Drinking tea has been an integral part of Eastern medicine for thousands of years. It’s been said to improve wisdom, happiness, and well-being.

A tea time ritual can relax the body calm the nerves. Beyond that, each of the primary types of tea has been scientifically proven to provide physical health benefits.

Understanding the properties of each type of tea is the first step towards choosing the right one for your health goals. Read on to learn more.

Green Tea

Perhaps the healthiest of teas, green tea has high levels of EGCG and antioxidants. It can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, prevent artery clogging, lower cholesterol, prevent bone loss, and reduce oxidative stress in the brain. It may also reduce the risk of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other neurological diseases.

Black Tea

Black tea, made from fermented tea leaves, has a high caffeine content which improves brain function and mental awareness. It can also help with weight loss, lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, and may decrease lung damage caused by smoking cigarettes.

White Tea  

This unfermented and uncured tea has strong anticancer properties. It can also slow the aging process and has been shown to lower the mouth's PH, reducing the risk of tooth decay.

Oolong Tea

The antioxidants in this tea are known to lower LDL cholesterol. Wuyi, a variety of Oolong, is used primarily for its weight loss properties.

Herbal Tea Blends

Herbal teas are made from a combination of roots, seeds, dried fruit, and herbs. They’re typically caffeine-free and contain fewer antioxidants than the teas listed above.

Herbal tea blends often include a variety of powerful ingredients. This makes them a practical solution for the treatment of an array of health issues. Effective ingredients may include one or more of the following:

• Echinacea – commonly known to improve immune function and fight colds and flu.
• Chamomile – encourages sleep, reduces irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, helps with diabetes complications including kidney and nerve damage and vision loss, may inhibit cancer growth.
• Rooibos – this fermented herb contains flavonoids and may help fight cancer.
• Hibiscus – helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and protects the liver.
• Ginger – calms nausea, improves digestion, reduces inflammation, and improves blood circulation.

When deciding what to put in your body, it’s important to choose wisely. Tea, served hot or cold, is a delicious and calorie-free indulgence that offers many health benefits. Take the time to experiment with different types to figure out your personal preference. Essence of Earth Teas offers specialty blends to suit all of your health goals. Once you've incorporated tea time into your daily routine, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner!