tea industry was profound, and he became well-known for his memorable line in advertisements, urging people to "do try it." As a true teamaker, disrupter, and servant, he dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in tea. In a heartfelt statement shared on social media, Dilmah Tea paid tribute to this legendary figure, acknowledging his invincible faith, integrity, and love for both tea and family. He was a man of unwavering devotion, tirelessly striving for integrity and quality, all while maintaining a humble and kind demeanour. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Surrounded by family, iconic Teamaker, Disrupter and Servant Merrill J Fernando passed this morning. His greatness was in kindness & humility, enabled by invincible faith. He pursued passion for tea to serve others. His generations will follow as he rests in the arms of his Lord. <a href="https://t.co/F90OgaCQZS">pic.twitter.com/F90OgaCQZS</a> — The Dilmah Family (@TheDilmahFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDilmahFamily/status/1681844254681776129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2023</a></blockquote> Fernando's journey from humble rural beginnings to global prominence was shaped by the Christian family values instilled in him during his upbringing. He lived by these values throughout his 93 years, leaving a legacy that touched countless lives. Beyond his entrepreneurial prowess, Merrill J. Fernando was a disruptor with a mission to better the lives of others through his passion for tea. He firmly believed that tea could bring positive change to the world. The statement highlighted his commitment to making the world a better place through the goodness of Ceylon Tea. In memory of the great man he was, a <a href="https://mjf.dilmahtea.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memorial website</a> has been set up on the Dilmah website. This platform allows the public to pay their respects and share their tributes to the industry giant who forever changed the landscape of tea. Merrill J. Fernando's departure leaves a void in the tea community, but his legacy will continue to inspire and shape the industry for generations to come. His dedication, humanity, and relentless pursuit of ethical purposes will forever remain an integral part of the Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company's identity. As we remember him, let us raise our cups in tribute to this remarkable man, who truly lived his life with taste, goodness, and a profound sense of purpose. Images: Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company

Caring

Does black tea improve heart health?

Tea is full of flavonoids: a class of substances thought to have a range of health benefits. They also appear in fruits and vegetables like berries, oranges and apples – as well as red wine and dark chocolate. An international team of researchers, based in Western Australia, has found a link between flavonoids and better arterial health. The study, which looked at the diets of 881 women aged between 78 and 82, found that those who consumed a lot of flavonoids – which in this group, mainly came from black tea – were less likely to have an extensive build-up of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC). AAC is a process in the body’s biggest artery (the aorta), and it’s a predictor of a range of health conditions including heart attacks, strokes and late-life dementia. “This research is really exciting because it’s the first time we have seen in humans, that higher long-term dietary flavonoid intake appears to protect against vascular calcification,” says lead researcher Ben Parmenter, a researcher at Edith Cowan University’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute. “While several studies have shown a potential link in rodents, ours is the first human study, linking total dietary flavonoid consumption with a lower propensity of the abdominal aorta to calcify.” The researchers examined data from the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women, a long-term study done on older, white Western Australian women to investigate bone health and calcium intake. “Recruitment for this study took place in 1998—back when I was in primary school!” says Parmenter. “It was at this time that the medical examinations and participant questionnaires were collected.” The researchers compared the diets each woman reported to their AAC. Black tea was the biggest source of flavonoids in the study, accounting for 76% of total flavonoid intake. Those who drank between two and six cups daily had a 16-42% lower chance of having extensive AAC. “Out of the women who don’t drink black tea, higher total non-tea flavonoid intake also appears to protect against extensive calcification of the arteries,” says Parmenter. Participants who had higher flavonoid intake in total had a 36-39% lower chance of extensive AAC. But some specific flavonoid sources – red wine, fruit juice and chocolate – weren’t associated with better AAC. Parmenter says that, since this study was done on a fairly select demographic, it’s hard to tell if the results would be similar younger people, males, or other ethnicities. “Although we hypothesis that the benefits are likely to extend to these demographics – ultimately, further research is needed to investigate this.” Next, the researchers are interested in looking at the relationship between flavonoids and stroke. “We previously released findings showing that higher habitual dietary flavonoid consumption associates with lower long-term risk of stroke, but we have now gone further, to investigate specific mechanisms,” says Parmenter. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/flavonoids-black-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Are herbal teas good for you?

