Expert names unexpected benefits of microwave tea

An Australian scientist has proposed boiling water for tea in an original way, surprising many fans of this drink.

Thanks to years of research, Dr Quan Vuong, a nutritionist at the University of Newcastle, believes that making tea in the microwave may be the most effective method because it allows you to take advantage of all its benefits.

To test this theory, Vuong conducted a study to extract, isolate, and purify compounds in green and black tea, thedailymeal.com reports. During the study, the researchers pour hot water into a cup with a tea bag, microwaved the tea for 30 seconds, halving its power, and left it for one minute. The results showed that the method not only gave a "better" taste, but also activated 80% of the compounds, including caffeine, theanine (promotes relaxation) and polyphenol (helps protect against degenerative diseases).

Those who cannot imagine the process of making tea without a kettle should know the following: you do not need to boil the same water more than once.

"Usually, when the tea cools down, people boil the kettle again and make another cup. But good tea requires fresh water, because boiling removes all oxygen and nitrogen from it," said William Gorman, an expert on tea cultures and chairman of the Tea and Infusion Association (UK).

He also believes that tea can be heated in the microwave for 15-20 seconds without sacrificing quality. From a scientific point of view, it's just a matter of moving molecules and bringing them to an acceptable temperature. This does not affect the taste.