More people are drinking tea these days, but not everyone has the time to brew up a steaming pot of tea from loose tea leaves. Tea companies have responded to the demand for a fast cup of tea by offering instant tea powders that can be mixed with water and enjoyed in seconds. It sounds like the ideal way for a health conscious person to get the benefits of drinking tea - but is it really? Is powdered iced tea healthy? How Is Powdered Tea Made? Instant tea granules are made by using low pressure to extract liquid from fresh tea leaves. The liquid is then freeze dried to form a powder. Unfortunately, this type of processing destroys most of the antioxidants that make tea such a healthy drink. In fact, according to reports by the USDA, powdered iced tea loses more than ninety percent of its antioxidants when it’s processed – and some instant teas have almost no antioxidant catechins, once it’s reduced to a powder. If you’re drinking tea for its health benefits, you’re … [Read more...]