If you’re a regular sipper of something herbal, chances are good that you’ve chosen your blend based on the way it tastes and the apparent health benefits of the blend in question. You might brew up a chamomile of an evening or put on a pot of peppermint when your tummy feels upset. But do these teas actually do what they say on the label? The short answer is yes! Herbal teas are a fantastic way to enjoy the medicinal properties of herbs in a safe and easily accessed way. If you’re keen to expand your “herbal tea wardrobe” try picking up a packet of one of the following next time you’re out shopping. 1. Green tea One of the herbal staples, green tea is often touted as a ‘super food’ (or drink) due to its high level of antioxidants. Recent research has also found that it contains high levels of L-thenanine, an amino acid that helps calm and soothe your system. If you’re not a fan of the taste of traditional blends, try Japanese green tea, which tends to be milder on the palette. 2. Chamomile tea Regularly drunk as a night time tea, chamomile flowers have a calming effect on the nervous system as well as on your digestive system, making them a great choice for when your tummy is unsettled or if you suffer from conditions like IBS. 3. Peppermint tea One of the most popular and easy to find teas, peppermint is widely regarded as a great digestive soother. These potent plants also have energy boosting properties and can help you remain alert. 4. Ginger tea Whether you use teabags or freshly grated root ginger, a ginger infusion is fantastic for increasing circulation and easing inflammation. This makes it especially good for the cooler months or for those who suffer joint problems. Image: Getty

Body

Mortali-tea! Black tea drinking linked to lower risk of dying

The health benefits of green tea are well-established, but black tea might be a good idea too, according to a new analysis. The study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, draws on data from nearly half a million people to find a link between black tea drinking and lower mortality risk. The researchers, who are based at the US National Institute of Health, examined data from the long-term UK Biobank study, which tracked a cohort of 502,488 UK residents aged between 40 and 69. Between 2006 and 2010, participants in this study regularly logged a range of lifestyle, and health-related information via touchscreens at assessment centres. This information included tea drinking, by number of cups per day. Among the 498,043 participants who logged tea-drinking information, 85% reported regularly drinking tea. Nearly a fifth of participants (19%) reported drinking more than six cups of tea per day. A separate survey of a smaller cohort of participants suggested that 89% of the tea drinkers drank black tea, while 7% drank green tea. According to the UN, the UK consumes around 100,000 tonnes of tea each year – or about 1.5 kilograms per person. The American researchers combined the tea-drinking information in the UK with mortality data. Once they’d adjusted for age and demographics, they found that participants who drank at least two cups of tea per day had a 9-13% lower risk of dying. Drinking 2-3 cups per day was associated with the lowest mortality risk, but even drinking 10 or more cups was linked to a lower mortality risk than drinking no tea at all. In their paper, the researchers say that their findings reflect similar studies based in China and Japan, where green tea is much more common than black. “Fewer studies have assessed tea intake and mortality in populations where black tea is predominantly consumed, such as in the United States and Europe, and results have varied across studies,” write the researchers. They point out, however, that they didn’t track some “potentially important aspects” like tea strength or cup size, making it harder to draw precise conclusions. While the study is observational and thus can’t establish a cause, the researchers point out that the polyphenols and flavonoids in black tea have been linked to a variety of health benefits in small randomized-control trials – including lower cholesterol, and a lower risk of carcinogenesis and type 2 diabetes. “These findings provide reassurance to tea drinkers and suggest that black tea can be part of a healthy diet,” write the researchers. This article originally appeared in <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/black-tea-mortality-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Homemade snack eaten by the Queen every day for over nine decades

A former royal chef has revealed that Queen Elizabeth II has been eating one particular snack ever since she was first served it as a child in the royal nursery. Darren McGrady worked for the royal family for almost two decades according to The Sun, and has since revealed some of the Queen’s favourite dishes and frequent requests, including one known as Jam Pennies. McGrady described Jam Pennies as a simple sandwich of “bread and jam with a little butter - usually strawberry jam”, and said the Queen has been eating them every day for 91 years. “We’d make the jam at Balmoral Castle with the gorgeous Scottish strawberries from the gardens,” he said. Meanwhile, another former royal chef has said the Queen is partial to a tuna and mayonnaise sandwich, a popular combination among Brits, but with her own twist. Owen Hodgson told the Telegraph that the monarch prefers hers well-buttered with cucumbers and pepper. Aside from sandwiches, McGrady has shared more insights into Her Majesty’s dining habits, including her insistence on having afternoon tea no matter where in the world she happens to be. The chef recalled one particular instance when he flew to Australia and settled aboard a royal yacht at 5am local time, which was five in the afternoon for the Queen - meaning his first task was to make scones. “In terms of scones - one day plain and one day with raisins folded through,” he said of the Queen’s usual afternoon tea spread. “Also, tiny pastries like raspberry tartlets and a cut cake, honey and cream sponge, fruit cake, banana bread, or her favourite chocolate biscuit cake. “It would all be washed down with a delightful steaming hot cup of Earl Grey tea.” Image: Getty Images

