The Tea That’s Best For Me
The tea question I’m most often asked is “What’s the best tea?” There is, of course, the issue of what “best” means. Best can mean price, flavor, overall quality or, most often, the tea that provides the most health benefits. Surprisingly, the answer is the same irrespective of the meaning of “best”. The tea that is best for you is the tea you enjoy drinking.
My tea philosophy has always been that life is too short to drink bad tea. That includes “bad” as in poor quality and tea that tastes bad to you. No one should have to suffer through a cup of tea! Many of our customers come in convinced that they must drink green tea because that’s “the best tea”. True, green tea is very high in antioxidants but the flavor does not agree with everyone. If you can force yourself to down one cup of green versus enjoying a pot of black tea you are getting about the same amount of antioxidants plus the health benefits resulting the peace and pleasure of a half hour’s relaxation with a favorite tea.
There is also a more complex, involved way of looking at tea if the aim is not just the pleasure and flavor of it. Different types of teas do offer different health benefits and certain people should not or cannot consume certain types. White teas for example are reported to have the highest levels of antioxidants (with the exception of matcha tea) and are also very good for protecting the health of your mouth and your heart. Oolong teas have been shown to help those with eczema and psoriasis. People intolerant to caffeine or suffering from kidney stones may want to consider a rooibos tea.
If you have specific concerns about your health as it relates to tea drinking discuss them with both your health provider and your tea supplier. There are literally thousands of different types of teas available and a very good chance that at least one of the will suit both your health needs and your palate.
I look forward to hearing about your life with tea and answering any tea related questions you may have.
Yours in tea,
Maria Sparsis
