All tea lovers faced this situation: if you do not wash the cup thoroughly immediately after tea drinking, an unpleasant darkish coating will remain on the walls. Why is this happening and is this plaque dangerous to health?
Causes of plaque formation on a cup
Tea leaves have tannins (tannins and catechins), which give the drink a characteristic bitter and astringent flavor. It is they, entering into the reaction, form a thin film on the surface of the drink. When we drink tea, the cup bends, and the film settles on the walls of the vessel and subsequently dries. Over time, it darkens and becomes an unpleasant plaque.
Interesting fact: The concentration of tannin in live tea leaves depends on the time of year and day. It reaches a peak in spring, as well as in the morning and evening. At noon, the amount of tannins decreases.
Is raid dangerous?
Tannins, the pigments of which color the dishes, are not only not dangerous, but even beneficial to the body. Here are just some of the properties of tannins and catechins:
- They have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect;
- Strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
- Purify the body of toxins;
- Improve the condition of the liver;
- Promote the release of dopamine and serotonin hormones, which means they increase mood.
With excessive use, side effects rarely occur:
- Abdominal pain, indigestion;
- Pressure surges;
- Decreased appetite.
Tannins and catechins are found not only in black, but also in green tea.Moreover, in them their concentration is higher. This is one of the reasons why it is so useful. There are also tannins in plants such as oak, chestnut, persimmon, cocoa, conifers, bird cherry.
The stronger tea you brew, the greater the likelihood of plaque. Although it does not harm health, excessive consumption of caffeine in tea may not be beneficial. So if a plaque regularly forms on the walls of a mug or glass, it may be worth drinking a less strong drink.
Interesting fact: To drink tea most of all, you should add lemon to it. This citrus improves the absorption of tannins, not to mention its other beneficial properties. It is also useful to add mint, lemon balm or thyme to tea.
Why doesn’t plaque occur when milk is added to tea?
You may notice that when milk is added, plaque does not appear or is barely noticeable. There is a reason for this. Milk contains casein protein. It, reacting with tannins, reduces their concentration by an average of 80%. At the same time, milk also reduces the beneficial properties of tannins and catechins, so you should not abuse its addition to the drink.
Interesting fact: tea leaves from a teapot are less concentrated, so it doesn’t stain dishes. Another case is the brewing of tea bags. From them, the most noticeable raid remains on the circle.
How to return the cups to a “fresh" look?
You can remove plaque with ordinary cleaning products. However, with old spots this is not enough.In this case, ordinary baking soda will come to the rescue. You can rub her cup, and the dishes will again become snow-white.
Hydrogen peroxide and activated carbon also have whitening properties. No wonder the preparation of such a mixture is used to remove tea, coffee and wine plaque on tooth enamel.
In general, to avoid the appearance of stains on the dishes, just wash the cup after each tea party.
So, you should not be afraid of tea plaque - this is only the result of the action of tannins contained in tea leaves. It is not harmful and not dangerous, but to give the dishes a more well-groomed appearance, you should regularly wash the cups or clean them with special tools, such as soda.
