March 10th, 2013

Coffee Tea: A New Brew in Town

Recent research has uncovered the ultimate brew: a tea that is made from coffee leaves.

Researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, South-West London, together with researchers in Montpellier, France, have discovered that the coffee leaf tea is actually healthier than both regular coffee and tea.

Coffee tea is said to have an ‘earthy’ taste, which is less bitter than tea but not quite as strong as a regular brewed coffee. Researchers hope that the new coffee tea will rival the popular types of coffee and black and green teas that most people drink now, and expect that it will be showing up very soon on café tables all over the world.

The drink is made from the leaves of the coffea plant, which is currently grown only for the plants seeds, or the coffee beans.

Dr Aaron Davies, a botanist at Kew, reported that many species of coffee plant contain high levels of mangiferin, which has anti-inflammatory effects and can lower cholesterol, protect neurons in the brain, and reduce the risk of diabetes. Specifically, the leaves have high levels of antioxidants, which can combat heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/tea-or-coffee-how-about-tea-made-from-coffee/story-fneuz92c-1226553371377