Why I Say No To A Cup Of Joe.

A word on tannins (found in coffee and some tea) from my personal nutritionist:

If ingested in excessive quantities, tannins inhibit the absorption of minerals such as iron into the body. This is because tannins are metal ion chelators, and tannin-chelated metal ions are not bioavailable.

Camellia sinensis or White tea, green tea, oolong and black tea all have naturally high content of tannin. Tea extracts have been reported to contain no tannin, so look at the ingredient list to your Oregon tea and see if it contains real tea or extract.

Berries also have a high content of tannin. All of this isn't to say you shouldn't consume these foods, but should only consume in moderation. When it comes to tea, loose leaf teas probably have a higher tannin content. They say the hotter the water the greater chances of distroying the natural goodness of tea. So, I say heat it like hell to destroy the tannin.