Tea, is one of the most popular drinks in the UK and approximately 2,000 cups are consumed annually by the average person. It is the drink we turn to when we need to be uplifted, relaxed or deal with a crisis and most teas have beneficial health properties as long as they are not smothered with copious amounts of milk and sugar.
Black leafed tea (PG tips/Tetley/Typhoo etc) however does contain high levels of caffeine which can make the drink somewhat stimulating, this is great during the day but not too good at night. By contrast green leafed tea contains far less caffeine which makes it a preferable night time drink and has a host of health benefits that connot be ignored. According to research carried out by the Japanese Cancer Research Institute, regular daily consumption of green tea could halt the growth of 87% of skin cancers, 58% of stomach cancers and 56% of lung cancers.
Many people however find green tea a little harsh but this can be combated by drinking one of the many flavoured green teas such as jasmine, alternatively white leafed tea might be more to your taste and it's low in caffeine, although the health benefits are not quite as good as the green variety. You can of course brew your own, especially as many herbs and flowers are now coming into bloom in British gardens. Try the following recipie for a citrusy spicy alternative:
2 Teaspoons loose Green Tea leaves (Gunpowder variety is good but any will do)
Approx 12 leaves lemon balm
3 Cloves
Place tea, lemon balm leaves and cloves in a tea pot and pour on water that has just gone off the boil. Stir and allow to infuse for 5 minutes before pouring.
Lemon balm is gently sedative and yet uplifts, a wonderful herb if you are under stress.It calms palpatations, soothes digestion and is antiviral, whilst the warming spice of clove helps ease pain and fights infection, these combined with the properties of green tea will shine a different light on the cup that revives!
Black leafed tea (PG tips/Tetley/Typhoo etc) however does contain high levels of caffeine which can make the drink somewhat stimulating, this is great during the day but not too good at night. By contrast green leafed tea contains far less caffeine which makes it a preferable night time drink and has a host of health benefits that connot be ignored. According to research carried out by the Japanese Cancer Research Institute, regular daily consumption of green tea could halt the growth of 87% of skin cancers, 58% of stomach cancers and 56% of lung cancers.
Many people however find green tea a little harsh but this can be combated by drinking one of the many flavoured green teas such as jasmine, alternatively white leafed tea might be more to your taste and it's low in caffeine, although the health benefits are not quite as good as the green variety. You can of course brew your own, especially as many herbs and flowers are now coming into bloom in British gardens. Try the following recipie for a citrusy spicy alternative:
2 Teaspoons loose Green Tea leaves (Gunpowder variety is good but any will do)
Approx 12 leaves lemon balm
3 Cloves
Place tea, lemon balm leaves and cloves in a tea pot and pour on water that has just gone off the boil. Stir and allow to infuse for 5 minutes before pouring.
Lemon balm is gently sedative and yet uplifts, a wonderful herb if you are under stress.It calms palpatations, soothes digestion and is antiviral, whilst the warming spice of clove helps ease pain and fights infection, these combined with the properties of green tea will shine a different light on the cup that revives!
