Improper Afternoon Tea
Tea is not only good for you (antioxidants galore), it’s super easy to keep and make. No wonder it’s the second most consumed beverage worldwide (after water.) Now, I say improper afternoon tea because a proper tea would involve clotted cream, sugar, amazing tea sandwiches and all things designed to clog your arteries or add to your waist line. So, leave out everything but the tea, make it a ritual, and see if you catch any of the health benefits.
It’s funny that I don’t drink more tea than I do as I’ve been an anglophile for decades and my husband is a tea drinker. So are my parents. When I googled the health benefits of tea, I found no fewer than 19 benefits on Wikipedia. If you read the list below, tea can even be helpful in the event of a poisonous snakebite (Yes, you are reading correctly!) Now, I don’t know if you pour it on or drink it but maybe do both just in case?? Or perhaps run to the nearest hospital since the Wikipedia article indicated that it might need some cleaning up.
- Anti-cancer properties
- Increases metabolic rate
- Possible anti-diabetes effect
- Boosts mental alertness
- Boosts immune system
- Lowers chances of cognitive impairment
- Lowers stress hormone levels
- Effects on HIV
- Effects on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Effects on bad breath
- Iron overload disorders
- Effects associated with caffeine
- Effects on obstructive sleep apnea-related brain deficits
- Effects on bacterial and fungal infections
- Anti-venom effects
- Stroke
- Cardiovascular health
- Anogenital warts
- Antidepressant properties
So, the only bad news is that if you like milk in your tea, this apparently cancels out a lot of the benefits. If you like citrus squeezed in your tea, this apparently enhances tea’s good stuff.
Now I said tea doesn’t go bad but it can if stored improperly. According to Tea Forte, tea needs to be kept away from heat, light, air, and moisture to ensure its freshness. Store it in a dry, cool, dark space. If there is an expiration date on your tea, it just means that after that date, the flavor may change or not be as strong, i.e., you could probably still use it.
