The Ultimate Guide to the Health Benefits of Tea

There are about as many different types of teas as there are claims about what those teas can do for you. So many, in fact, that trying to figure out which health benefits of tea are legitimate and which are too good to be true can get pretty overwhelming.

That's what this article is for. We've done the extensive research so that you can sip on your favorite tea knowing for sure what it is — and isn't — doing for your health.

First, the basics: Different varieties of tea offer different potential health benefits. "True" teas — black, green, oolong, pu-erh and white— are made from a plant species called Camellia sinensis.

There are two main varieties of this species, according to the North Carolina State extension:

• ​Camellia sinensis var. sinensis​, which originates in China and can stand up to colder temperatures
• ​Camellia sinensis var. assamica​, found in northern India, which has larger leaves and grows best in warmer climates

Different growing locations and processing techniques give us different teas with a wide range of chemical and medicinal properties; however, these tea types do share some beneficial qualities (whether you drink them hot or cold), including:

• ​Antioxidants​: These substances can help prevent or delay cell damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals, which may in turn help reduce the risks of certain diseases, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). The plant compounds in tea that act as antioxidants include:
  • Polyphenols
  • Flavonoids
  • Catechins
• ​Caffeine​: True teas are naturally caffeinated, which can be both a benefit and a drawback. Caffeine can help keep you alert and attentive, according to the NLM. But too much caffeine can lead to unpleasant side effects, such as headaches, sleep problems, GI issues, irritability and an irregular heartbeat, per the NLM, which recommends drinking fewer than five cups of caffeinated tea per day. For those who are sensitive to caffeine, you can find decaf versions of most teas.
• ​Hydration​: Along with plain water, and water-rich foods, tea helps you stay hydrated.

Keep scrolling for an in-depth breakdown of the five true teas and their health benefits. Note that tea is not a replacement for medical treatment.

Black tea is the most popular type of tea, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It's also the tea with the most caffeine: An 8-ounce cup of brewed black tea has 47 milligrams of caffeine, per the Mayo Clinic. That's about half as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, which has 96 milligrams.

It's typical for black tea to be made from the assamica variety, per the 2019 book ​Medicinal Foods as Potential Therapies for Type-2 Diabetes and Associated Diseases​, but the leaves from any Camellia plant can produce it.

It's the tea-making process — not the specific plant variety — that dictates the type of tea. To make black tea, the Camellia leaves are picked, dried and rolled, per the Tea Association of the U.S.A. Air exposure causes oxidation, changing the leaves from green to brown, per a June 2014 article in ​Current Pharmaceutical Design​. This process is known as fermentation, and it affects the tea's flavors as well as the compounds it contains.

The oxidation process gives black tea theaflavins, a specific type of polyphenol with antioxidant properties, according to a September 2017 paper in ​European Food Research and Technology​.

Your at-home brewing technique — from how long you let your tea steep to the temperature of the water — also affects the antioxidants found within your cup.

Here are some of black tea's potential health benefits, as well as some claims with very limited evidence.

There's a reason people often drink black tea in the morning (think: English breakfast, Irish breakfast). As with any other beverage with caffeine — coffee, soda and so on — black tea will help you stay alert and focused, according to the NLM.

People who drink black tea may be less likely to have a heart attack or to die if they do have one, per the NLM.

One large study of nearly 500,000 people in China found that drinking tea daily was associated with a lower risk of heart disease, per January 2017 findings in ​Heart​. Another of more than 100,000 people came to the same conclusion in January 2020 in the ​European Journal of Preventive Cardiology​.

These perks for your ticker may be due to the way tea affects heart health risk factors. For instance, drinking tea is tied to less of an age-related decrease in HDL cholesterol (that's the good kind), per a June 2018 study in the ​Journal of the American Heart Association​. (But green tea had more of an effect than black.)

More research is needed to know if black tea reduces total cholesterol and LDL (aka "bad" cholesterol) levels, according to the NLM.

Black tea may help increase blood pressure in people with low blood pressure, per the NLM, likely due to the tea's caffeine content.

Drinking black tea may benefit your bones. In a November 2018 study in ​Osteoporosis International​, researchers compared a baseline measure of bone mineral density and a measure around a decade later for 20,000 people. They found drinking tea was linked to better scores in women, but not men (that's the terminology used in the study).

A December 2017 ​Medicine​ systematic review and meta-analysis that examined 17 studies came to a similar conclusion: Tea drinkers were less likely to develop osteoporosis.

