Kelsey McGovern, Staff Writer 

Staying warm and healthy is important this upcoming winter, and tea supports both of these needs! It has a variety of health benefits that range from helping with sleep to fighting off cancer. Different kinds of tea include white tea, herbal tea, green tea, black tea and oolong tea. Each teatype provides distinctive health benefits. Let’s explore each variation and how it can help us stay healthy, according to Penn Medicine who gives specific evidence as to how each tea meets our body’s needs. 

White Tea

White Tea comes from a plant in China and India called the Camellia sinensis plant. It offers a pleasant taste and antioxidants that help fight cancer. White tea contains fluoride, catechins and tannins, which build tooth tolerance against sugar and strengthen the teeth’s ability to combat plague. Caffeine is very low in white tea. 

Herbal Tea

Herbal tea is known for its calming effects. It contains a blend of herbs and various plants, and it has no caffeine. Varieties include chamomile, rooibos, peppermint, ginger and hibiscus. Chamomile tea helps reduce menstrual pains, stress and improves sleep. Rooibos aids with allergies, lowers bad cholesterol and boosts health and skin. Peppermint tea alleviates stomach issues and migraines, while ginger tea helps relieve morning sickness, indigestion and joint pain. Hibiscus improves liver health and fights off unhealthy cravings as well as kidney stones. 

Green Tea

Green tea comes from China and is created through processing the leaves through heat. It can boost heart health, lower bad cholesterol and reduce blood sugar. This tea can help clear acne as well as assisting in fighting cancers such as liver, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Matcha green tea is said to contain more antioxidants than regular green tea; one cup of matcha is equivalent to 10 cups of green tea. In matcha, the leaves are ingested, contributing to its higher antioxidant content. 

Black Tea

Black tea is made from the same leaves of the Camellia plant but is dried and fermented, containing caffeine. Black tea helps support a healthy immune system and helps lower inflammation. It can be consumed or steamed and can be put on cuts or bruises to reduce pain and swelling. Poison ivy or other rashes can be helped with a black tea bath. 

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea comes from the same plant as green and black tea. This tea is processed between green and black tea, not oxidizing too little or too much. It is known for lowering anxiety and enhancing alertness due to I-theanine. Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease may be prevented by drinking oolong tea, as well as decreasing type 2 diabetes. 
For more information about tea and their benefits, visit The Power of Tea: 100 Health and Wellness Benefits. This winter, consider substituting coffee in the morning and try boosting your health by drinking tea!