COVID-19
Instead of hoarding toilet paper and disinfectant, perhaps we should fill our cupboards with tea?
Studies have shown that tea can influence immune cells and thus our immune defense, helping them reach their targets more quickly. White, green, and yellow teas have been used for centuries to help keep the immune system strong, thanks to their antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.
I have been quite surprised by how many people have reached out regarding the COVID-19 virus, concerned that tea from China may be contaminated. There is absolutely no reason for concern in that regard. The tea you drink was harvested in 2019, long before the outbreak of the virus. The 2020 harvest has only just begun, and the rare first flush teas have not yet reached the European market, partly due to high prices and partly due to the Chinese demand for these unique teas.
Regarding the 2020 harvest, our tea is collected at a warehouse in China, and before the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (FVST) has approved the paperwork and inspected and tested the tea, it will take several more months before it appears on Simply Tea’s shelves. It is indeed a long process to get the tea here.
The tea is grown in China’s rural areas, especially in the mountainous regions. The tea pickers and farmers are very local and not particularly mobile, which greatly limits the likelihood of contamination. If it is assumed that an infected tea picker were to contaminate the tea leaves, the virus would disappear during the withering process. If it is assumed that a production worker were to contaminate the withered leaves, the virus would disappear during processing, drying, and packaging. If it is assumed that the tea becomes contaminated during transport, the virus would not survive the long journey to Europe. COVID-19 spreads through droplets and does not remain on surfaces for more than 48 hours.
What could be affected by the virus is the harvest—such as not being able to harvest in the spring due to a lack of labor. The amount of first flush tea would be quite limited in this scenario, and prices would therefore rise significantly. Logistics could also become a problem, as freight forwarders and shipping companies are operating at reduced capacity during these times. However, China seems to be gradually starting up again.
Immune Defense
According to immunologist Jack F. Bukowski, who researches tea, one of the most important chemical compounds in tea is L-theanine, which has been shown to have a significant impact on the immune system. Bukowski stated in an interview on August 4, 2003, that he was not looking for benefits from drinking tea when he started his research. What he was looking for was to understand how certain components of the human immune system, called T-lymphocytes, and a specific subgroup called Gamma Delta T-lymphocytes, recognize foreign antigens, such as foreign bacteria and viruses. Bukowski conducted many experiments in test tubes and concluded that L-theanine can prepare the immune system, as Gamma Delta T-cells would be more ready and able to respond to these.
Bukowski believes that L-theanine is broken down in the liver into ethylamine, a molecule that prepares the response from an immune system element called gamma-delta T-cells.
L-theanine
L-theanine is formed in the roots of the tea plant Camellia sinensis and is released when the buds and the first and second leaves are produced. First flush tea contains large amounts of the amino acid L-theanine. As soon as the buds and leaves are exposed to sunlight, L-theanine is converted into polyphenols. Simply Tea selects the tea with the highest amino acid content, as it provides the well-known umami flavor and numerous health benefits. L-theanine is considered the most important nutrient in tea. You can read more here: Simply Tea – Tea Chemistry
Yellow Tea
One of the teas that contains the highest amount of L-theanine is Mo Gan Huang Ya, a yellow tea. The tea bushes grow high on Mount Mo Gan, located in western Zhejiang, and are famous for their mist, clouds, green bamboo groves, clear springs, and waterfalls. This super microclimate nourishes the growth of the tea plants.
Due to its special processing, where the tea is steamed in a cloth over charcoal, the amount of L-theanine is increased, making yellow tea one of the tea categories with the highest L-theanine content. This processing also helps to alter the nutrients in the tea, making it gentle on the stomach and soothing for the body. Five to six years of aging rounds the tea out, making it a very unique experience that one should treat oneself to.
Research on Tea and Immune Defense
Always remember to keep an open mind regarding research and make your own assessments to see what works best for you.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18254876
https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5710/2/2/13/htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4772912
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6377763
https://www.jimmunol.org/content/190/1_Supplement/61.10
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567576917304423
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0012878