Drinking black tea was also linked to a lower risk of fracture-related hospitalizations in older women, according to an August 2015 study in ​The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition​. Researchers credit this effect to the flavonoids in black tea.

There may be a connection between drinking tea and a lower risk for ovarian cancer, according to a March 2018 ​Carcinogenesis​ systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 studies. Ovarian cancer risk fell as non-herbal tea intake increased. That relationship was stronger for green tea than black tea. More research is needed to understand what's behind this association.

With other cancers, research is inconclusive, per the National Cancer Institute. While animal studies of tea have shown promise for preventing tumors, human studies haven't been so decisive. Early research suggests that drinking black tea may be linked with a reduced risk of pancreatic, prostate and kidney cancer, according to the NLM.

In a March 2019 ​Neurology Asia​ systematic review and meta-analysis, drinking tea was associated with a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease, a nervous system disorder that affects a person's movement, according to the Mayo Clinic.

But this connection may be stronger when people drink non-black tea, the authors note. More studies that call out the specific type of tea are needed.

Getting plenty of flavonoids — like those in black tea — may be linked to lower chances of having a stroke, per the NLM, but more research is needed.

To dig into the connection, researchers followed nearly 75,000 people in Sweden who did not have heart disease for around a decade in a March 2013 ​Annals of Epidemiology​ study. They found that drinking four or more cups of black tea a day was associated with a lower risk of stroke.

There are many varieties of black tea available. You can purchase tea bags to brew your own cup — hot or iced — or buy prepared black tea with many flavors, such as:

• ​Bergamot tea:​ Typically known as Earl Grey tea, this drink is made from essential oil from bergamot oranges, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which are combined with black tea. Bergamot tea has a distinctive smell that may help lift your mood as you drink. Smelling the essential oil improved positive feelings in one small May 2017 study in ​Phytotherapy Research.​
• ​Assam tea:​ Named after the Assam region of northeast India, the world's largest tea growing region, per the Indian Tea Association, this tea has a strong, tart and malty taste, and a reddish-brownish color. Assam is used in many teas, including English and Irish breakfast.
• ​Peach-flavored black tea:​ Readily available as both tea bags and bottled cold drinks, peach black tea has a very similar nutritional profile to regular black tea. But bottled peach tea often contains a significant amount of sugar or artificial sweetener, which can change the beverage's nutritional makeup. For example, 12 ounces of Gold Peak Peach Iced Tea contains 112 calories, 30 grams of carbohydrates and 29 grams of sugar, according to the USDA. The same amount of plain black tea contains 3 calories and no carbs or sugar.
• ​Chai:​ Chai is a combination of spices with tea and milk (you can use dairy milk, or opt for dairy-free options) that makes a delicious beverage. The word "chai" means "tea" in Hindi (from the word "cha" in Chinese), so saying "chai tea" is technically redundant, according to Teatulia Organic Teas. Chai comes from Ayurvedic medicine, and recipes for the drink vary greatly from one family — and one region — to another, according to the Pacific College of Health and Science. Chai is typically made with black tea but can also be made with green. Ingredients in chai include:
  • Cardamom
  • Ginger
  • Cloves
  • Cinnamon
  • Black peppercorns
  • Vanilla
  • Nutmeg
  • Mace
  • Star anise
  • Fennel
  • Bay leaf
  • Allspice
  • Saffron
  • Coriander
  • Cumin

The basics of brewing black tea (or any tea, for that matter) are simple: Pour hot water over tea leaves, either in an infuser or tea bag. But the temperature and brewing time can make a difference to the taste of your drink.

Your water should be between 203 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, steep (or soak) your tea for 3 to 5 minutes, per the Dilmah School of Tea.

Other tips for a good cup of black tea, according to the Tea Association of the U.S.A., include:

• ​Use a ratio:​ For each 1-cup serving, use a single teabag or teaspoon of loose tea leaves.
• ​Use a teapot:​ Fill it with hot water beforehand, then pour that out before adding tea and boiling water for the best taste.

If you're not a fan of coffee but need help getting through a midday energy dip, green tea is a smart sip. While it doesn't contain as much caffeine as coffee or black tea, is has enough to provide an energy boost.

A standard 8-ounce cup of green tea has about 25 to 29 milligrams of caffeine, which is only about two-thirds the amount of caffeine in black tea (47 milligrams) and only about one-fifth the amount of caffeine in coffee (96 milligrams), according to the Mayo Clinic.

