The Health Benefits of Tea

There is much more to tea than meets the lips – it has significant health benefits too.

Tea has a long and distinguished history: it was traded as a commodity by ancient Chinese and Portuguese merchants, featured at the centre of an 18th century US political scandal, and has been used as a medicinal panacea for thousands of years by cultures across the globe. Today, it’s still a pivotal theme in societies worldwide, in a variety of ritual, social and health spheres.
The most important health benefit that tea bestows is protecting us from cell damage and disease, due to the fact that most varieties are choc-a-bloc full of antioxidants (molecules which bond to unstable free radicals in the body, preventing them from causing oxidative stress and ageing). Despite the bad press related to its caffeine content, even black tea is loaded with antioxidants, making it a healthy choice of drink that – according to theMayo Clinic Women's HealthSource– promotes mental clarity, reduces the risk of heart disease, and has cancer-fighting properties. (It’s best not to push the limits though – roughly three to six cups of tea a day is optimal.)
Many herbal teas are even healthier beverage options, as they contain as many antioxidants as black tea, minus the caffeine. When choosing your herbal brew, select those that are free from artificial flavourings and colourings. In addition to their antioxidant properties, certain herbal teas are reputed to have additional heath properties: chamomile is said to instil calm and relieve sleeplessness, peppermint is believed to boost mental acuity and relieve muscle spasms, jiaguolan tea promotes longevity, and fresh ginger tea alleviates nausea.
In South Africa we’re lucky enough to have our own extremely special tea – rooibos. Endemic to the rugged Cederberg region of the Western Cape, rooibos has been found to have a staggering array of health benefits, from fighting cancer and inhibiting the development of fat cells, to relieving allergies and treating digestive problems. Recently, a team of South African scientists have found it to have promising potential for treating diabetics, though further research is needed to corroborate this evidence.
Of course tea need not be hot to be healthy. Quench your thirst on a hot summer’s day with this homemade rooibos iced tea:

  1. Use a slightly larger amount of loose rooibos tea than you would for a regular hot brew – roughly six teaspoons per litre of boiled water.
  2. If you prefer a dash of sweetness, add honey to taste while the tea is steeping – it dissolves easily in the hot water.
  3. Immediately after the hot tea is brewed, pour it into a glass or pitcher filled almost to the top with ice. The sudden lowering of temperature locks in the flavour and fragrance of the tea.
  4. Add a squeeze of lemon, a few slices of fresh ginger and/or fresh mint leaves to taste.
  5. Drink and enjoy!