From green tea to hibiscus, from white tea to chamomile, teas are chock full of flavonoids and other healthy goodies.
Lipton Black Tea
A top seller for decades, this orange-pekoe blend has a mellow, full-bodied taste that also makes for great iced tea.
To buy: $2.80 for 48 bags.
Black tea: Made with fermented tea leaves, black tea has the highest caffeine content and forms the basis for flavored teas like chai, along with some instant teas. Studies have shown that black tea may protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. It also may reduce the risk of stroke.
Choice Organic Teas Whole Leaf Organics English Breakfast
Large bags allow for maximum infusion, producing an earthy, robust flavor.
To buy: $8.50 for 15 bags.
English breakfast tea is simply black tea without added herbs or other ingredients. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, this beverage, made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, is the second most widely consumed drink in the world, after water. Because black tea can retain its flavor for years, it has been a popular article of trade for centuries, creating important relations between nations throughout the planet. People who drink English breakfast tea each morning can enjoy a variety of health benefits from its flavonoid content and from other nutrients it contains.
Zhena’s Gypsy Tea Earl Greater Grey
The spicy citrus notes from the bergamot oil in this organic winner go deliciously with milk and honey.
To buy: $6.50 for 22 bags.
Earl Grey. If you’re a tea drinker, you may have heard of or tried Earl Grey tea, a blend of different Chinese teas with some added citrus flavor. Named for a 19th-century English prime minister, Earl Charles Grey, it’s a flavorful, aromatic blend that could also provide significant health benefits because of its content of natural, biologically active compounds.
Stash Premium Green Tea
Fresh and pleasantly grassy, this bold variety has none of the astringent aftertaste common to many green teas.
To buy: $3.60 for 20 bags.
Green Tea. Made with steamed tea leaves, it has a high concentration of EGCG and has been widely studied. Green tea’s antioxidants may interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers; prevent clogging of the arteries, burn fat, counteract oxidative stress on the brain, reduce risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, reduce risk of stroke, and improve cholesterol levels.
Yogi Purely Peppermint
This fragrant golden brew from the Pacific Northwest bursts with invigorating flavor―a perfect pick-me-up.
To buy: $5 for 16 bags.
Mint tea is the classic herbal tea. Mint is an ingredient in many different commercial tea blends and is much-loved for its refreshing fragrance. Mint is an herb that doesn’t just grow easily – it can quickly overtake your garden! For this reason, it is recommended to grow mint in either a container or its own bed. There are many varieties of mint and the healing properties are similar. Whether you grow peppermint or spearmint, the active component is menthol.
Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile
Flowery and honey scented, this blend helps calm the body and aid digestion.
To buy: $4.50 for 16 bags.
Chamomile tea should be steeped a little longer than other herbal teas in order to get all of the medicinal benefits. This soothing, slightly apple-flavored tea has mild sedative properties. The petals of the tiny flowers are where the medicinal values lie.
Chamomile is easy to grow from seeds. Start them in the late winter and transfer outdoors when the risk of frost has passed. Once the plants are well established, chamomile can thrive with little water during hot weather. When buying your seeds, note that German chamomile is an annual and Roman chamomile is a perennial.
The Republic of Tea Good Hope Vanilla Red Tea
Made from the rooibos plant, this caffeine-free tea is redolent of berries and vanilla bean.
To buy: $10 for 36 bags.
Rooibos tea. THE tannin in standard black tea can reduce iron absorption from foods, so anaemia sufferers are advised not to drink it with meals. But South African rooibos (close in taste to black tea) can be drunk safely as it doesn’t impair iron uptake as much as traditional tea.