Green tea typically comes from the Camellia sinensis var. sinensis variety, per Kew Gardens. The drink's color is a result of the process used to make it, not the specific plant variety. Unlike black and oolong tea, green tea does not undergo a fermentation process, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Because the tea leaves aren't exposed to air, they don't oxidize and the green hue remains. That also means green tea has more polyphenols and antioxidant properties than black tea, per a June 2020 review in ​Animal Nutrition​.

In particular, green tea is known for containing catechins, per a November 2016 study in ​Food Science & Nutrition​, including:

• Epicatechin (EC)
• Epigallocatechin (EGC)
• Epicatechin gallate (ECG)
• Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)

The catechins mentioned above, as well as flavonoids and other compounds, are important, because they're likely responsible for many of green tea's health benefits.

Whatever variety or brand you prefer, green tea boasts notable health benefits. While people often enjoy this beverage hot, you can also drink green tea cold; the perks remain regardless of temperature.

Here are some of the potential health benefits of green tea.

Drinking green tea won't replace the jolt you'd get from an espresso, but that cup still delivers a significant amount of caffeine. As with any caffeinated beverage, drinking green tea can help you stay alert, per the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).

Green tea is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties due to antioxidants, especially catechins. The drink has been researched for helping manage diseases affected by inflammation, including different types of arthritis.

The EGCG in green tea may block some types of inflammatory cells, according to the Arthritis Foundation. It may also improve symptoms in people with inflammatory bowel disease, according to Mount Sinai.

An October 2017 review of 21 studies in ​Phytomedicine​ found that the combo of caffeine and a compound called l-theanine in green tea is tied to helping reduce anxiety and improving memory and attention.

One small study in the June 2019 issue of ​Aging​ suggests the tea may protect against age-related cognitive decline, and in a May 2014 ​PLOS One​ study, drinking green tea was associated with a reduced risk for cognitive decline but not for coffee and black-tea drinkers, but more research needs to be done in this area.

"Some research suggests that there's a reduced risk for heart disease in populations where green or black teas are consumed regularly," May Zhu, RDN, LDN, founder of Nutrition Happens, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

It's possible that drinking green tea helps lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels (risk factors for heart disease), per Mount Sinai. For example, a September 2014 review in the ​European Journal of Nutrition​ suggests that catechins in green tea (found in particularly large quantities in matcha, a green tea powder made from crushing dried tea leaves) are linked to improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Drinking tea daily is linked with a reduced risk of heart disease, according to an April 2017 study in ​Heart​. Plus, tea may offer protective benefits following a stroke or heart attack: For people who'd experienced these events, the risk of death (for any reason) was lower for those who drank green tea daily compared to non-tea drinkers, per a February 2021 study in ​Stroke​.

More research is needed, according to the NCCIH, which notes that "no definite conclusions have been reached" when it comes to green tea and heart disease risk factors.

Drinking tea at least three times a week — especially green tea — is linked to a longer and healthier life, a January 2020 study in the ​European Journal of Preventive Cardiology​ found. The analysis included more than 100,000 people who were followed over seven years. Regular tea drinkers had a 22 percent reduced risk of fatal heart disease and stroke and a 15 percent decreased risk of death from all causes.

Green tea's polyphenols act as antioxidants, protecting cells from free radicals. In lab and animal studies, these compounds inhibited the growth of tumors, according to the NCI. But studies in humans have not been as conclusive.

Having four or more cups of any kind of tea a day is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, according to May 2009 results in the ​Journal of General Internal Medicine​.

But green tea in particular may help control type 2 diabetes, per Mount Sinai. A June 2013 meta-analysis of 17 randomized clinical trials in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found the drink decreased fasting blood sugar and improved insulin sensitivity.

For people with type 2 diabetes, drinking green tea (as well as coffee) is also linked to a lower risk of dying, per an October 2020 study in ​BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care​ in which researchers tracked green tea and coffee drinking among nearly 5,000 people with type 2 diabetes for around five years.

The benefits of green tea for weight loss are generally overstated.

The EGCG in green tea is linked with weight-loss properties in many studies, according to a May 2018 review in ​Molecules​. But most research around weight loss and green tea examines the benefits of highly concentrated green tea ​extract​, which has much more EGCG — not drinking the tea itself. The effects of that extract are "minimal" when it comes to shedding pounds, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Bottom line: There's no proof available that green tea extract leads to meaningful weight loss, nor that it helps with weight maintenance, according to the NCCIH. That said, green tea can still support your weight-loss goals if you enjoy drinking it in place of higher-calorie, sweetened beverages like soda or coffee with cream and sugar.

