The Complete Guide to Purple Tea

If you want to know what purple tea is, how it compares to green tea, and what the benefits of drinking purple tea are, then you want to read this article.

Tea has been a staple beverage of humankind for thousands of years. Black, white, green, and oolong, tea comes in countless varieties bringing with it a boost in energy and focus along with a reduction in stress. Today, tea is synonymous with health and wellness due to the myriad of benefits attributed to its consumption, including:

Anti-Oxidation
Antibacterial
Anti-Viral
Anti-Cancer
Anti-Hypertensive
Anti-Allergy
Anti-Mutation
Reduction of Elevated Blood Sugar
Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation
Improve Lipid Metabolism
Plus, Many More

Recently, a new variety of tea has landed, with some research indicating it may be even more potent than green and black tea, especially in regard to weight loss. This new tea variety is purple tea, and we’ve got a complete guide to all things purple tea including what it is, how it’s different from green tea, and If you haven’t heard about this type of tea, that’s not surprising.

What is Purple Tea?

So, you haven’t heard of purple tea before? That's not surprising; it wasn't available until a few years ago and only recently has it started to catch on with individuals beyond the ones involved with its production. Purple tea is a variety of Camellia sinensis (the same tea leaf from which green tea and black tea is made) developed by the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya (TRFK) that is also currently cultivated in Kenya. <1> Purple tea is grown in colder conditions than traditional tea leaves, typically at elevations between 4,500 - 7,500 feet above sea level. This cooler environment combined with the intense UV rays leads to the development of some rather unique properties in the tea leaves which distinguishes it from tea leaves grown in other regions. Most notably, the intense UV exposure makes the leaves turn a reddish-purple hue. The reason for this color change is the presence of anthocyanins and polyphenols. In addition to giving the plant, its deep color, these compounds also help protect the tea leaves from damage. <1> But that’s not all. Antioxidants, polyphenols, and anthocyanins are important buzzwords in the health and fitness industry due to research noting the importance they play in combating oxidative stress and chronic disease caused by inflammation. Similar to green and black tea, purple tea is rife with bioactive compounds, the five most prevalent are:

EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate)
GHG (1,2-di-Galloyl-4,6-Hexahydroxydipheno yl--D-Glucose)
Theobromine
Caffeine
ECG (Epicatechin Gallate)

Here's a close up of how each of these chemicals looks <1>:

Purple Tea vs. Green Tea vs. Black Tea

Purple Tea Has More Antioxidants

Purple tea leaves are processed and prepared the same way as green tea leaves, and, while both plants contain the same five principal compounds, purple tea contains significantly higher levels of the potent polyphenols (GHG, EGCG, ECG) than green, black, or oolong teas. This also means that purple tea has higher antioxidant activity than green and black teas. Research shows it has a free-radical scavenging rate of 52%, compared with 34% for green tea and 28% for black tea. And, in case you weren't aware, the more free radicals that are neutralized by antioxidants, the lower the risk of systemic inflammation and chronic disease.

Purple Tea Contains Anthocyanin

Another big difference is that purple tea contains anthocyanin. Anthocyanin is a type of flavonoid most often associated with blueberries as it is the phytochemical responsible for giving plants and berries their notable deep, dark blue or purple color. Research indicates that anthocyanins may be helpful in the treatment of numerous diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and even cancer. <6> Blueberries are particularly rich in anthocyanins, but purple tea contains significantly higher amounts of anthocyanins than blueberries -- about 1.5% compared to 0.1% for blueberries. <1>

Purple Tea is Lower in Caffeine Content Than Green and Black Tea

Purple tea also differs from other varieties of Camellia sinensis in its caffeine content. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has analyzed the caffeine contents of the different tea varieties and found that purple tea contains a lower amount of caffeine than green or black tea. <4>

What are the Benefits of Purple Tea?

Weight Loss

In addition to the abundance of free radical-fighting polyphenols, antioxidants, and anthocyanins present in purple tea, the plant is also receiving a great deal of attention for its potential ability to aid in weight loss and cut body fat. Two small human trials using purple tea extract noted supplement aided weight loss and led to reductions in:

Body Mass Index (BMI)
Fat Mass
Hip Size
Waist Size
Subcutaneous Fat Thickness

Subjects in the trials also experienced improvements in body composition and lean body mass. <4,5> In the first study investigating the potential anti-obesity effects of Purple Tea extract, 11 male and 7 female subjects ingested 100 mg of Alluvia Purple Tea. All subjects had their body weight, body fat mass, waist, and hip sizes, and the subcutaneous-fat thickness of the abdomen and upper arms measured. After four weeks of using Alluvia Purple Tea, subcutaneous-fat thickness in the abdomen and upper arms (two spots everyone struggles with fat) was significantly reduced. Female subjects also experienced a significant decrease in hip size as well. The second study involved 10 men and used dried Purple Tea leaves instead of the extract. Men received 1.5-gram portions of purple tea as a hot brewed tea twice daily for four weeks. In addition to improvements in BMI, body weight, body fat mass, abdominal fat, body fat ratio, muscle ratio, waist/hip size, abdominal fat thickness, researchers also noted a reduction of visceral fat. This is important as visceral fat is closely linked with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome. Over the four weeks, the men lost roughly 1.76 lbs. and a little over an inch on their waist. Several animal trials have also noted that Alluvia purple tea exerts anti-obesity effects and may help limit weight gain during periods of overfeeding. Researchers believe that one the mechanisms of action behind the significant decrease in fat were due to the inhibition of lipase, the enzyme that breaks down fats for digestion and assimilation. By reducing the effects of lipase, the body's ability to digest and absorb dietary fat from food is decreased, meaning it may help lower the number of total calories your body gets from the food you eat. One other way in which Alluvia may aid fat loss is through improvements in fat metabolism. Animal studies indicate that GHG (one of the potent polyphenols is purple tea) up-regulated the expression of CPT-1A (Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1A), an enzyme many researchers believe to be the rate-limiting enzyme in the process of β-oxidation -- the process by which fat is burned for energy. <1>