Food & Wine

Celebrity chef turns down tea with Queen for surprising reason

Italian chef Gino D’Acampo turned down an invitation to have tea with Queen Elizabeth II due to the presence of a particular food on the menu: cucumber sandwiches. The celebrity chef, who has hosted several UK food shows and runs multiple restaurants, was invited to Buckingham Palace prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but turned down the offer because he wasn’t “keen” on the menu of food and drinks being served. "I'm not very keen on tea or cucumber sandwiches,” he told the Daily Mail. "I was invited to the palace for tea just before Covid, but a cucumber sandwich is my worst nightmare. "I don't like tea either, so I phoned my agent and said: 'I'd love to meet her, but I don't like tea and cucumber sandwiches, and I can't do either of those things.” <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CebtSyul78g/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CebtSyul78g/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Gino D’Acampo (@iamginodacampo)</a> </div> </blockquote> Having to wear a tie and dressing fancily was another deterrent for D’Acampo, who claimed the last time he wore one was at his wedding, when he married his teenage sweetheart, Jessica Stellina Morrison, in 2002. "I'm also going to have to wear a tie, and the last time I did that was when I got married. I can't do that. But if I can have a plate of pasta and a cup of coffee, I'm in," he added. Though cucumber sandwiches might be his “worst nightmare”, his eponymous restaurant in Newcastle recently featured an Italian twist on the classic sandwich, replacing cucumbers with truffle cream cheese. Image: @iamginodacampo (Instagram)

Food & Wine

See inside the new experience exclusively for women

Step into a lavish world of hobnobbing, wine and lavish food with your very own butler at the latest, most exclusive event from Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). The <a href="https://mona.net.au/stuff-to-do/experiences/ladies-lounge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">High Tea for Two</a>, held in the museum’s opulent Ladies Lounge, was created by artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele and is an experience only available for women. Kaechele was inspired by the ladies-only parties thrown by her great-grandmother “Tootsie”, a scandalous socialite, which involved a fleet of dancing butlers, 400-year-old wines, and occasional visits from Spanish painter Pablo Picasso. With a dress code of green, gold, black and white finery, you can expect to be greeted by your butler with elbow-length velvet gloves and extravagant jewellery for you to wear, followed by a 12-course high tea in the chandelier-lit lounge where works from Picasso are among those donning the walls. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/mona-tea1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The High Tea for Two is inspired by the women-only parties held by its creator’s great-grandmother. Images: MONA Though the lounge is open to any women visiting the museum, high tea sessions are restricted to just two ladies, your butler Hepburn, his sidekick “Robinson”, and a blindfolded saxophonist - making you part of the artwork that others can observe. The two-hour experience runs twice daily (11am and 2.30pm) on Saturdays and Sundays, with the total $500 package including nibbles, matched drinks, butler service and museum entry. To book your experience, head <a href="https://culturalattractionsofaustralia.com/experiences/high-tea-for-two/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: MONA

Domestic Travel

Do you know where your last cup of tea came from?

With winter well and truly upon us, there’s no better way to beat the cold than with a cuppa while you cozy up in front of the TV. But how much better could that be if you knew you were also supporting a tea that’s 100 percent locally grown? Coming in as the second most consumed beverage in the world, it’s easy to see why a whopping 69% of our population have purchased tea over the last six months – with more than half of all tea lovers consuming the delicious beverage daily. However, would it surprise you to learn that only 1 in 10 cups of tea consumed in Australia are actually grown here? The Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland is home to a vast single-origin tea estate that is responsible for 85% of the tea grown in Australia. Proudly owned and run by Nerada Tea, it is the ideal climate to grow and produce tea of such outstanding quality. It’s amazing to think that right here in our very own backyard we have been cultivating some of the finest quality black, green and oolong tea in the world, amongst other variants. The estate itself is nestled between Queensland’s highest mountain ranges in the rich volcanic soils at an altitude of around 750 metres. This pristine environment and unique aspects all serve a significant purpose in giving Nerada Tea the distinctive flavour profile that Aussies have come to know and love. Not only is it proudly Australian grown, but Nerada Tea is 100% pesticide free – which further enhances the quality and authentic taste, compared to its international counterparts where pests and other insects remain a persistent issue in the industry. Additionally, Nerada is Rainforest Alliance certified – and at a time where sustainability matters now more than ever, this stamp of approval ensures the tea you’re consuming was produced with our environment firmly top of mind. By making the choice to purchase locally grown produce, you are not only supporting local businesses, you’re helping to ensure a bright future for both the Aussie tea industry and our economy. This keeps rural job opportunities plentiful – so what better time could there be to make the switch to an all Aussie brew! In 2021, Nerada proudly celebrated 50 years of the Nerada brand – it’s a huge achievement and Nerada are excited to be shining a spotlight on locally grown tea. The inaugural “Aussie Tea Month” took place in May and will be an annual celebration of the quality and diversity of Australian Tea. David Lyons, Founding Director of the Australian Tea Cultural Society, said, "It is brilliant to see tea in Australia continuing to grow and evolve. International Tea Day, and now Aussie Tea Month, are great ways of celebrating the ingenuity of the tea industry." <img style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/55-Nerada-044A1878_O60.jpg" alt="Nerada Tea" width="1280" height="720" /> “There is such a wonderful tea culture here in Australia. We feel honoured to have played a significant part of Australia’s tea history,” adds Nerada Tea Plantation Director Tony Poyner. “It’s testament to the perseverance of many of the pioneers in Queensland, such as the Taylor and Russell families who were determined to grow world-class tea on Australian soil. We’ll continue to refine our craft and bring tea lovers a quality range of black tea and infusions”. Nerada was recently awarded the 2022 Canstar Blue Award for Most Satisfied Customers for black tea – another endorsement for the quality of this locally grown brew. So next time you do your weekly shop, take a moment to consider where your beloved cuppa actually comes from – and think local before you pour yourself that beloved Aussie Brew. To find out more about the history of Nerada Tea as a great Australian tradition, <a href="https://neradatea.com.au/blogs/history/australian-tea?utm_source=Over+60s&utm_medium=Native&utm_campaign=Black+Tea+Aus+Grown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HcC8wGabosA" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a href="https://neradatea.com.au?utm_source=Over+60s&utm_medium=Native&utm_campaign=Black+Tea+Aus+Grown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nerada Tea</a>.