Fluoride is important for oral health, protecting your teeth and preventing cavities, according to the American Dental Association. Green tea contains this compound, according to a February 2021 study in the ​Journal of the Canadian Dental Association​, which examined the fluoride content in green tea from four different countries.

While fluoride has its benefits, too much is problematic, so the study authors note that dentists should consider how much fluoride people take in from green tea and other sources before prescribing fluoride treatment.

You might have seen claims that green tea is good for heartburn, but that's a myth that should be dismissed quickly: The caffeine in green tea (or black tea or coffee, for that matter) may actually make acid reflux symptoms worse, according to the Mayo Clinic. Instead of true teas, it's herbal teas — and other foods and drinks that contain lots of water and no caffeine — that can help dilute the stomach acid that causes the burning sensation in your chest or throat also known as acid reflux, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Just like black tea, there are many varieties of green tea available, too, such as:

• ​Sencha tea:​ Expect a golden color and a crisp, grassy flavor.
• ​Twig tea:​ Also known as Kukicha, stem tea or Bōcha, this drink is made from the twigs and stems of Camellia sinensis plants. Twig tea is a byproduct of other teas, such as sencha, with the stems sorted in production, according to the Global Japanese Tea Association. This light tea is easy to brew, per the Association; its flavor varies depending on whether or not the twigs are roasted, but may be mineral-like, woody or vanilla.
• ​Gunpowder green tea:​ To make this drink, tea leaves are rolled into small pellets that expand when steeped (soaked in water), releasing flavor and nutrients. These pellets look like gunpowder, which is why the tea has such a dramatic name, according to Upton Tea Imports.
• ​Genmaicha tea:​ This is a blend of Japanese green tea with roasted, popped brown rice, according to Liluku Tea, a Tokyo-based tea brand. The brown rice kernels look like popcorn. Typically, this tea is made with a green tea known as blancha, although it can be made with other varieties as well, and is low in caffeine, per Liluku Tea. To prepare genmaicha tea, use 1 tablespoon of tea leaves per 8 ounces of water, according to tea importer Rishi Tea and Botanicals. Steep these leaves in water that is 180 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 3 minutes.
• ​Jasmine tea:​ Green tea (or other tea blends) are mixed with the fragrant flowers of the jasmine plant, per an October 2016 article in the ​International Journal of Food Properties​. The result is a tea with a delicate, mildly sweet flavor and aromatic fragrance.
• ​Green tea with rose hips:​ Green tea is sometimes combined with rose hips, which are found below the petals of a rose and contain the flower's seeds, according to Michigan Medicine. This part of the plant is rich in vitamin C, but note that the tea often uses dried (not fresh) rose hips, which have less of the vitamin, according to Michigan Medicine. Rose hips may reduce arthritis pain, per Beth Israel Lahey Health, but there's no research to back up other purported benefits of rose hips, which include treating the common cold and GI symptoms, per Michigan Medicine.
• ​Matcha:​ This green tea powder "is made by crushing dried tea leaves into a powder, so it contains up to three times more antioxidants than regular green tea," Zhu says. It's often grouped with green tea, because matcha is made from tea leaves that aren't fermented. But matcha is unique: Unlike green tea, it's made from leaves grown in the shade, not the sun, per a May 2018 study in ​Heliyon​. Plus, while green tea is made from whole tea leaves, the veins and stems are removed before the leaves are processed to make matcha, according to Piedmont Healthcare. These differences contribute to matcha's vibrant color and distinctive, grassy taste — as well as its health benefits. Matcha has some of the highest antioxidant levels of all green tea varieties, and perhaps over 100 times more catechins, according to an older September 2003 study in the ​Journal of Chromatography​.

For the best cup of green tea, pour water that's between 158 and 176 degrees Fahrenheit (a bit cooler than the water you'd use while brewing black tea), per instructions from the Dilmah School of Tea. To achieve this temperature, bring the water to a boil, then allow the water to sit for about 10 minutes before pouring it over the tea leaves, recommends the Tea Association of the U.S.A. Then, steep the tea for 2 to 3 minutes, adjusting to suit your taste.

Oolong tea is typically made with leaves from the Camellia sinensis var. sinensis variety (as opposed to Camellia sinensis assamica, which originates in India), according to a May 2016 study in ​SpringerPlus​.

