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- Stiftung Warentest
- Black tea: the pollutants
- Black tea: the result
Stiftung Warentest
In winter a cup of tea. Attention! Stiftung Warentest discovered carcinogenic and mutagenic pollutants in 21 of the 27 black teas tested.
As for the British, the teatime is the afternoon coffee. All the more surprising that we are increasingly reaching for the teacup. Especially in winter, we enjoy the comforting warmth of peppermint, chamomile, and black tea. Black tea is in the criticism.
Germany's best-known consumer organization Stiftung Warentest has made the test and tested 27 different types of black tea for its compatibility. The result: terrifying! In 21 of the 27 teas tested, researchers were able to detect dangerous pollutants.
Black tea: the pollutants
anthraquinone
Eighteen of the 19 tested Darjeeling teas had elevated levels. The anthraquinone is responsible for the dark color of black tea, has a laxative and carcinogenic. A maximum of 20 mg daily should not be exceeded. Stiftung Warentest found in some of the tested teas a nearly fourfold increased amount of the pollutant.
PAK
Twelve of the 27 black teas tested had an elevated PAC value. PAH is considered carcinogenic and is already absorbed in unmanageable amounts through the diet. Be careful here!
mineral oil residues
In 15 tees, Stiftung Warentest could find unexplained mineral oil residues. These are in the criticism to be carcinogenic.
Pyrrolizidinalkaloide
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are mutagenic and carcinogenic pollutants. High doses can damage the liver. The recommended daily maximum is 0.4 mg . The K-Classic black tea Ceylon Assam from Kaufland had a value of 0.9 mg .
How do the pollutants get into the tea? The researchers are not quite in agreement. The carcinogens can become lodged in the teas via the packaging material, during the drying of the tea and through the harvest.
Positive side effect: Both the smell and the taste were able to convince in almost all cases . All 19 tested Darjeeling teas come from the growing regions Darjeeling.
Black tea: the result
The test winner
Not the most expensive, but the cheapest varieties climb the podium of the tested black tea s . The Ceylon-Assam mixtures from Norma / Cornwall, Rewe / yes! and Real / Tip did the best.
The test losers
The highest anthraquinone and PAH values were found by Stiftung Warentest in the golden mane tea Ceylon-Assam . Kaufland's K-Classic Black Tea Ceylon Assam scored worst because of its extremely high pyrrolizidine alkaloid levels. This tea has since been withdrawn from the market. Alnatura's Darjeeling leaf tea was negatively impacted by its high level of anthraquinone levels.