Supports Cardiovascular Health

In addition to the decreases in weight, BMI, and waist circumference (all of which promote health and lower risk of disease), subjects also experienced a reduction in LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides -- indicating that Alluvia Purple Tea extract may confer some cardioprotective qualities as well.

Supports Cognitive Health

Additional animal research notes that Kenyan purple tea significantly improves the brain's antioxidant capacity. Researchers noted that purple tea anthocyanins could cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), bolstering the brain ability to combat free radicals and oxidative stress. <7>

Purple Tea FAQ

Where Does Purple Tea Come From?

Purple tea was initially found as naturally occurring wild mutations of Camellia sinensis in China. Subsequently, a public/private partnership was founded in Kenya to identify and isolate this mutation, then find a way to produce Purple tea in mass quantity. Purple tea is grown at elevations between 4,500 - 7,500 feet predominantly in the Nandi Hills region of Kenya. The cool environment combined with the intense UV rays of the high altitude led to the formation of anthocyanins in the tea leaves, which gives the plant its distinct purple hue.

Is Purple Tea Caffeinated?

Yes, purple tea does contain caffeine, but not as much as black tea or even green tea. Alluvia purple tea extract contains 4.5% caffeine.

How Do You Make (Brew) Purple Tea?

Purple tea is brewed similar to green and black tea -- pour freshly boiled water over loose tea leaves and steep for 3-4 minutes. Purple tea is fairly "forgiving" in that if you let it steep an extra minute or two, it won't develop the bitterness or astringency familiar with other teas. Now, if you want to get fancy with your cup of tea….

Fill a kettle with a bottle or filtered water and bring to a boil
Pour the boiling water into a teapot, and then empty the water into a pitcher or bowl to cool.
Place one teaspoon (2 grams) of dried purple tea leaf into the teapot
Pour boiling water from the kettle onto the tea leaves until the teapot is half full.
Now, pour out this water, while retaining the tea leaves. (This is a “rinsing” of the tea leaves.)
Once the water reserved in the pitcher as cooled slightly (~160℉), pour it into the teapot.
Allow tea too steep for 3 minutes.
Pour tea into the pitcher through a fine mesh strainer.
You may choose to drink the tea now or perform a second (and third) infusion using the same temperature of water and steeping time.

Purple tea has a sweet, pleasant flavor and dark color. Many people trying purple tea for the first time describe it as having characteristics of both green and black tea, but without the grassy taste or tannin bitterness.

Where Can I Find Purple Tea Extract?

Chances are pretty good that your local tea shop or grocery store isn't lining the shelves with purple tea. Now, you can quickly go and order some off the internet, but ensuring that you're getting authentic, high-quality tea direct from the hills of Kenya can be a bit of a crapshoot. If you’d rather not waste time sourcing and vetting tea suppliers, but still want to get all the potential health and weight loss benefits of purple tea, our go to choice is Alluvia™ Purple Tea. Alluvia™ Purple Tea is a standardized extract of purple tea containing 50% polyphenols, almost 10% EGCG, 1.5% anthocyanins, and 7.4% GHG. SteelFit® Shredded Steel contains 100mg of Alluvia™ Purple Tea -- the same dose used in the human studies noting improvements in BMI, body composition, and waist circumference. Click Here to learn more about Shredded Steel and how it can help support your weight loss goals.

References

Ltd, O. O. & F. C. C. (2013). Purple Tea Extract, 0–34.
Yagi K, Goto K, Nanjo F. Identification of a major polyphenol and polyphenolic composition in leaves of Camellia irrawadiensis . Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2009;57:1284.
“Total polyphenols, catechin profiles and antioxidant activity of tea products from purple leaf coloured tea cultivars.” Food Chem. 2013 Feb 15;136(3-4):1405-13.
Shimoda H, Hitoe S, Nakamura S, Matsuda H. Purple Tea and Its Extract Suppress Diet-induced Fat Accumulation in Mice and Human Subjects by Inhibiting Fat Absorption and Enhancing Hepatic Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase Expression. Int J Biomed Sci. 2015;11(2):67-75.
Alluvia ^™Purple Tea Overview. (2014), 914.
Lila MA. Anthocyanins and Human Health: An In Vitro Investigative Approach. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2004;2004(5):306-313.
Rashid K , et al. "Kenyan Purple Tea Anthocyanins Ability to Cross the Blood Brain Barrier and Reinforce Brain Antioxidant Capacity in Mice. - PubMed - NCBI." National Center for Biotechnology Information.