Traditionally, oolong tea is grown in the Fujian province in southern China, per the Chazhidao virtual tea school. Today, it's also grown in other areas in China, according to the ​SpringerPlus​ study.

"The difference between black, green and oolong tea is the amount of oxidation that occurs within the leaves," says Jaime Gnau, RDN, a clinical instructor in Missouri State University's dietetics program. "Oxidation is the same process that turns an apple or avocado brown when exposed to oxygen," she explains. Oolong tea is somewhat oxidized — more than green tea's light oxidation but less than black tea's heavy oxidation.

Like all true teas, oolong contains antioxidants. The biggies found in this brew include theaflavins, thearubigins and EGCG, Gnau says. "These antioxidants have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-microbial and anti-obesity effects."

You'll get some caffeine with a cup of oolong tea, but not a ton: An 8-ounce cup of brewed oolong tea contains 38 milligrams of caffeine, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. That's a bit more than a cup of green tea (29 milligrams) but less than both black tea (around 48 milligrams) and coffee (95 milligrams).

There is less research about oolong tea than about green and black teas, according to a December 2015 review in ​Food Science and Human Wellness​, but "the teas share similar health properties," Gnau says.

Take a look at some of what's known about oolong tea's health benefits based on current research.

"Research on oolong tea consumption does appear to show benefit in blood sugar management," Gnau says.

She points out that a small older study — with just 20 participants — found that people who drank 1.5 liters (about 6 cups) of oolong tea every day for a month had lower blood sugar levels by up to 30 percent compared to people who drank water instead, per the June 2003 results in ​Diabetes Care​.

Drinking oolong is also linked to a protective effect when it comes to diabetes: A meta-analysis of nine studies found having four or more cups of any kind of tea a day is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, according to May 2009 results in the ​Journal of General Internal Medicine​.

Because most of the studies in the above review didn't provide information about the types of tea people drank, it's hard to know what this means for oolong drinkers. Plus, keep in mind that four cups of tea a day might feel like a lot to drink for some people.

More research is needed to pin down the potential benefits of tea — and oolong tea in particular — at regulating blood sugar levels and warding off diabetes.

As a general rule, drinking tea appears to be good for your heart. The beverage helps increase HDL cholesterol (that's the "good" variety) and lower LDL (the "bad" kind), and it contains polyphenols, a heart-helping antioxidant, per the American Heart Association.

Gnau references older research that looked at the effects of drinking tea on heart diseases. Men (that's the terminology used in the study) who had one cup — or more — of oolong tea daily had a 61 percent lower risk of heart disease, per the December 2009 study in the ​Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health​.

Oolong tea may is also linked to a lower risk of developing high blood pressure. In a July 2004 study in the ​Archives of Internal Medicine​, people who drank green or oolong tea regularly had lower rates of the condition than non-tea drinkers.

There may be some brain benefits that accompany drinking oolong tea.

For instance, there's an association between drinking oolong tea (as well as black tea) and a lowered risk of cognitive impairment and decline, per a July 2008 study in ​The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition​.

Oolong drinkers (and black tea fans) also seem to have lower rates of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, according to a May 2018 study in ​Nutrients​, potentially due to the presence of an amino acid called l-theanine in the brew, per PennMedicine.

These are promising indicators, but as with other items on this list, it's worth keeping in mind that there's little research available, and few recent studies that specifically examine the effects of oolong tea (and not just tea generally).

Oolong tea can be part of a weight-loss plan. In one study, people with obesity or overweight drank a cup of oolong tea a day for 60 days. By the end of the study period, about 60 percent of people had lost at least 2 pounds, per March 2009 results in the ​Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine​ — but more research is needed.

While much remains to be discovered and understood, there's a big connection between gut health and overall health. The bacteria found in your gut may play a role in your immunity and risk of developing chronic diseases, for instance.

Drinking oolong tea may affect the diversity of bacteria found in the gut, per an October 2019 review in ​Nutrients​. (As a general rule, having many types of bacteria in the microbiome is seen as a good thing.) Plus, the review authors note that drinking tea may "help to offset dysbiosis [aka imbalance] triggered by obesity or high-fat diets."

More research is needed to know if tea can help improve gut health — and how.

Oolong tea contains a mix of both simple and complex polyphenols (aka plant compounds known for their potential health benefits), per the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Animal studies have shown that the polyphenols found in tea may stop tumor cells from reproducing and lead to the death of cancer cells, per the NCI.

Most of the research around tea and cancer prevention, however, has been done with more popular green or black teas.

