Tea-riffic!

16th November 2009

It's the social glue that holds every gathering together.

We bet that the moment anyone walks into your home they're met with, "Fancy a cuppa?" From casual encounters (your neighbour popping round for a gossip) to formal afternoon tea in one of The Tea Guild's top Hotels or Tea Rooms for a cross-generational family celebration, every social gathering (and several solitary situations) revolve around the ritual of making and enjoying a relaxing cup of tea with others.

But who would have thought that drinking a brew made from the dried leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant would become such a pivotal point in our daily lives? While cynics might say that alcohol holds a similar status in the hearts of the British public we have to disagree! Tea's position as the social glue that holds our society together remains unrivalled. For a drink that tastes so good, the brew's USP is surprisingly worthy. Unlike so-called healthy tisanes, made from generic herbs, a cup of tea bursts with health-giving properties - and flavour!

Firstly, the very low levels of caffeine will give your powers of concentration a boost while giving you a wonderfully uplifting, yet calming, sensation. According to tea writer, trainer and consultant Jane Pettigrew, this is due to an almost magic ingredient called theanine which "keeps us wide awake but calm, alert and de-stressed." No wonder it's the drink we turn to when afternoon energy levels are low or we need to take time out from a tricky situation. The office tea round is legendary and what better way to bond with work colleagues than over a calming cuppa?

Cleverly, tea also does a fabulous job at keeping you hydrated. We're constantly being told to drink two litres of water a day and while coffee can't contribute to that amount, tea can definitely help make up your target level as it's as hydrating as a glass of pure water! Nothing beats a refreshing, thirst-quenching cup of tea after a long day shopping, does it?. Make your post-shopping recuperation into an event by joining with your friends to enjoy the drink together.

And, last but not least, tea is also famed for it's healthily high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants are a health wonder as they help to protect our bodies against aging free radical particles, which have been found to be a major cause of cancer and help speed up the aging process. While green tea is especially renowned for being rich in antioxidants, both the black and green varieties of tea are equally full of the good particles, which 'scavenge' and remove the damaging free radicals from your system. Whichever colour of tea you choose you'll still be in the pink! Alongside eating five portions of fruit and veg per day medical experts recommend you drink four cups of tea to benefit from tea's optimum health benefits. That's a target we can definitely reach!

As shoppers search for increasingly natural products, eschewing preservatives and additives in favour of purer options, we're pleased to report the way to go is tea! It's one of the few products available that is barely processed. Once the leaves are picked black tea undergoes a simple process of withering followed by breaking down by either rolling or being cut. The leaves are allowed to dry before being fired until all the moisture has evaporated. Finally the tea is sorted by size and packed. Simple! Green tea follows a low-maintenance pattern too. The leaves are simply withered, steamed and rolled and then dried or fired to help keep their vibrant colour.

For those worried about avoiding overly complicated and chemically-heavy products tea is really the ultimate drink - and it's an integral part of our social lives too. Who would have thought that sitting down with your pals for a chat and a cuppa could do your body and mind such good?! Now, shall we put the kettle on?

Women having formal afternoon tea: dailymail.co.uk
Girls drinking tea: www.bigelowteablog.com
Cross-generational tea: theresalduncan.typepad.com
Illustration: Teaspirit.com