Tea has become a popular hot energy drink with different ingredients and aroma from all over the world ever since Emperor Shen Nung discovered tea almost 5000 years ago in China.
Many people also are not aware of the fact that tea contains polyphenols. These micronutrients are filled with antioxidants, and other properties that help prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is known that drinking 5-6 cups of oolong tea a day can reduce the risk of diabetes.
In Japan, Chado (the Japanese tea ceremony) is one of the arts a woman learns as part of preparation for marriage and they influence the major streams of art and aesthetics in the society. The purpose of the Japanese tea ceremony is to create the bonding between the host and guest and also gain inner peace.
Here in Manipur as-well, people show their love and respect by welcoming their guest with a delicious cup of tea. It is also often served halfway of a heavy schedule to refresh and energize the body of those involved. Some people start the day with a delicious cup of tea regularly.
Today, let’s learn the benefits of black rice tea. Black rice belongs to Oryza sativa L. species. Here we have 11 benefits and uses of aromatic black rice tea popularly known as Chakhao cha in Manipuri :
- Good source of several nutrients
- Rich in antioxidants
- Contains the plant compound anthocyanin
- May boost heart health
- May have anticancer properties
- May support eye health
- Naturally gluten-free
- May aid weight loss
- Lower blood sugar levels
- May decrease the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
- Taking 80-mg anthocyanin regularly for 12 weeks resulted in improving HDL(good) cholesterol levels and reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
Recipe for making black rice tea :
- Plain water
- Black rice
- Sugar
- Tea pot
- Heater
- Bowl
Steps of preparation:
Firstly, take a tea pot containing required amount of water and start heating on a heater. Meanwhile, wash a tablespoonful of black rice in a bowl and strain away the water. Keep aside the washed black rice until the water starts boiling. Once, the water starts boiling well add the washed black rice and sugar for better taste and as per one’s choices of drinking tea. Keep boiling for around 2 min until the tea gives aroma turns black-purple colour. After this, turn off the heater and pour the tea in a tea cup. Now, enjoy the nutritious and delicious aromatic black rice tea (Chakhao cha) alone or with snacks of your choice.
News Anchor at ISCOM, and a degree holder in mass communication from the Department of Mass Communication, Manipur University