Food & Wine

Tea drinkers may well live longer

<div class="copy"> Tea is good for you, according to new research from – perhaps not surprisingly – China. Habitual consumption – defined as at least three times a week – is associated with lower risks of cardiovascular disease and all-cause death, according to Xinyan Wang from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. In other words, it contributes both to longer life expectancy and more healthy years of life. The favourable health effects appear to be particularly robust for green tea and for those with a long-term love of it. In their study, Wang and colleagues followed 100,902 participants in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27682885">China-PAR</a> Project who had no history of heart attack, stroke or cancer for a median of 7.3 years. All were classified into one of two groups – habitual and never / non-habitual. Regular drinkers were found to have a 20% lower risk of incident heart disease and stroke, a 22% lower risk of fatal heart disease and stroke, and a 15% decreased risk of all-cause death. The analyses estimated, for example, that 50-year-old habitual tea drinkers would develop coronary heart disease and stroke 1.41 years later and live 1.26 years longer than those who never or seldom drank tea. The potential influence of changes in tea drinking behaviour were analysed in a subset of 14,081 participants with assessments at two time points. Habitual drinkers who maintained their habit had a 39% lower risk of incident heart disease and stroke, 56% lower risk of fatal heart disease and stroke, and 29% decreased risk of all-cause death compared to consistent never or non-habitual tea drinkers. “Mechanism studies have suggested that the main bioactive compounds in tea, namely polyphenols, are not stored in the body long-term,” says Dongfeng Gu, senior author of a <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2047487319894685">paper</a> in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. “Thus, frequent tea intake over an extended period may be necessary for the cardioprotective effect.” The study found green tea to be more beneficial than black, though Gu acknowledges that may be because of the preferences of those studied. Only a few preferred black tea. Nevertheless, the researchers say their findings “hint at a differential effect between tea types” – and suggest two factors may be at play. First, green tea is a rich source of the polyphenols which protect against cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, but black tea is fully fermented and during this process polyphenols are oxidised into pigments and may lose their antioxidant effects. Second, black tea is often served with milk, which <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/28/2/219/2887513">previous research</a> has shown may counteract the favourable health effects of tea on vascular function. <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=34602&title=Tea+drinkers+may+well+live+longer" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></div> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/nutrition/tea-drinkers-may-well-live-longer/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/nick-carne">Nick Carne</a>. </div>

Food & Wine

Woolworths sends shoppers wild over $8 beverage

Woolworths shoppers have gone into a frenzy after a video posted to TikTok revealed the supermarket now stocks bubble tea kits for just $8. New Zealand brand Avalanche are the ones behind the DIY Bubble Tea Kits, with Woolworths across Australia exclusively stocking them in Milky (Original), Strawberry, Peach, Caramel, Brown Sugar, Mango, Matcha and Taro flavours. Each pack comes with five servings. Adelaide food TikToker Brittany Boyle was the one who shared the clip, saying her experience with the popular beverage was "fantastic". <img style="width: 500px; height: 279.1666666666667px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841822/screen-shot-2021-06-16-at-110436-am.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ccca23ab1df4440286575893023960e4" /> “PSA for all my bubble tea lovers,” Boyle posted. “Woolworths now sell bubble tea kits.” Speaking to Pedestrian TV, Boyle said the taro and peach flavours were "delicious". “But I’d definitely recommend using milk instead of water for the milky teas and instead of microwaving the pearls soak them in hot water,” she added. “[It] tastes so much better that way.” In a statement, Woolworths Merchandise Manager, Cormac Deery, told news.com.au they “love seeing customers enjoy the new Avalanche Bubble Tea and sharing their excitement online”. “Customers are clearly enjoying the product and flavours available too as there’s been a noticeable spike in demand on the range, particularly over the weekend,” he added. “We have no doubt TikTok has played a large part in the awareness of the range.” The range has hit shelves in all states and territories bar Western Australia. But there's no need for concern, as shoppers can expect to find it within the next 24-48 hours. Boyle’s video was viewed by close to two million people, many of them commenting how excited they were about getting their hands on the product. “Looks like I’m taking a trip to Woolworths in the morning then,” one of the 15,000 people to comment wrote. “I’m so mad that it’s 11.45 pm now and I have to wait till tomorrow to get some,” said another.

