Aluminum content varies in tea. Know which teas have the lowest Al content.
Many tea packages will not indicate the age of the leaves.
A Study on Aluminum Content in Different Teas
This study by Lin and Yang (2016) examined the Al content in green, black, and oolong and divided the study into older and younger leaves and the steeping duration.
They found that the younger the tea leaf, the less Al content leached into the water. The youngest teas consist only of a bud or a bud and one leaf.
I purchase all my organic teas in the bulk section of Natural Grocer. None of the bags state the age of the tea leaves, so I cannot know how much Al I am getting from the tea I am drinking.
Searching online and finding a site that states the age of the tea leaves is not easy.
I found:
One young tea at https//:frontiercoop.com (Young Hyson Green Tea, Organic);
From https://mountainroseherbs.com (one of my favorite organic herb sites), Spring Green Tea is harvested from the first buds, and Green Sencha Tea is harvested from the first young leaves.
The difficulty is that the teas' titles do not always say “young,” so you have to read the description of each teas.
I have this tea below from Mountain Rose Herbs, and the site does not state the age of the tea leaves, only stating the leaves are freshly picked, so I will assume this tea will have more Al content than a young-leaf tea.
Yerba mate contains Al too!
The study and other sites state that the amount of Aluminum in a cup of tea is insignificant. But what is the toxic load if you consume several cups daily for years? Is any amount of Aluminum in the diet safe?
Do you drink tea? Have you ever given thought to the age of the tea leaves? I wish I had done so sooner, but better late than never!
Infusion of the Tea
The first infusion leached more Al into the water than the second and third infusions. Brewing the tea for under 10 minutes decreased the amount of Al leached into the water.
The Al content in green, black, and oolong teas was the same, as each depended on the age of the leaves.
The study did not mention whether Organic tea has different Al content. An online search indicated that organic teas are preferable due to their reduced herbicide and pesticide content, but they will still contain Al.
Tea Bags Versus Loose Leaf Tea
Avoid tea bags as much as possible since microplastics can transfer into your tea. Choose loose-leaf tea.
This site lists tea manufacturers that do and don’t contain plastic in their tea bags. For instance, Yogi tea does not contain plastics, and Tazo tea does.
Bottom Line
If you are a tea drinker, consume organic loose-leaf tea and look for teas that say if the tea leaves are harvested when young.
What about deodorant? Do you use an Al-free product? I have made my own for years using coconut oil, baking soda, and essential oils, but (probably TMI) I rarely use it as I do not need to. Heavy metals are a burden to the body. Injecting them directly into your bloodstream is probably the most significant source, but we also get aluminum from food, beverages, and deodorant.
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This is NOT information allopathic practitioners will share with you.
Would love your recipe for deodorant!
Does anyone know of any organic black tea where the Bags do not leach microplastic? Also amy tea makers that test for aluminum?