Smoking Tea: Myths, Facts, and Health Effects
A lot of us start our busy mornings with a warm cup of Tea, steeped perfectly and added with just the right amount of milk and choice of sweetener. The aroma wafting from the cup feels like a second home to most of us.
Now pause; what if you smoked it instead?
Sounds atrocious (or maybe intriguing?)!
Whatever your first thought on this practice might be, we are sure you are curious to know more! So, here is everything: myths, facts, and effects of smoking tea. Dive in to know more.
An Aromatic Cup vs Charred Leaves:
So, how did this practice come into reality?
Was it practiced in the 19th Century by a monk?
Interestingly, the practice of smoking green Tea does not come from history books. Ancient Mayans and Aztec cultures often enjoyed tobacco rolled in the form of cigars. However, they never used tea leaves for smoking. The allure behind smoking tea leaves could have originated as a misunderstanding of this practice.
Tea, which took form in ancient China, was revered for its medicinal properties that instill calmness and relaxation in the drinker. Smoking Tea, on the other hand, disregards this ancient practice and replaces it with the harsh and destructive method of smoking green teas.
When you steep your Tea, the hot water extracts antioxidants and polyphenols from the tea leaves. On the other hand, burning it destroys these components, thus offering you no health advantages.
So, does smoking tea make you high? The answer is no!
As it is a common experience to get high when you smoke select leaves such as tobacco, tea leaves do not give you this effect. Tea leaves lack psychoactive components like nicotine. Thus, when you burn them, you do not get high!
What is the Upside of Smoking Tea?
Frankly, none!
Smoking tea is a gateway to everything bad, with no tangible benefit in sight.
What is the Downside of Smoking Tea?
So is smoking tea harmful? Now that we know there is no benefit to smoking Tea, let us explore the bitter truth behind it.
1. Inhaling your way to cancer:
When you burn tea leaves, they turn into tar and other cancer-causing compounds that elevate your risk of acquiring lung cancer.
2. A major irritant:
Smoking green tea is nothing like the calming experience of drinking a cup of traditional Tea. Smoking irritates your airways, makes you wheeze and cough, and gives you breathing difficulty. It’s not exactly a relaxing experience, is it?
3. An added ingredient:
There is a surprise ingredient in tea leaves that makes smoking an even more unpleasant experience.
If you said pesticides, you are right!
And trust us when we say that inhaling is even more dangerous than actually consuming it.
So, Green Tea Cigarettes are Not Good for you?
There is a common belief among the masses that anything that says “Green Tea” is supposed to be good for you.
This is the biggest myth of all!
Green Tea cigarettes, even though they are marketed as healthy, do not even offer a minute amount of health benefit. They are a mixture of green Tea and nicotine, which does not have a single ounce of antioxidants but the full negative impact of tobacco.
Furthermore, when you inhale green tea smoke, it is introduced to the lungs, which are not equipped with nutrient absorption. Your digestive system is well-equipped to absorb the nutrients when you consume Tea after steeping it.
So, next time a company markets their Green tea cigarettes as healthy, you know who to run away from!
So, how do you get the benefits that Tea has to offer?
Why worry about getting the benefits of Tea when you actually have a traditionally proven (not to mention delicious) method of consuming it?
Here are some delectable ways in which you can enjoy your favorite beverage while also getting your antioxidants:
1. Steep, Sip, Repeat:
Loose tea leaves steeped in hot water and spiced with your favorite condiments is the best way to go. A truly relaxing experience!
2. Organic is the way to go:
If you are willing to spare the extra buck when it comes to quality ingredients, then organic tea leaves are something that can be worth your investment.
3. Brewing it the right way:
When you brew tea leaves for the perfect time and at the right temperature, you do not just end up with a delicious beverage but a healthy drink enriched with antioxidants.
4. Widen your Palette:
There is a wide range of teas, from fruit teas to classic black ones. If you love Tea, then embarking on this culinary experience can be worth exploring.
Conclusion
Although smoking Tea is proven to be harmful, alternative methods of tea consumption are still undergoing research. Many advanced technologies, such as micronized tea powders to sprinkle on food or misting technologies that deliver highly concentrated tea mists, show promising development. But these technologies are becoming an everyday reality well into the future.
In conclusion, smoking Tea comes with all the harm and no fun. So, instead of using tea leaves to make charred smoke, use them to make a perfectly good cup of Tea and have a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing experience!
Demystifying Smoking Tea: FAQs
1. Can Smoking Tea help me to quit smoking?
No. Smoking tea does not help you quit smoking. Additionally, it comes with its health risks, thus making it strictly unadvisable.
If you want to quit smoking, consult a healthcare professional for guidance and only follow proven procedures.
2. Is there any way to inhale Tea?
There are no methods to inhale Tea without the risks of health safely. There are emerging methods, such as tea vaporizers, that claim to negate the harmful effects, but their long-term risks still need to be completely understood.
The best way to consume Tea is to brew it for the time being.
3. What if I inhaled some tea dust?
Small amounts of tea dust are not proven hazardous to your body. However, if you feel discomfort or difficulty breathing, consult a doctor or a healthcare professional.
