The Health Benefits of Tea

Tea is widely accepted as being good for health. As far back as the 3rd century BC the Chinese recommended tea to improve concentration and alertness. They referred to tea as the ‘elixir of life’. Thomas Garraway, London's first tea merchant, advertised it as a cure-all.

The following facts are now widely recognised amongst health professionals:

• An average cup of green tea contains 8.4mg of caffeine
• An average cup of oolong tea contains 12.6mg of caffeine
• An average cup of black tea contains 40mg of caffeine

This compares with -

• A cup of instant coffee containing around 60mg of caffeine
• A cup of ground coffee containing around 120mg of caffeine

The polyphenols contained in tea slow the absorption of caffeine by the body, making tea much more refreshing and revitalising than coffee.

Drinking tea can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and thrombosis

Taken without milk or sugar, tea has virtually no calories.

Tea is good for dental hygiene. As a natural source of fluoride, tea helps strengthen teeth and prevent tooth and gum decay.

Consumption of tea may, according to research, reduce the risk of various cancers, especially lung, colon and skin cancers. This is due to the natural antioxidants present in tea.

Tea is a natural antiseptic. Green tea is said to be rich in polyphenols, which have anti -viral and anti-bacterial properties. Unlike black (fermented) teas, green teas have very low caffeine levels. Try our Jasmine or Gunpowder in the Green Teas section.