Test black tea often polluted

Stiftung Warentest finds carcinogenic substances in almost all teas

25/10/2014

Black tea is one of the most popular teas and is an aromatic alternative to coffee for many people because of its soothing and stimulating effect. Black tea is obviously not always healthy and harmless. Instead, "some of the commercially available products have significant quality differences". This is the conclusion of Stiftung Warentest, which has examined 27 types of black tea for its consumer magazine "test". The testers came across pollutants in almost all cases, which meant that only five teas could finally be declared as recommendable.

Black tea is especially popular as a stimulant and stimulant
Black tea is one of the most popular drinks worldwide and serves mainly as a stimulant and stimulant, it is also suitable because of its stuffing effect, e.g. also as a home remedy for diarrhea. But tea is not just tea, because as the Stiftung Warentest reports in its current magazine "test" (issue 11/2014), the quality of commercially available products differs in some cases massively. The experts had examined a total of 27 black teas, including 8 Ceylon Assam mixtures and 19 Darjeelings (including six organic products). The shocking result: harmful substances were found in almost all types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pyrrolizidine alkaloids and mineral oil components, all of which are considered potentially carcinogenic, according to the Stiftung Warentest.

Overall, according to the Foundation, only five of the 27 products had a low pollutant content and are therefore recommended for the consumer. This would be on the one hand the loose „Darjeeling“ by dm / The Healthy Life Plus (1.48 euros per 100 grams) and the other the „Ceylon Assam mixtures“ in a tea bag from Norma (Cornwall), Rewe (yes!) and Real (Tip) at 79 cents per 100 g. Here the testers had the overall grade in all four cases „Well“ forgive, one „satisfying“ also got the Ceylon Assam from Netto (Captains Tea), which also contained fewer pollutants than most other tees tested.

Better enjoy black tea in moderation
Despite the pollutants found, however, there would be no reason, according to the Foundation, to generally renounce black tea. However, it is recommended not to over-consume black tea to limit the amount of harmful substances. This is especially useful because in all test products, the potentially carcinogenic substance „anthraquinone“ had been found, which probably arises in the course of the combustion process during drying of the tea leaves and thus currently seems not entirely avoidable.

Pregnant women and children should drink tea better alternately
Also with regard to the identification of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, a moderate tea consumption is important to avoid health risks. In August, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) issued information that would generally require variety and diversity in the selection of foods in order to prevent one-sided exposure to various potentially hazardous substances. „In particular, parents are advised not to offer their children exclusively herbal teas and tea. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should also drink herbal teas and tea alternately with other drinks“, so the message of the BfR. (No)

Picture: Lupo