Benefits of Tea You Wish You Knew About

Written on 08/17/2023
KC Penamon

Tea has become a beloved beverage for many, and it's easy to see why. Not only is it a staple in homes and cafes around the world, but it also garners praise from nutritionists and health-conscious individuals alike. From its rich variety of flavors to its impressive health benefits, tea offers much more than just a comforting drink.
photography of blue ceramic coffee cup

Benefits of Tea You Wish You Knew About

Did you know the majority of tea leaves are used to create pharmaceutical medications? In many parts of the world people who drink specific tea blends live longer than average and use tea for medicinal purposes. e.g. Native Americans, Asians, Europeans, Africans… Teas are often used in ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, after-dinner conversations, breakfast, lunch, business meetings and tea parties. In European culture, it was considered proper etiquette and customary to offer tea for welcomed guests. Did you know tea has more caffeine than unbrewed coffee per milligram, depending on consumption?

Tea is popular and enjoyed by Monks, are used to create scents in bath or body essential oils, lotions, potpourri, incense and candle waxes. It’s so popular, many restaurants use tea drinks to aid in the digestion of large meals, to calm customer moods, and as a spice in gourmet dishes (i.e. ice cream with a mint leaf.) Tea lovers travel across regions for tea tasting, pairing, and preparation for contests such as the Tea Master Cup. Also, tea is popular in small bookstores, cafes, day spas, and nail salons because the smell affects the olfactory senses.

Sage tea is a drink made by infusing hot water with sage, a popular aromatic herb that is also known as common sage or garden sage. Its leaves have a long history of medicinal use and spiritual meanings when burned to ward off evil in homes. A member of the mint family, sage is native to the Mediterranean region and Asia Minor (Asia Minor is the place where the continents of Asia and Europe meet. It is also known by its Greek name, Anatolia. Today it is part of the country of Turkey).

Rosemary tea is a herbal tea and is rich in vitamins, iron, and calcium. The herb is commonly used in culinary dishes and to make essential oils. Rosemary is a perennial plant, making it a popular garden plant. You can brew the tea using rosemary leaves straight from your garden. In early American culture, Rosemary leaves were used to hang over babies’ cribs to keep evil spirits away.

Native American Medicine

Yaupon Tea: Yaupon has been used for thousands of years by indigenous communities for ceremonies, as food, and as medicine. Descendants of the Timucua tribe, who lived in what is now North Central Florida for about 10,000 years used Yaupon. In addition, the Ais and the Muscogee (Creek) tribes utilized Yaupon. Packed with antioxidants, Polyphenols can improve or help treat digestive issues, weight management, diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, and cardiovascular disease.

Labrador Tea: Made from a steeped Labrador plant, this tea tastes like an English breakfast tea. The plants grow in the thick, wet soil of lowland bogs across North America. The foliage is leathery and can be dark green, rusting, or magenta-coloured. The plants give off a citrusy solid lemon scent. Many people use Labrador tea to soothe colds, sore throats, and other chest ailments. 

Cedar Tea: Cedar is a sacred tree and is part of many ceremonies. It can be used to purify your home, in sweat lodges, and as a medicine. The tea is used to treat fevers, chest colds, and the flu. To make cedar tea, simmer two cups of fresh cedar in four cups of boiling water for about 10 minutes until the water is golden.

Mint Tea: Mint tea can be served chilled or warm and is refreshing and crisp. Mix with raspberry or blueberry juice for a refreshing beverage. Mint tea has been known to soothe an upset stomach, improve digestion, and headaches, and even treat bad breath. 

Bergamot Tea: Bergamot has a strong minty flavor and is very potent, so use sparingly. Bergamot can help with stress relief protects against diabetes, and heart disease, and may even aid in weight loss—cousin to Chamomile and Lavender tea which is a sleep aid known for its calming properties. 

Raspberry Leaf Tea: Raspberry leaf tea is perfect after a heavy meal, as it aids in digestion. Raspberry tea is well-known for its ability to stimulate labour and help ease childbirth. It also boosts the immune system and reduces inflammation. To make raspberry tea, simmer both the raspberry canes and leaves in a covered pot with water for about 20 minutes. 