Food & Wine

Mind-blowing lettuce hack to help you fall asleep in seconds

If you find yourself laying in bed at night unable to sleep, then you may want to pop the kettle on. But rather than making a cuppa right before bed, try boiling lettuce in a mug, a hack people claim is putting them to sleep in seconds. While it sounds absolutely insane, there is some truth to the mind-blowing hack, according to the experts, and it's a sure way to tackle insomnia. TikTok user Shapla Hoque first made the claim in a clip she shared online, which has garnered over 4.8 million views. In the clip, Ms Hoque boiled a kettle and poured the boiling water on some washed lettuce leaves which were shoved in a mug, before removing them as she sipped on the water. Worried it would taste disgusting, she popped in a peppermint tea bag for taste, however this isn't a required step - you could try camomile instead which is known to induce sleep. At first, the nightcap makes her "a bit drowsy" and then in what seems like no time at all, she's completely knocked out in her bed. Desperate for a decent sleep, people took to the comments and revealed they would give it a go, with one admitting: “On my way to the shop to buy 30 lettuces.” While someone else said, “My mum used to do this for me, boiled water and leave it in the pan for 5 min on a minimum heat, always worked a treat and it’s all natural.” So how does it actually work? Studies from 2013 and 2017 say that lettuce, particularly romaine, contains a phytonutrient, called lactucarium, which is said to induce sleep and relieve pain. According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ladbible.com/" target="_blank">LadBible</a>, the 2017 report stated: “Lactuca sativa (lettuce), an annual herb which belongs to the Compositae family, is known for its medicinal value. Traditionally, lettuce has been suggested to have a sedative-hypnotic property.” And concluded: “The results of this study show that lettuce, especially romaine lettuce, is an interesting and cheap source of sleep-potentiating material and antioxidant polyphenols. “The seed and leaf extracts derived from romaine lettuce potentiates the pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviour in mice.”

Body

Urgent recall issued for popular tea sold by major supermarkets

A popular herbal tea has been removed off Australian supermarket shelves over fears of chemical contamination. Authorities said some batched of Nerada Organics Lemon & Ginger Organic Herbal Infusion Tea was found to have ethylene oxide contamination inside its tea bags. Food Standards Australia has issued a warning to customers, saying they should not consume the tea that is widely sold in Woolworths, Coles and IGA. Nerada Tea Pty Ltd is conducting the recall due to the product potentially causing illness or injury from anyone who consumes it. Ethylene oxide exposure can cause local irritation of the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract, affect the nervous system and in extreme long-term cases has also been associated with increases in cancer rates, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/ethlyene-oxide.aspx" target="_blank">NSW Health</a>. “Consumers should not consume this product and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund,” <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/industry/foodrecalls/recalls/Pages/Nerada-Organics-Lemon-&-Ginger-Organic-Herbal-Infusion-Tea-60g-.aspx" target="_blank">Food Standards Australia said on Monday.</a> The product was sold in Woolworths in NSW, the ACT and Queensland. Coles customers in NSW, ACT and Victoria have also been warned. It was also on shelves in IGA in NSW, ACT, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and WA. The recall relates to any products with Best Before dates showing from 08/01/23 up to and including 22/01/23.

Legal

Dressed to a tea! Kmart super fan shows off incredible dress made from tea towels

A Kmart lover has revealed her marvellous creation using 11 decorative tea towels. Taking to a Kmart Facebook group, shopper Selika shared a video which showed how she transformed a popular cockatoo tea towel into a beautiful frock. With the popular kitchen buys costs just $1.50 each, meaning Selika made the dress for just $16.50. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838024/kmart-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2960a97f6a2349c8b49797c0d880e57f" /> “No way I’m letting this beautiful print be just a tea towel,” Selika said in a post on the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/330596703984165" target="_blank">Kmart Home Decor & Hacks Australia</a> group. “When a $1.50 tea towel turned into a one-in-a-million dress. I’m calling it a tea towel dress! “Made with 11 Kmart tea towels.” Selika started unpicking the hems on all 11 tea towels. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838027/kmart-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ce0f0e6afdb94ba5a975ed4b2c86e729" /> The shopper then went on to line them up to make one large piece of fabric and sewed the pieces together. Finally using a dress pattern, she was able to cut and sew the fabric into the one-off creation. Kmart fans were blown away by Selika’s skills. “So creative and such a stunning style of dress too!” said one. Added wrote: “Love it, unbelievable!” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838027/kmart-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ce0f0e6afdb94ba5a975ed4b2c86e729" /> A third chimed in by writing: “Very clever and unique. Well done. I would probably need 87 tea towels to make a dress!” The decorative tea towels have been used to make baby clothes, bags and even re-cover dining chairs and proves to be a popular item.