One November 2018 lab study in ​Anticancer Research​ that looked specifically at oolong tea and breast cancer cells found that oolong tea extract halted cell growth, and a February 2013 study in ​Cancer Epidemiology​ linked drinking oolong tea with a lower risk of ovarian cancer.

More research is needed to understand any connection between tea drinking and cancer prevention.

Oolong teas vary in smell and taste. Ti kuan yin tea, for example, smells like orchids and tastes fruity and sweet, according to tea maker PeLi Teas. This tea is also sometimes referred to as Iron Goddess of Mercy, because it is said to have been a gift from the merciful bodhisattva (or enlightened being) Guanyin, according to importer Rishi Tea.

Some of the most commonly enjoyed varieties of oolong tea, according to Nannuoshan, a Berlin-based company that purchases and sells tea, include:

• ​Tie Guan Yin or Ti Kuan Yin:​ Better known as Iron Goddess of Mercy, this tea is available in roasted and non-roasted versions, and is probably the most popular variety.
• ​Wuyi Yan Cha:​ This tea grows in the mineral-rich soil found in the Wuyi Mountains in China's Fujian province.
• ​Da Hong Pao:​ There's a smokey flavor to this tea, due to its leaves being baked over wood ashes.
• ​Dong Ding:​ This variety of oolong tea hails from Taiwan and has a "rich, sweet and buttery mouthfeel," per Nannuoshan.

For the best-tasting cup of oolong tea, use water that's between 176 and 194 degrees Fahrenheit, and let it steep for 2 to 3 minutes, per the Dilmah School of Tea.

One note to keep in mind for people with low iron: "The tannins found in tea can reduce iron absorption, so those who are trying to improve iron absorption should avoid drinking tea with meals," Gnau says.

When it comes to tea, the big four are black, white, oolong and green. Pu-erh tea, which is made from the Camellia sinensis var. assamica type of tea plant, is less well known.

This tea — which is also sometimes spelled pu'er or pu'erh — is the only tea to have a protected origin designation from China. That means only tea grown in China's Yunnan Province can be referred to as pu-erh (similar to how "Champagne" only refers to sparkling wine made from grapes grown in France's Champagne region).

"Pu-erh tea has a distinct rich and earthy flavor," Gnau says. You may also notice woody, sour or sweet notes, she adds.

The distinctive taste of pu-erh tea is due to microbial fermentation. That's true for both the methods used to process pu-erh tea, Gnau explains: raw or ripe.

• ​Raw tea:​ Raw pu-erh tea is heated and dried. "Sundried green tea leaves are autoclaved, compressed and dried," Gnau says.
• ​Ripe tea:​ Ripe pu-erh is fermented for several weeks. "Pu-erh ripe tea is sundried green tea that has gone through a microbial fermentation process for several weeks at around 122 degrees Fahrenheit in humid conditions," Gnau says. Then, the tea is dried. It's available as loose-leaf tea but often compressed into a shape. It may be a brick of tea or shaped like a mushroom or bird's nest, per Simple Loose Leaf Tea Company. "Ripe pu-erh tea is less bitter due to the fermentation process reducing catechins," Gnau says.

"The specific forms of microorganisms that are involved in the fermentation process lend varying flavor characteristics to the tea," Gnau says. The fermentation process also affects the antioxidants found in pu-erh tea: A longer fermentation process leads to less antioxidants, she says.

"Pu-erh raw tea has higher polyphenol content than green tea, but this decreases in ripe pu-erh tea," she says.

The caffeine in pu-erh isn't widely publicized. In one study in the January to March 2016 issue of ​Pharmacognosy Magazine​ that examined caffeine levels for 30-plus varieties of teas, one pu-erh sample had 12.59 milligrams of caffeine per gram of tea, about the same as green tea but less than black tea.

Perhaps because this tea is relatively uncommon, there's less research available on it. Here's a look at some health benefits that may accompany drinking pu-erh tea.

Animal studies point to a potential for this type of tea to help keep cholesterols levels in check.

"There are a few small animal studies that found rats given pu-erh tea showed a decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol," Gnau says. For example, feeding rats pu-erh tea over a 12-week period reduced high cholesterol, per a February 2012 study in ​Food and Function​.

"There are few clinical studies on the health effects of pu-erh tea in humans," Gnau says. Small studies suggest potential benefits for improving cholesterol and supporting weight loss, she adds.

