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{ POWER FOOD } Purple ReignsPurple Reigns

Move over, black and green. Move along, oolong. It’s time to try purple tea.

There’s no cooler color than the hue of royalty, celebrated in music (Deep Purple, “Purple Haze”) and literature (The Color Purple, Harold and the Purple Crayon). But who knew purple was a tea? The answer, surprisingly, is Kenya. That tea-exporting East African nation’s Tea Research Institute spent 25 years developing a purple-leafed variety. Today that type is growing in popularity as a tasty, nutritious teatime alternative.

All varieties of real tea—black, green, oolong, white, etc.—are turned into the familiar hot liquid when just-shy-of-boiling water is poured over the leaves of an evergreen shrub known to scientists as Camellia sinensis and allowed to steep. (What we call herbal teas are steeps or infusions of other plants’ leaves or parts.) Tea is the planet’s second most-sipped beverage, after water. And while the purple variety so far accounts for only a dribble of this ocean of consumption (the Kenyans just started releasing it commercially in 2011 to combat a dip in tea prices), it’s reportedly a hardy, high-yielding, easy-to-harvest plant, with properties that guard against drought, frost and natural pests. How fortunate, then, that purple tea has a taste that’s been called “sweet and woodsy” and “robust but not bitter.”

POWER UP

Grown pesticide-free in the hills at elevations of 4,500 to 7,500 feet, purple tea leaves get high levels of ultraviolet exposure, causing the plants to defend themselves by producing anthocyanins. These are the antioxidants that create its deep hue (they’re also found in blueberries, eggplant and purple grapes), and they’re said to help combat cancer, guard against cardiovascular disease and aid in cognition.

Like its green and black brethren, purple tea contains an amino acid known as l-theanine, which is believed to help relieve anxiety and promote relaxation. But purple wallops the other teas when it comes to polyphenols— micronutrients that can aid digestion, fight infection and prevent or reverse aging-related damage to cells. One tea company reports purple’s polyphenols content at 16.5 percent versus 10.1 percent for black and 9.1 percent for green. A 2015 study in the International Journal of Biomedical Science found that “purple tea leaves and its extract provide anti-obesity effects in mouse and humans,” and suggested that the mechanisms of action involve three compounds: caffeine, catechins (flavonoids) and a polyphenol called GHG, which appears to affect lipases, enzymes that break down fats.

Speaking of caffeine, are you worried about getting too much? That could be another reason to go purple. It has a bit more caffeine than white tea, but significantly less than green or black.

BUY/STORE/SERVE

Your grocery store may not yet stock purple tea, but it’s available from online retailers (try artfultea.com, justea.com or thewhistlingkettle.com) and certain tea shops. Experts recommend purchasing loose tea rather than tea bags to be sure of getting the best quality, and don’t be disheartened if purple demands a slightly higher price, as befits a royal hue.

When it comes to storage, however, the king of your tea cabinet requires no more deference than a commoner quaff. Keep it in a tightly sealed container, preferably made of opaque material, and not in a humid area or near anything with a strong odor. Buy your tea in small quantities you’ll use up soon rather than letting it sit for a long time. When preparing a cup, let it simmer for three to four minutes—or a bit longer if you’d like it strong.

Sip some of this new brew and you’ll agree: Tea’s healthy new hue has a promising destiny. —Timothy Kelley

DID YOU KNOW? Kenya ranks third as an exporter of all teas, behind much larger China and India, but it’s the world’s purple-tea champ.

Richard C.E. Anderson Alfred T. Ogden William S. Cobb Jonathan Yun

Gaetan Moise Dorthea Altshul Anthony D’Ambrosio Michael G. Kaiser

NEUROSURGEONS OF NEW JERSEY

RICHARD C.E. ANDERSON, M.D., FACS, FAAP WILLIAM S. COBB, M.D., PH.D., FAANS GAETAN MOISE, M.D., FAANS ANTHONY D’AMBROSIO, M.D., FAANS ALFRED T. OGDEN, M.D., FAANS JONATHAN YUN, M.D. DOROTHEA ALTSCHUL, M.D., FAHA MICHAEL G. KAISER, M.D., FACS, FAANS

1200 East Ridgewood Ave., Suite 200, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 • 201.327.8600 • neurosurgeonsofnewjersey.com

NEUROSURGEONS OF NEW JERSEY brings together a highly specialized group of physicians who have made it their mission to save lives. “We are committed to providing patients with the most appropriate approach for addressing their particular neurological condition,” says Dr. Richard Anderson. Each neurosurgeon in the practice has developed the highest degree of specialization in their chosen discipline—making Neurosurgeons of New Jersey one of the most sub-specialized groups in the area. Through specialized expertise and cross-discipline consultation, the surgeons bring clarity to complex situations and achieve excellent outcomes. “The technology used in neurosurgery is changing all the time. Every day, science and technology take this rapidly evolving specialty to advanced levels. At Neurosurgeons of New Jersey, we have an unwavering regard for new treatments and remain steadfast in our work toward trailblazing new approaches,” says Dr. Gaetan Moise. Neurosurgeons of New Jersey is highly skilled in a wide variety of disease conditions, treatments, and research including brain tumors, spine surgery, cerebrovascular disease, pediatric neurosurgery, and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. With locations from Ridgewood to Livingston to Long Branch, the specialists at Neurosurgeons of New Jersey are conveniently located throughout the state. Furthermore, the group participates in almost all insurance networks and has an insurance specialist on staff to help patients manage the complex insurance process. From children to adults, the goal is to deliver compassionate care to help patients achieve the quality of life they deserve. On behalf of the entire Ridgewood practice, Dorothea Altschul, Richard Anderson, William Cobb, Anthony D’Ambrosio, Michael Kaiser, Gaetan Moise, Alfred Ogden, and Jonathan Yun would like to say thank you for being recognized amongst the many wonderful physicians receiving the recognition of New Jersey’s Top Doctors. Call 201-327-8600 to schedule an appointment at Ridgewood’s COVID-safe and continually disinfected office. Telehealth appointments are also available.