Beauty & Style

An open letter to lovers of tea: Do you know what’s in your cuppa?

Greetings from Sri Lanka, where we make the world’s finest tea. My name is Dilhan, son of the most passionate and experienced Teamaker in the world, Merrill J. Fernando. Together with my brother Malik, we are a family of tea growers, now in the second generation with a third in training. You may know our father as Mr. Dilmah. He was the first tea farmer to offer his tea, picked, perfected, packed and shipped from where it’s grown, direct to tea drinkers around the world. When he first launched <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.dilmah.com.au/" target="_blank">Dilmah</a> 33 years ago in Australia, he offered the great taste of Single Origin Tea, the natural goodness in garden-fresh tea, and the ethical purpose of a family business formed on family values. Nothing has changed since then and we maintain an uncompromising commitment to our father’s founding principles. However, much has changed in the world of tea, with profit too often replacing quality. For us, as tea growers, that compromise is not an option. As you choose your tea in stores or online, we would like to explain exactly what’s in your cup of Dilmah Tea and why it is important. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Foversixtys%2Fvideos%2F279629359932751%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> Taste – My father made a commitment to Single Origin Tea from Ceylon, now called Sri Lanka, and we honour that commitment with no compromise. Tea is blessed with terroir – the sense of place that expresses sunshine, wind, rain and the fingerprint of Nature to produce great taste, aroma and character – the personality of a tea. Purity of origin – provenance – is important in tea because it is Nature that is the real Teamaker, and our role is simply to nurture her perfect work. There is no reason to blend or mix teas from different places and it is generally done for profit – to reduce cost. That comes at the cost of quality. Terroir is the reason our Dilmah Premium Ceylon expresses the heart of Ceylon Tea through the strength and brightness of tea grown in the Dimbula Valley, while our Dilmah Extra Strength Tea is so very different – grown at around 2,000 feet above sea level and therefore malty, intense and strong. Goodness – is how tea was first discovered. The people who picked tea 5,000 years ago, were physicians, who recognised the health benefits that the leaf offers, and considered tea a medicine. The reason for that is the antioxidants in tea, which scientists say may be responsible for the wellness in a cup of tea. Your tea needs to be garden fresh though, as fresh tea is richer in flavour and natural goodness. As tea ages in ships, warehouses and is blended, it absorbs moisture which can offset the natural goodness and taste in tea. That is why my father fought a colonial economic system for 37 years – to be able to grow and offer his Dilmah Tea direct from our tea gardens. Purpose – We are a family business, and we exist because of my father’s love for tea but equally because of his desire for integrity. He wanted to share the success of his dream of a genuinely ethical tea, with tea pickers and their families, people with disabilities, and marginalised people in the wider community. He made a commitment – a minimum 15% of our pre-tax profits – to be used by his Merrill J. Fernando Charitable Foundation to address inequality, promote education, strengthen communities and a lot more. An additional amount – now around a million dollars each year – to Dilmah Conservation for climate change research & adaptation, environmental education, species conservation, sustainable agriculture and more. Please have a look at <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.dilmahconservation.org" target="_blank">www.dilmahconservation.org</a>. My father was blessed to reach the age of 90 in May, and he also commemorated 70 years in tea – making him the most experienced Teamaker in service today. His greatest joy is the work of his Foundation. We have established over 2000 entrepreneurs, empowering them with dignity to overcome poverty, gender inequality, and disability. This and other programmes have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of less privileged children, youth, women and men. Have a look here if you want to know more <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.mjffoundation.org" target="_blank">www.mjffoundation.org</a>. Great Taste, natural Goodness, ethical Purpose. That’s what’s in your cup of Dilmah Tea. Written by Dilhan Fernando, tea grower and CEO of <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.dilmah.com.au/" target="_blank">Dilmah Tea</a>. This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.dilmah.com.au/" target="_blank">Dilmah Tea</a>.

