The potential of spiced tea for health

Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most important commodities in the world, including in Indonesia. Tea products contain polyphenols, an antioxidant beneficial for health. Nowadays, tea product diversification has gain market and increased consumer acceptance due to its functional benefits besides flavour. The use of spices in tea is widely applied not only to add flavour, but also to increase its functional value. Various bioactive components contained in spices can be used as fragrances, flavour enhancers, preservatives, and natural colouring. This review explores the potential benefit of adding spices into tea (Camellia sinensis) to enrich previous studies on tea and to support development of Camellia sinensis-based tea in Indonesia.