For the love of tea, for that morning bliss, for that evening punch, for that moment of awakening, anything can be compromised.
Pure Leaf is a brand that promises to deliver people with their all-time favorite brew in a bottle.
Is Pure Leaf tea a compromise on health?
No, it is not. Pure Leaf tea does not pose any threat to your health and well-being and can remain to be part of your refreshments. Its calorie count ranges from 0 to 250 kcals, allowing the consumers to enjoy the beverage at their discretion.
Being the second most-consumed drink in the world, tea has to be chosen wisely. Let us make that wise choice with the help of this article.
Table of Contents
Ingredients found in Pure Leaf tea
These are the most important ingredients found in Pure Leaf tea.
- Brewed Tea
Every bottle is made from real tea leaves cultivated from parts of the world to achieve the best taste.
- Citric and Ascorbic Acid
These acids act as preservatives, remove the sour taste from the tea and increase the potency of antioxidants.
- Sugar
This natural sweetener has been tailored to suit the varying taste of different consumers.
- Cane Sugar and honey
Low-sugar, nutrient-rich replacements to refined sugar in high-end recipes.
- Stevia(Reb A)
This sugar replacement is classified as safe for diabetics and pregnant women.
- Maltodextrin
Made from starch, this is a sweetener that increases the thickness and shelf life of the product.
- Natural flavors and Pectins
Different fruit flavors are achieved by natural extracts and pectins, which make the tea milder and bring down its astringency.
What kind of tea does Pure Leaf use?
The black and green tea variants of Pure Leaf are made from the same variety of leaves – the Single Origin Kenyan Black tea. The oxidation process determines whether the tea leaves get to be black or green.
Pure Leaf also makes a range of hibiscus teas from dried hibiscus flowers. The brand also has a line of teas that are made from organically cultivated leaves.
Is Pure Leaf tea carbonated?
No, Pure Leaf teas are not carbonated. The bottle is filled up to its neck and does not fizz up when opening. This makes the tea a perfect choice for people looking to avoid carbonated drinks as they more often cause gastrointestinal problems.
Does Pure Leaf tea contain caffeine?
All brewed teas contain caffeine as it naturally occurs in the tea plant. The caffeine content of the Pure Leaf variants ranges from as low as 12 mg to as high as 88 mg per bottle. This makes the tea a perfect grab to get through the tiring noons and energize the evenings.
Does Pure Leaf come decaffeinated?
No, the leaves used in Pure Leaf teas are not decaffeinated. However, the brand rolls out a range of herbal, caffeine-free teas, made from hibiscus flowers, which are equally potent as caffeinated teas in taste and strength. It also has more antioxidants than normal tea.
Does Pure Leaf tea contain sugar?
Yes, the tea contains sugar in the form of refined and cane sugar. The sweetness of the recipes ranges from “slightly sweet”, to “sweet”, to “extra sweet” with a sugar content of 15g, 42g, and 64g respectively. The brand also has unsweetened and diet tea variants with zero calories and added sugar.
Does Pure Leaf tea have Phosphorus in it?
No, Pure Leaf teas do not contain Phosphorus. Although it is common to find faint traces of Phosphorus in tea, Pure Leaf teas are totally free from it. It only has 1% naturally occurring Potassium.
Does Pure Leaf tea have high-fructose corn syrup?
No, Pure Leaf teas do not administer any sweetener in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, which provides unwanted calories that can cause diabetes and weight gain. Although maltodextrin present in some flavors is closely related to corn syrups, it does not resemble their sugar content.
Does Pure Leaf tea have antioxidants?
Yes, normally, tea is a rich source of antioxidants as it contains the chemical compounds called Polyphenols. Pure Leaf tea, be it black, green, or herbal, is packed with this compound.
Antioxidants are important to protect the cells from free radicals, reduce the risk of cancer and detoxify the body. Green tea has more antioxidants than black tea in the form of catechins and gallic acid.
