The Health Benefits of Tea: 6 Types to Sip

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Black tea

For tea and dresses, black is a fail-safe choice. Not only is caffeine a great remedy for your midday slump but also studies have shown that drinking three or more cups of black tea daily can reduce your risk of heart disease.

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Green tea

Remember to drink your green tea and, chances are, you’ll remember a lot more than that, too. A study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people over 55 who drank a cup of green tea daily were 38 percent less likely to decline cognitively.

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White tea

As the least processed tea, white tea is light, sweet and delicate. It’s also as close to drinking the living tea bush as you can get. Research has shown that white tea has nearly the same amount of catechins and polyphenols as green tea and all the immune-boosting, antioxidant qualities that go along with them.

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Chai tea

Spicy, warm and flavourful, the spices in chai tea were traditionally used in India to treat ailments and promote well-being. It’s no wonder: Chai is made up of pungent herbs and spices, such as cinnamon and fennel, that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

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Oolong tea

Think of oolong as somewhere between black and green tea, with diverse flavours that range from buttery to floral. In a Chinese case study, researchers found a significant reduction in the risk of ischemic stroke for people who drank tea on a weekly basis, and those who drank one to two cups of oolong tea daily showed the biggest decrease.

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Herbal tea

A quick steep might save you from a long night of counting sheep. Nighty Night tea by Traditional Medicinals, for example, has compounds that bind to your GABA receptors – the receptors in your body that promote sleep and relaxation. Other herbal tea brands contain ingredients like chamomile or valerian root to help you nod off.

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1, 2, 3 Perfect Tea

1. Measure your tea Most teas come with suggestions, but it’s really just a rule of thumb. Experiment to find your perfect balance.

2. Pour your water Some teas may call for cooler water so that the leaves won’t burn and become bitter. An easy trick is to let your tea kettle sit for a few minutes before pouring.

3. Let it steep Different teas call for different steeping times. While some can turn bitter after more than a few minutes, most herbal and maté blends can infuse all day.

Thanks to Nadia De La Vega at DAVIDsTEA for her expert advice on a perfect pour.

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