Tea is a staple part of every Brit’s diet, but did you know it’s good for your health, as well as your sense of wellbeing? According to five new studies in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tea may be able to protect your wellness against stroke and heart disease, decrease your blood pressure, boost your brain power, and help you lose weight. Prediman Krishan Shah, MD, director of the Division of Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, explains, ‘It contains antioxidants, which may help fight free radicals known to contribute to cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries.’ Moreover, the caffeine content in tea stimulates your nervous system, which, in turn, increases the rate at which your body burns fat. And the amino acid theanine in tea works with the caffeine to influence your brain’s neurotransmitters, leading to increased alertness and mental productivity.
If you want the health benefits, but aren’t so big on sipping tea with your pinkie up, we’ve got some awesome recipes from top mixologists, chefs and nutritionists so you can sip in style:
1. The Tea-Totaler: For this recipe, courtesy of Bill Anderson, beverage director at Vie in Western Springs, Illinois, you will need:
- 1 c chamomile tea, steeped
- 1 c sugar
- 1 c soda water
Anderson directs, ‘Dissolve sugar in piping hot tea, and let cool. Fill glasses with ice half way with tea syrup. Top off with soda water. Serves two to four.’
2. Burn Juice: This recipe, provided by Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, CSSD, LDN, serves one. You will need:
- 1/4 c brewed green tea, cooled
- 1 roma tomato
- 1 celery stalk
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- Dash of cayenne
- 3 ice cubes
‘Combine all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth,’ says Blatner. ‘Not only do you score a metabolism boost from the caffeine-rich tea, but a compound in cayenne pepper called capsaicin helps control hunger and increase fat burn. Plus, this drink has only 35 calories and provides 140% daily vitamin C.’
3. Tropical Green Tea Smoothie: Blatner notes, ‘The almond milk provides bone-building calcium and immune-boosting vitamin D, while pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme for healthy digestion.’ As with the above recipe, you blend all the following ingredients until smooth:
- 8 oz brewed green tea, chilled or room temperature
- 8 oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1/2 c frozen mango chunks
- 1/2 c pineapple chunks
- 1 Tbsp honey
4. Ginger Green Tea Lemonade: Blatner’s Ginger Green Tea Lemonade recipe is great for digestion, as well as your overall health. You will need:
- 1 c brewed green tea, hot
- 1/4 c sliced and coarsely chopped fresh ginger
- 3/4 c lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
- 6 Tbsp agave nectar
- 2 c sparkling water
Blatner instructs, ‘Create ginger water by pouring hot tea over chopped ginger and set aside for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pour 3/4 cup ginger water into a pitcher; discard remaining liquid and ginger. Add lemon juice, agave, and sparkling water to pitcher. Serve over ice in glasses garnished with lemon slices. Serves six.’
5. Crimson Toddy: This recipe comes from Chris Cason, Tea Sommelier and Co-Founder of Tavalon Tea. You will need:
- 4 oz boiling water
- 1 tsp Crimson Punch tea (or any citrus and sweet tea blend)
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 Tbsp agave nectar
- 1 orange slice
- 10 whole cloves
- Cinnamon stick
Cason details, ‘Steep tea in boiling water for five minutes, then strain into insulated measuring cup or bowl. Cover to keep hot. Press cloves into the orange slice, and then place the slice at the bottom of a glass like a brandy snifter. Pour in bourbon, and then pour in the hot tea. Stir in agave nectar with cinnamon stick. Serves one.’
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