The hibiscus variant of Pure Leaf tea holds 400% more antioxidants than any other tea. Honey is known to be a powerhouse of antioxidants. Some flavors even contain brewed ingredients that are packed with flavonoids like apple, ginger, and lemon peels.
Does Pure Leaf tea have gluten?
Pure Leaf teas do not contain gluten as most of its ingredients do not belong to the grain family. However, a few Pure Leaf tea recipes contain a derivative called maltodextrin, which is made from grain or potato starch. But this derivative is processed to remove the gluten content completely making the tea safe for consumption.
Does Pure Leaf tea have pesticides?
Normally, pesticides are inherently used in cultivating the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis. Hence, the possibility of pesticides occurring in Pure Leaf tea is significant. Ingesting pesticides in trace amounts can cause adverse reactions like rashes, allergies, and diarrhea. However, there are variants produced from organically sourced leaves that are free from pesticides and other repellents.
Does Pure Leaf tea have to be refrigerated?
No, there is no need to keep Pure Leaf drinks refrigerated. They can very well be stored at room temperature, except for the 49 oz size bottles that need to be refrigerated; before and after opening them. It is recommended to serve the drinks cold to savor a better tasting tea.
Can Pure Leaf tea make you lose weight?
While there isn’t any conclusive evidence linking tea to weight loss, it is a proven fact that tea has the ability to boost metabolism and prevent excessive intake of food. All teas, especially green teas, are a great source of antioxidants that may help burn fat quickly and increase the body’s energy expenditure. Drinking tea between meals can aid digestion and keep the blood pressure under control.
Can you drink Pure Leaf tea during pregnancy?
Pure Leaf tea contains caffeine and pregnant women are advised to restrict caffeine consumption to 200 mg per day. The highest caffeine content of Pure Leaf teas happens to be 88 mg per bottle. Instead of completely restricting the product, it is okay to drink at most two bottles in a day, moderately.
You are also advised to not consume the herbal variants as they contain hibiscus extract. Hibiscus extracts help with boosting hormones and providing relief from asymmetric menstruation. But it is not safe for consumption during pregnancy as it can overbalance the hormones and sometimes cause miscarriages.
Does Pure Leaf tea induce labor?
No, Pure Leaf tea does not induce labor. As the red raspberry leaf tea is well-known for being a detoxifier, its consumption may alleviate menstrual cramps, reduce risks during childbirth, and may also shorten labor.
Overconsumption of the tea may also cause contractions in the lower belly and induce labor. But none of the Pure Leaf recipes contain this variety of tea. Only the extracts of the fruit and its pectins are used to achieve the raspberry flavored teas, which do not pose any threat.
Does Pure Leaf tea expire?
Yes, tea does expire either in its brewed or leaf form over a period of time. Pure Leaf teas carry a ‘best taste date’ which is different from the expiration date. The tea is said to lose its taste, aroma, and freshness beyond the best taste date. Storing the product at the requisite temperature can prevent it from losing its taste.
Can you drink Pure Leaf tea past the expiration date?
Drinking Pure Leaf tea past its expiration date is not considered dangerous or unfit for the body. The tea simply loses its flavor and its health benefits. The ingredients lose their potency and become less tasty. Placing the tea in humid conditions for a long time can cause it to degrade faster. Although consuming expired tea is not harmful, the drink must be disposed of, if found to be discolored or giving out a musty smell.
Is Pure Leaf tea good or bad for you?
After considering the ingredients, the way they are sourced and manufactured along the medicinal benefits they carry, it is safe to conclude that drinking Pure Leaf tea is not bad for health. The sugar and calorie count of tea is relatively lower compared to soda or carbonated drinks. The caffeine content in black tea is only half of what you find in coffee and other energy drinks.
With its sugar-free and herbal variants, Pure Leaf tea has secured a place in the shopping lists of people with diabetes and other health concerns. However healthy the tea may be, moderation is key. Overconsumption is always a bad thing.
References:
- https://www.pureleaf.com/us
- https://www.ewg.org/foodscores/products/012000142079-PureLeafRealBrewedTeaSweetTea/
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