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© 2024 Kebba Buckley Button, M.S., O.M.  World Rights Reserved.

Tea plantation © vidoc on megapixl

Today, April 21st, is National Tea Day in the UK.  So Happy National Tea Day! To help you celebrate, there are many kinds of teas from various countries.  But the most famous is the black or green tea made from the camellia sinensis bush (or shrub or small tree).  Green tea is made from unfermented leaves of the plant, while black tea is made from the fermented leaves.  There is also white tea, made from buds and new leaves of the same plant.  This gives a delicately-flavored, low-caffeine beverage.

The black tea is reputedly the version that was dumped in Boston Harbor in 1773, by American Revolutionaries, to protest the British Tea Tax.  The movement slogan was “no taxation without representation.”  The US and UK are friendlier now, and you can get British teas in the US delivered by Amazon.  My favorite is Taylor’s of Harrogate Yorkshire Gold, a black tea with a nice bite to it.  I drink it with a splash of organic agave syrup.

C.S. Lewis said,

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.

Tea box label from Kebba’s tea cabinet

There are a number of health benefits of this type of tea:

  • Has antioxidant properties– prevents oxidation and keeps you young, due to polyphenols
  • May boost heart health due to bioflavonoids
  • Reduces bad/LDL cholesterol in some studies
  • Helps gut health several ways, even possibly repairing the gut lining
  • Lowers blood pressure in some studies
  • Lowers risk of stroke
  • Can lower your blood sugar after you have eaten sugary foods, according to one study
  • Is associated with lowering cancer risk for certain cancers and increasing the rate of cancer cell death– wow
  • Increases brain focus yet relaxes you, due to amino acid L-theanine.  Yes, you can buy L-theanine in health food stores as capsules.  But why not simply enjoy drinking tea?

Another major type of tea comes from South Africa, from the mountains northwest of Capetown.  It’s Roibos tea, and it looks red.  It comes from a different plant than regular tea, the Aspalathus linearis, a shrub from the Broom family.  This tea is traditionally known for generally improving health, although there are not studies to support that yet.  It is made by harvesting the leaves early in the year and allowing them to oxidize by drying in the sun.  This tea has a sweet, nutty flavor and no theine/theanine or caffeine, so technically, it is an herbal tea.

© chamillewhite on megapixl

Speaking of herbal teas, yes, you can make almost any herb into a tea by pouring steaming water over it, or steeping it, or boiling it.  Some of my favorites are:

  • Mint tea, which alkalizes your system
  • Rose hips tea, obviously not an herb, but which may add some vitamin C to your system; boil the rose hips until you get a liquid strong enough to please your palate
  • Chamomile tea, which helps to relax you or to help you ease into sleep
  • Dandelion root tea, especially if organic, which is supposed to cleanse toxins from your system; I feel nothing from drinking it, but maybe I have a very low toxin load
  • Sage tea, which clears digestive distress quickly, even diarrhea, from any cause; use a rounded half-teaspoon of sage from your spice cupboard, and steep or simmer it until the water turns light green
  • Turmeric tea, which helps circulation
  • Oregano tea, which helps circulation and make help break up your cold
  • Valerian tea— never make this!  It stinks like something died, it may stink up your entire home!  So  taking valerian capsules to relax or sleep is much more effective.

Whatever tea you are drinking, try to use metal filters or infusers rather than plastic teabags.  We are learning more all the time about microplastics coming from foods, and it’s not good.  Also, some may get discomforts from bleached white teabags, so if you get joint pains after drinking tea, try the loose tea next time.  It’s all about what works for you!

Does that tea taste good (except valerian tea)?  And do you feel good after you drink it?  Then drink it!  Life is to be enjoyed.  Then you, too, will be ever more Healthy Happy and Loving Lifesm!

Kebba Buckley Button is a stress/energy management expert, holistic healer, and award-winning author who celebrates life.  She has a longtime natural healing practice and is an ordained minister. Among her books are: Discover The Secret Energized You (http://tinyurl.com/b44v3br), Inspirations for Peace Within:  Quotes and Images to Uplift and Inspire, and Sacred Meditation: Embracing the Divine.  The books are available on Amazon and through Kebba’s office.   They are also available in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the Franciscan Renewal Center bookstore and at the bookstore at St. Barnabas on the Desert Episcopal Church. Or simply email us to order:  kebba@kebba.com .  Thank you!

Happy healthy loving life

Books by Kebba Buckley Button

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