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According to legend, tea was discovered purely by accident. It is said that in 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung discovered tea when leaves from a nearby tea tree blew into his cup of boiling water.
Nowadays, tea is one of the most popular beverages throughout the world, with humans collectively consuming over 3 million tons of tea every year.
As delicious and beneficial as tea is, when it’s drank over a long period of time, it can stain teeth in nearly the same way coffee can.
Some people may wish to avoid stained teeth, but may still wish to indulge in their favorite beverage.
In this article we are going to discuss a few options available to people who want to avoid any risk of tea-stained teeth.
Table of Contents
Recommended
White Tea
For those who don’t want to switch to a tisane (herbal tea), white tea may be a better option for white teeth in comparison to green or black tea. The color of brewed white tea is typically lighter then a green or black tea unless it has been aged or processed into a darker style, but typically white tea is much less processed then it’s counterparts.
If you’re looking for a good white tea, we recommend Tao of Tea Imperial White Tea.
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos is a bright red tea which comes from countries such as Africa.
Not only does it have no caffeine content, but it also has a low tannin content, which means rooibos tea will be much less likely to stain your teeth then traditional teas.
It is sometimes referred to as a ‘coffee drinker’s tea’ due to it’s nutty flavor.
If you’re looking for a good rooibos tea, we recommend Davidson organic South African rooibos tea.
Yerba Mate Tea
Yerba mate is a plant which is harvested in South America.
It has a reasonable caffeine content, but the color of the brew is much lighter then a traditional tea and it is far less likely to stain your teeth then a traditional tea.
If you’re looking for a good yerba mate tea, we recommend La Obereña organic yerba mate tea.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint is a classic flavor in modern candies and dishes, but people often forget about the plant itself.
Peppermint’s cooling menthol flavor makes for an great tasting cup of tea.
Another attractive quality of peppermint tea is that it is far less likely to stain your teeth when compared to traditional teas.
If you’re looking for good peppermint leaf, we recommend Frontier Co-op Peppermint Leaf.
Not Recommended
Below are some types of tea which are not recommended if you are intent on keeping perfectly white teeth.
Black Tea
Everybody knows that black tea is the ultimate tooth stainer.
Sometimes it can even stain your cup as you drink it!
Black tea has been processed in a way that results in a much darker brew.
It is probably the tea most likely to stain your teeth.
If you’re looking for a good black tea, we recommend Taylors of Harrogate Earl Grey tea.
Why Does Traditional Tea Stain Teeth?
Traditional tea is known to have a high tannin content, which is a natural component of the tea plant and are the primary reason why tea can stain your teeth. The tannin content is often so high that it can even stain a ceramic tea mug!
Another reason is that tea is often acidic, but the acidity level can vary depending upon the tea and it’s origins. The high acidity can soften the enamel, which allows the tannins to penetrate deeper and stain your teeth to a higher degree.