Chaga: Chaga is a mushroom that grows on birch trees and is loaded with antioxidants. Many claim antioxidants help fight cancer. Chaga has a mild coffee flavor with notes of chocolate. To make Chaga, dry the mushroom and grind it into chunks. Simmer in water for 20 minutes to an hour and mix with nut milk, honey, or maple syrup.

Sumac Lemonade: Sumac lemonade is made with berries from the staghorn sumac tree. These berries ripen mid-August and turn a deep red color. Sumac may help lower blood sugar and is high in Vitamin C.  

Subscribe to their channel and ours,

Health Benefits of Horny goat weed is part of the genus Epimedium, and it’s a native plant in several parts of China. It also grows in other regions of Asia, including Korea. A major component of horny goat weed is a flavonoid called icariin that is also present in Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. Its tea that is been brewed from this weed has many health benefits especially for men as it is known as a natural Viagra. This supplement is thought to remedy erectile dysfunction and offset low sex drives. | Subscribe to their channel & ours 

Scientific Tea Research

Pharmaceutical medications are developed from tea leaves. Lithium used in pill forms used by Psychiatrists to control behavioral disorders such as Autism, bipolar disorder, and mental depression come from tea leaves. Among tested teas, large amounts of Lithium are found. Lithium is a chemical element with the symbol Li on the chemical periodic table, atomic number 3, and is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal found in the infusions prepared from the rooibos leaves, nettle, and horsetail. The bioaccessible lithium contributed to 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.03% of the recommended dietary allowances of lithium for black tea, Earl Grey, and green teas according to the National Library of Medicine; National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Harvard School of Public Health reports that polyphenols, or flavonoids, are likely a key component to what makes tea a healthful drink. These chemical compounds act as antioxidants, which control the damaging effects of free radicals in the body. Free radicals can alter DNA by stealing its electrons, and this mutated DNA can increase LDL cholesterol or alter cell membrane traffic—both harmful to our health.

Though green tea is often believed to be richer in polyphenols than black or oolong (red) teas, studies show that—except for decaffeinated tea—all plain teas have about the same levels of these chemicals, albeit in different proportions. Green tea is richest in epigallocatechin-3 gallate whereas black tea is richest in theaflavins; research has shown that both can exert health benefits.

Herbal teas contain polyphenols as well but will vary highly depending on their plant origin. Indeed, one reason for conflicting results in observational studies may be the wide variations of blends, processing, and added ingredients such as milk or honey can alter specific flavonoid content. Spices or herbs can come from the following plant parts: roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves, bark, flowers, fruits, and seeds. This makes them more potent than leaves alone. Examples of herbal teas are Chamomile, Hibiscus, Ginger, Lemongrass, Rosehip, Turmeric, and Peppermint.

If you found this article helpful give it a like, share it with a friend, or drop us a line. Thank you for your time.

Article Perks

Adagio Tea

Our story begins like all human life: with Mom. She imprinted on the company’s founders the idea that tea was important, and good tea was an integral part of a good life. We grew up drinking Mom’s special blend of Indian and Chinese teas

But mom took her sweet time turning her passion into a business. After all, she was mom, raising kids, making meals, receiving guests. Only when her children were grown, did she finally turn energies to brewing tea for the public, and dreamt of opening a tearoom.

@Fruits & Vegetables on Youtube | Subscribe to their channel & ours. 

Black Horehound is useful for vomiting, nausea, vomiting and nervous dyspepsia. It is useful for hypochondria, hysteria, spasms, whooping cough, stomach cramps and for increasing bile flow.

  • Horehound also treats nausea, upset stomach and vomiting. This herb is used in France for nervous disorders in children and adults, Mila sleep disorders and coughs. Use it externally for gout. It provides relief from nervous disorders.
  • Black horehound helps to eliminate intestinal worms. The herb is used for motion sickness and nausea caused due to nervousness. Use it orally for gout and arthritis. It is used by ancient people as a treatment for rabies.