Body

Make your own mask from a tea towel, t-shirt or vacuum bag

The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has led to a shortage of protective face masks, leading to a number of online tutorials on how to make your own using items found around the house. Homemade masks offer significantly less protection than the N95 medical masks, which are made of a thick, tightly woven material that fits over the face and can stop 95 per cent of all airborne particles. And while many health organisations have recommended to ditch the masks unless in a medical setting, there is a good reason to think DIY masks could be effective in tackling the pandemic. They’ve been used extensively in countries such as Hong Kong, Mongolia and South Korea – places that have the disease largely under control. The World Health Organisation also does not recommend that people without the illness wear the face mask, but they’re looking at reversing their decision due to evidence from Hong Kong that it may be effective in fighting the virus. Here’s how you can make your own at home using a kitchen towel What you will need: <ul> <li>Kitchen towel</li> <li>One tissue</li> <li>Masking tape</li> <li>Elastic bands</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Cut both the paper towel and tissue in half and apply masking tape on each end to make sure the mask is stiff.</li> <li>Punch holes through either end of the mask and thread the elastic bands through the holes.</li> </ol> Your mask is ready in two simple steps. How to make a face mask with a t-shirt A tutorial by YouTuber Runa Ray shows how to make a face mask with a t-shirt, no sewing required. What you will need: <ul> <li>Scissors</li> <li>Pencil</li> <li>Ruler</li> <li>Unwanted t-shirt</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Cut out a 16" by 4" rectangle from the middle of the t-shirt, then fold it in half, and measure four inches on either side.</li> <li>Mark the t-shirt with an even number of tassels on each side and use scissors to cut them.</li> <li>Turn the t-shirt inside out and separate the corner tassels, but tie the remaining ones in-between.</li> <li>With the remaining t-shirt material cut some ear straps using the hem of the shirt. </li> <li>Attach the straps to the remaining outer tassels and you have yourself a face mask, with no sewing involved, and using an old t-shirt.</li> </ol> How to make a face mask from vacuum cleaner bags What you will need: <ul> <li>Vacuum bag</li> <li>Paperclip</li> <li>Two rubber bands</li> <li>Stapler</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Cut the bag into a rectangle. Make sure to keep all the layers together.</li> <li>With the inside of the bag facing upwards fold twice along the bottom and top.</li> <li>Fold both bottom corners of the bag.</li> <li>Get a paperclip or other thin wire and straighten it out.</li> <li>Take two rubber bands and fold the far ends around them. Staple the folds to secure them.</li> <li>Push the straightened wire through the centre of the top.</li> <li>Stretch the rubber bands around your ears to hold the mask against your face. Pinch the wire to secure around your nose.</li> </ol>

Art

Why does lemon juice lighten the colour of tea?

I’ve always wondered what happens when pouring a few drops of lemon juice into a cup of tea (no milk added). Why does it lighten the tea’s colour? – Michel, Paris To answer this question, we need to think about the molecules that give a cup of tea its colour - and how lemon juice affects them. Tea is typically made from the plant Camellia sinensis. It is one of the most consumed beverages (second only to water) globally and is ranked as the <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4480e.pdf">most consumed manufactured drink</a>. The origins of its consumption were first recorded more than 5,000 years ago, so it is also one of the world’s oldest drinks. Tea has been used for a variety of health conditions in China since ancient times, and it took time (around 1,000 years) to change from being seen as a medicine to today’s “every day drink”. Some of the health benefits of tea are now receiving <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-five-reasons-to-put-the-kettle-on-and-have-a-cup-of-tea-42419">renewed attention</a>. <h2>The colour of tea</h2> Today, tea varieties are heavily dependent on the processing techniques after harvest. These include oxidation and fermentation of tea leaves, which change their colour and flavour. Use of these manufacturing techniques provides six distinctive categories of tea, based primarily on colour: green, yellow, dark, white, oolong, and black. Black tea and green tea are often (but not always) obtained from the same plant but their chemical makeup is vastly different. The leaves used for green tea production are heated either by steam, pan frying, roasting or baking immediately after harvesting. This process stops chemical reactions driven by the enzyme polyphenol oxidase that would otherwise oxidise coloured chemicals such as polyphenols (catechins). This results in tea keeping its familiar yellow-green colour. Once the leaves are “fixed” they are soft – and are then rolled and dried to become the product we see on supermarket shelves. The production of black tea depends on the enzymes being allowed to oxidise the catechins completely to form new chemicals – these are pigments (theaflavin and thearubigin) that provide the characteristic dark colour. Although thearubigins are less common in your black teabag (around 10-20% of the dry weight), they are more soluble – so when you make a brew these compounds can account for up to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780080453828001088">60% of the solids</a> suspended in the solution. In broad terms, all other colour categories of tea fit between green and black. So categorisation of teas based simply on colour mostly depends on the type and amounts of these compounds found in the brewed product. <h2>What happens when lemon juice is added?</h2> The thearubigins in brewed tea are highly coloured (red-brown) molecules that <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030881460100108X">change according to the acidity of the liquid used</a>. If the water used for the tea infusion is relatively alkaline (for example, due to limescale found in “hard” water), the colour of the tea will be darker and deeper. However, once an acid such as a slice of lemon or lemon juice is added, tea changes colour because of an increase in acidity (reduction in pH) of the beverage itself. Lemon juice is quite strong as a food acid – a few drops are enough to alter the theaurbigins, resulting in a dramatic change in colour. Interestingly, theaflavins are not that affected by the change in acidity, and still retain their normal dark red colour. In a case of green tea, the addition of lemon juice will also affect the colour through a similar process. This results in a much paler beverage - beyond the level that would occur just by initial tea suspension. <h2>Does lemon juice make your tea healthier?</h2> The beneficial health effects of tea are linked to its total polyphenol content, mainly the catechins. However, one of the problems with these compounds is that they are rather unstable. When alkaline (hard) water is used, they break down relatively quickly (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814603000621">within a few minutes of brewing</a>). Even if they do remain in solution, the absorption of these compounds is low (less than 2%), and can also be inhibited by the <a href="http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/4/2/373">food consumed with your cuppa</a>. Increasing the acidity of drinks has been shown to improve the stability of catechins in beverages. This is one of the main reasons why drinks such as iced teas tend to be quite acidic. However, to make them more palatable, relatively high levels of sweeteners (mainly sugars) are also added. So, all up, although the key compounds in your cup of tea tend to degrade quickly, the addition of lemon does protect them temporarily from this breakdown. But it’s not a huge effect. Adding lemon can enhance the flavour and enjoyment of tea, and change its colour, but its best not to expect any extra boosts to your health.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91324/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Written by Nenad Naumovski, Asistant Professor in Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Canberra and Duane Mellor, Senior lecturer, Coventry University. Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/ive-always-wondered-why-does-lemon-juice-lighten-the-colour-of-tea-91324" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

