Almost everybody loves coffee. It does not only stimulate the brain and keep one awake; it can also improve the mood and help people feel more productive. No wonder it is considered the favourite comfort drink of many.
The rich history of the coffee plant can be traced back to Africa. According to one legend, Kaldi, an Ethiopian goat herder in the 9th century first discovered the energizing benefits of coffee berries or fruits when his goats became very energetic that they refused to sleep at night after consuming them. He reported this incident to the abbot of a local monastery who made a delicious drink using the said berries. The abbot shared this with the other monks. Thus, coffee berries started to become popular.
Coffee cultivation and trade flourished on the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in Yemen, where the evidence of substantiated knowledge of the coffee tree and its use from the early 15h century was found. It soon spread to Mecca and Medipol. By the 16th century, the popularity of coffee reached the rest of Middle East, Turkey, Karnataka (South India), Persia, the Horn of Africa, and Northern Africa.
As it became increasingly important in trade and commerce, coffee continued to be popular in other parts of the world such as the Balkans, Italy, and the rest of Europe. It soon spread to Southeast Asia.
Please note the difference between coffee berries and coffee beans. Coffee fruits or berries are the stone fruits that serve as the housing for the more popular coffee beans. The fruits have lower caffeine. Thus, a drink made of coffee fruit is perfect for those who want to regulate their caffeine intake yet enjoy the benefits of drinking the regular coffee.
Characteristics of Coffee Fruit
Coffee, which is the second most traded commodity in the world (petroleum is the first), has over 100 species. The most popular of these are probably Coffea Arabica and Coffea Robusta. Since Tea Life is offering Coffea Arabica Fruit tea, the focus of this article will be on Arabica.
Coffea Arabica, which was discovered in Ethiopia, represents about 60% of the global coffee production. It has been cultivated in Arabia for over 1,000 years and is now commercially grown in subtropical and tropical areas around the world. This species which is also known as the Arabian coffee has a sweeter and sweeter taste compared to Robusta. It also has less caffeine.
The Arabian coffee plant is an upright tropical evergreen shrub that grows between 9 and 12 m tall. It can be characterized by its glabrous, glossy, dark-green leaves, star-shaped white flowers, aroma that is similar to that of the Jasmine plant, and green two-seeded berries that mature to bright red and purple.
Modern Medicinal Value of Coffee Fruit
Several studies suggest that coffee drinkers can help extend one’s life. It contains hundreds of different healing components and many of these are powerful anti-oxidants. For this reason, coffee is considered one of the healthiest beverages in the world.
Coffee fruit tea, an alternative to the regular coffee has lower caffeine. Some people want to regulate their caffeine intake yet still enjoy its benefits. The following are what users can get from drinking this relaxing and delicious tea:
- It can help reduce weight
There is a reason why many people who are trying to lose weight are fans of drinking coffee tea. This drink still contains caffeine which can boost metabolic rate, increase fat burning during exercise, and may help prevent weight gain after weight loss.
- It may help lower blood pressure
Whilst coffee fruit has caffeine in it, it is also rich in chlorogenic acid, which helps in lowering the blood pressure and improves heart health. Contrary to the belief of many, it does not raise the risk of heart disease. In fact, regular coffee fruit tea drinkers who reasonably consume it have a lower risk of stroke.
- It helps improve brain function
Beverages made of coffee are not only energy drinks; they can improve brain function as well. Caffeine which is an effective stimulant is one of the safest and the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world.
Coffee fruit tea helps improve the memory, vigilance, mood, reaction times and overall brain health. There is a significant relationship between coffee fruit extract and BDNF levels. BDNF or the brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a protein that encourages the growth of new brain neurons and supports the survival of existing brain cells. Thus, it is important in long-term memory formation and storage.
- It may lower one’s risk of degenerative diseases
Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that has no known cure. It is the most common degenerative disease and is the leading cause of dementia worldwide. High caffeine levels in the blood are associated with the lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease which is the second most common neurodegenerative illness, right after Alzheimer’s.
- It may lower the risk of diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes is a serious health condition that is affecting millions of people. It is characterized by high blood sugar levels because of insulin resistance. Although there is no cure for this disease, lowering the risk of getting it is possible. Caffeine decreases one’s insulin sensitivity. Therefore, it can help reduce the risk of type 2 Diabetes.
- It lowers the risk of cancer and protect the body
Coffee fruit is considered one of the healthiest drinks in the world because it is a good source of disease-fighting antioxidants which protect against free radicals within the body. In fact, the antioxidant activity could be up to 25-fold higher in coffee cherry extracts than in powders. For this reason, this drink may prevent certain kinds of cancer which include liver and colorectal cancer. Caffeine can also help in the prevention of basal cell carcinoma which is the most common type of skin cancer.
- It can elevate the mood and helps lower the risk of depression
Coffee is a good mood enhancer because it stimulates the central nervous system and boosts the production of noradrenaline (which can lead to euphoria) and other happy hormones such as serotonin and dopamine which promote positive feelings like happiness and pleasure. For this reason, it can help lower the risk of depression.
Coffee fruit tea is another way of enjoying our favorite coffee beverage which has always been a part of our modern lifestyle. Make your purchase now via this link.