She points to a small March 2016 trial in ​Clinical Interventions in Aging​. In it, 59 people with overweight or obesity either had pu-erh tea extract or a placebo for 5 months. The daily pu-erh tea extract was associated with weight loss.

While promising, note that participants were given pu-erh tea extract, not an actual cup of tea. "More research is needed in this area," Gnau says.

As many as one-third of adults in the United States have metabolic syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic. This collection of conditions — such as increased blood pressure and high blood sugar — can lead to several chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease. Pu-erh tea may help with regulating this syndrome.

In one study, people with metabolic syndrome had pu-erh tea extract for three months. At the end of that time period, compared to a placebo group, they had lower blood sugar, triglycerides and BMIs, per the July 2011 findings in ​Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine​.

The study authors noted that pu-erh tea "demonstrated excellent potential" at improving key health markers.

Pu-erh tea has shown promising results in test-tube studies. For example, the tea displayed stronger anti-cancer effects than green tea in a lab study involving colon cancer cells, per January 2013 research in the ​Journal of Environment Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology​.

Another study showed that pu-erh tea extract might inhibit the growth of tumor cells, according to November 2011 findings in the ​International Journal of Molecular Sciences​.

More research — and research beyond preliminary test-tube studies — is needed in this area.

To help release the flavor, first wash the tea leaves. Steep your pu-erh tea for about 15 seconds, then discard the water, per Simple Loose Leaf Tea Company.

Then, using a teaspoon of loose-leaf tea for every cup of water, steep for about five minutes. Aim for water that's around 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

"White tea's flavor is typically more subtle and sweet than other varieties of teas," says Danielle Gaffen, RDN.

This type of tea is made from the tips of buds from a specific variety of Camellia sinensis var. sinensis that grows in only one province of China, she says. Like green tea, white tea leaves are not fermented, according to a December 2019 review in the ​International Journal of Molecular Sciences​. Instead, the leaves and buds are steamed, which prevents discoloration, Gaffen says.

White tea is low in caffeine, with 15 milligrams per 8-ounce cup — much less than coffee, which has 95 milligrams in the same sized cup, per Food Insight. But the amount of caffeine white tea contains may vary based on three factors, according to an August 2017 review in ​Food & Function​: how long the tea brews, the size of the tea leaves and the water temperature. A cup could have as much as 30 milligrams of caffeine, Gaffen says, still less caffeine per serving than black or green tea, she adds.

White tea has more catechins than other types of tea, per a December 2018 review in ​Trends in Food Science and Technology​. "Because white tea is minimally processed, it retains a high amount of its polyphenols, especially the catechins," Gaffen says.

In fact, there are higher concentrations of EGCG — a type of catechin linked with potential health benefits — in white tea than green tea, Gaffen says.

More research — particularly in humans, as opposed to lab or animal studies — is needed, but white tea may have these potential benefits.

Tea is a source of fluoride, according to a January 2016 study in the ​Journal of Food Science​. Fluoride is added to toothpaste and water because it helps protect against cavities, per the American Dental Association.

As well as fluoride, white tea's catechins and tannins also play a role in oral health, according to Penn Medicine.

Drinking tea habitually — that is, three or more times each week — is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, per an analysis of data collected from more then 100,000 participants in the December 2020 issue of the ​European Journal of Preventive Cardiology​.

And white tea in particular may offer heart benefits. Those catechins found in all tea (and particularly in white tea) may help to lower cholesterol, per an October 2018 review in ​Trends in Food Science & Technology​, which examined the effects of white tea on animals.

More evidence is needed, per the review. However, the review writers note, "white tea is estimated to be beneficial against cardiovascular diseases."

Drinking white tea may help with your weight-loss efforts, Gaffen says. She points to a February 2010 research review in the ​International Journal of Obesity​, which linked drinking white tea to a 4 to 5 percent lift in energy expenditure (or how many calories the body burns).

An older test tube study found that white tea extract inhibits the development of fat cells, per May 2009 research in ​Nutrition & Metabolism​.

Additional research is needed to confirm these results.

Thanks to the hormone insulin, your body is able to store blood sugar and convert it to energy, according to Kaiser Permanente. But sometimes this process goes awry.

"Research in animal studies has shown that white tea may improve blood sugar and insulin levels due to white tea's polyphenols and EGCG," Gaffen says.

For instance, a February 2015 study in the Cambridge University Press found that drinking white tea daily helped "glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity" in rats with prediabetes.

To confirm if these benefits carry through to humans, more research is needed, Gaffen says.

