Tea Fixes Everything.

[Photo: We Heart It]

Sometimes I feel like I'm in an episode of Coronation Street:

You get into a fight with your best friend....have a cup of tea
Your pantyhose runs.....have a cup of tea
You lose your job......have a cup of tea
Your husband has an affair with your mother....have a cup of tea

{Not that my life is quite so dramatic...}

Thankfully, with all I've been drinking lately, tea (whether white, green, black or otherwise) does have a number of health benefits.

Tea contains large amounts of polyphenols, including tannins and catechins. Catechins, also found in red wine and chocolate, have high anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-carcinogenic properties. With 10 times the free-radical scavenging power of Vitamin C, research has shown that a few cups of tea a day can help combat arthritis, heart disease, osteoporosis and some forms of cancer...just to name a few.

A bit more than a cup of comfort, I guess?


[Photo: We Heart It]

Which teas are the best?
Obviously, green tea gets the majority of the press but green, black and white teas all come form the same plant: Camellia sinensis. Anti-oxidant activity varies with the ages and oxidation of the leaves. These are the "true" teas. Herbal teas are caffeine-free infusions and not actually teas at all....though they are brewed the same way and enjoyed as a tea.

White Tea: The best and most rare. Not oxidized at all. Very high anti-oxidant activity and the least amount of caffeine (though brewing technique affects caffeine content!)

Green Tea: Also, skip the oxidation step. Tons of anti-oxidant activity and just slightly less caffeine than black tea. Some forms can be bitter.

Black Tea: Good old Orange Pekoe. Your grandmother's cuppa. These leaves are fully oxidized and dried. They have the highest amount of caffeine and least anti-oxidant activity....but still good!
There are a number of different teas out there with

Rooibos (ROY-BOSS) deserves a mention: a naturally caffeine-free herb grown in South Africa, this tea is packed with anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and has the "strength" of a black tea.

I love brewing loose teas and in the past few weeks my sister has bought me TWO awesome tea accessories:

The Bodum Asam Tea Pot
Like the Bodum french press, this tea pot is perfect for brewing more than one cup of loose tea at a time!



The Perfect Mug from David's Tea
This mug has a stainless steel insert and lid. The best part? When you're done steeping the tea you can flip the lid over and use it as a tray for the insert. Perfect!