Food & Wine

A real princess: Duchess Kate’s special tea party for cancer patients melts hearts everywhere

It was a scene many young children have imagined- a princess tea party with a real life princess. Duchess Catherine attended an important tea party set up for her at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital during the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Royal Tour in Pakistan. The mother of three happily obliged to wear a toy tiara when she visited 7-year-old Wafia Rehmani, while Prince William playfully sipped out of a tiny pink cup “brimming” with hot tea. The young patient, from over the border in Afghanistan, is battling a kidney tumour but hopes to be a doctor when she grows up. Wafia showed the Duke and Duchess her own toy medical kit. Princess Diana visited the same hospital over 20 years ago in 1996 and 1997. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3tCIhCFRfS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3tCIhCFRfS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal)</a> on Oct 16, 2019 at 8:07pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Earlier in the day, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Badshahi Mosque inside the Walled City for an interfaith meeting to talk about promoting harmony and community. The royal couple also stopped by the National Cricket Academy in Lahore and both stepped up to the pitch. Prince William even managed to hit the ball for a six. The Duchess of Cambridge also gave her first speech of the tour at SOS Children's Village in Lahore, speaking parts of it in Urdu.

Beauty & Style

Tea drinkers at risk of ingesting billions of plastic particles

A single tea bag may leave billions of microplastic particles in your cup, a new study has found. Research published by the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science & Technology discovered that one plastic tea bag released about 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into brewing water – thousands of times higher than those previously recorded in other foods. “We were very, very surprised,” Dr Nathalie Tufenkji, a professor of chemical engineering at McGill University and co-author of the study, told <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/5948570/plastic-teabags-microplastics-in-tea/">Global News</a>. “We thought [plastic teabags] maybe release a couple of hundred [plastic] particles, maybe a few thousand. So we were really shocked when we saw they’re releasing billions of particles into a cup of tea.” The study, which analysed four different commercial teas in plastic packaging, found that the teabags shed two different types of plastic particles that are invisible to the naked eye: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon. The McGill University researchers said it is not known whether the ingestion of micro- and nanoplastics could have adverse effects on human’s health. In its first report on the health risks of plastic in tap and bottled water released last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) said microplastics “don’t appear to pose a health risk at current levels”. However, the WHO said the findings were based on “limited information” and called for more research on the matter. Researcher Laura Hernandez told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49845940">BBC</a> shoppers should avoid plastic packaging instead of specific brands. Some tea manufacturers are moving away from paper in favour of plastic mesh to create a pyramid shape, which was claimed as helping the tea leaves infuse better. Many teabags on the market also use polypropylene as a sealant, preventing the bag from breaking in the cup. “We encourage consumers to choose loose teas that is sold without packaging or other teas that come in paper teabags,” said Hernandez. “There is really no need to package tea in plastic, which at the end of the day becomes single-use plastic, which is contributing to you not just ingesting plastic but to the environmental burden of plastic.” Last year, a study of 250 water bottles from nine different countries revealed that microplastics were found in nearly all major brands. Sherri Mason, a professor of chemistry at the State University of New York at Fredonia and the research’s leader said the study is not about “pointing fingers” at certain brands. “It’s really showing that this is everywhere, that plastic has become such a pervasive material in our society, and it’s pervading water — all of these products that we consume at a very basic level,” she told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43388870">BBC</a>. <a href="https://wwf.panda.org/our_work/markets/?348375/Plastic-ingestion-by-humans-could-equate-to-eating-a-credit-card-a-week">A study released by the University of Newcastle</a> in June suggested that the average person consumes 5 grams of plastic every week, or about a credit card’s weight.

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Should you be worried about the amount of coffee or tea you drink?

The hilarious reason Dolly Parton turned down tea with Princess Kate