Health Benefits of Tea

By Peter Jaret, Winter 2003

Modern science salutes the health benefits of an ancient beverage.

Some of the strongest evidence of tea’s health benefits comes from studies of heart disease. Scientists have found that those who drink 12 ounces or more of tea a day were about half as likely to have a heart attack as non-tea drinkers. Here are some of our favorites:

Gunpowder is a pungent green tea from China; Dragon’s Well has a subtle chestnut flavor and a lingering aftertaste.

Darjeeling, said to be the “Champagne” of Indian teas, is a black tea with delicate flavor that may bring aromas of grapes, almonds or wildflowers.

Assam, another black tea, is robust and “malty” – a good morning wake up.

White tea, a prized special-occasion green tea with a delicate taste and light golden color, consists of tea buds picked at daybreak.

Formosa oolong, only slightly fermented from Taiwan, is floral and delicate and pairs well with food.