There are promising test-tube studies around the potential for white tea to prevent cancer.

The presence of high levels of ECGC may be particularly meaningful. EGCG acts to combat free radicals, per the National Cancer Institute (NCI). White tea extract has high antioxidant activity, according to a February 2015 study in ​Food Chemistry​.

One study examined white tea extract and found that it inhibited cancer cells from spreading, per October 2018 results in the ​Journal of Food Science​. Similarly, an earlier September 2010 study in ​Cancer Prevention Research​ looked at non-small cell lung cancer cell lines and found that white tea extra led to cell death.

The ​Food Chemistry​ study found that white tea stopped colon cancer cells from growing.

While these results are promising, keep in mind that these studies are done in labs, not in humans, and that most have relied on white tea extract (as opposed to a brewed cup of the beverage). While white tea may have some cancer-fighting benefits, more remains to be discovered.

There are five different classifications of white teas, some of which have several varieties, according to the Art of Tea.

1. ​Yi Zhen Bai Hao or Silver Needle White Tea:​ This rare variety is harvested just one single time each year, in early spring, per Rishi Tea and Botanicals.
2. ​Shou Mei:​ This tea comes from more mature leaves from the plant used for silver needle tea, according to Happy Earth Tea Company. Varieties include Noble and Long Life Eyebrow.
3. ​Bai Mu Dan or White Peony:​ Expect a nutty taste, per the Art of Tea.
4. ​Gongmei or​ ​Tribute Eyebrow:​ Made with young leaves without buds, this type has a "darker and fuller" taste than other white teas, according to the Art of Tea.
5. ​Fujian New Craft:​ This type of white tea is also called DaBaiCha or DaHoaCha.

White tea can be purchased loose or in tea bags in specialty tea stores, health food stores, Asian grocers and supermarkets.

White tea can handle hot temperatures, according to tea company Simple Loose Leaf. Brew it with water that is between 180 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit and steep for about 2 minutes. Unless otherwise instructed by the packaging on the tea, you'll typically want to use 3 to 4 grams of leaves per 8 ounces of water.

Be mindful of your steep time, Gaffen says. Brew too long, and it'll increase the tea's bitterness (and elevate caffeine concentration — which may or may not be your preference), she says. If you're looking for more caffeine, try using more leaves rather than brewing it longer to avoid the bitter taste, she recommends.

Beloved by many, honey acts an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent, as well as a natural sweetener, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you opt to sweeten your tea, honey may be your healthiest choice. Here are some potential health benefits of adding honey to tea.

Honey may be an effective cough suppressant, according to the Mayo Clinic.

It's helpful for acute nighttime coughing as well as upper respiratory tract infections, so if you've got a bad cough, try adding honey to your next cup of tea. The honey will coat your throat, preventing irritation that may cause you to cough. Drink the mixture as necessary to reduce your symptoms.

Even without honey, hot tea may help naturally soothe a sore throat. Iced tea is a smart idea for a cough, too: It will help you stay hydrated and thin mucus, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Stick to decaf tea if you're looking for sore throat relief before bed, according to Penn Medicine.

Drinking hot herbal tea with honey is a traditional home remedy for laryngitis, according to Mount Sinai Hospital, and it may help soothe the symptoms of laryngitis, or inflammation of your voice box.

In general, it's a good idea to stay hydrated when you have laryngitis, according to the Mayo Clinic, by drinking herbal tea, water and/or juice. As you drink your hot tea with honey, try breathing in the steam, which may also be a helpful tactic to deal with laryngitis symptoms and restore your voice.

While you may be in the habit of taking over-the-counter or prescription medications to deal with this monthly pain and discomfort, honey may help, too, according to a June 2017 study in ​Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics​.

The small study compared taking honey to taking mefenamic acid capsules (a prescription-strength non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication) and found that honey was just as effective as the prescription medication.

Plus, keep in mind that heat — like a heating pad or hot water bottle on your stomach — can help with menstrual cramps, per Michigan Medicine. Even the simple act of resting a mug full of warm tea in your lap may help improve blood flow and ease mild pain.

Opt to add your honey to caffeine-free tea; it's best to limit caffeine if you're dealing with menstrual cramps, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Putting cream (or other dairy) or sugar in your tea adds calories.

A teaspoon of sugar has 16 calories, according to the USDA. If you add several spoonfuls, or drink several cups throughout your day, those calories can add up. As with sugar, adding cream to your cup could work against any weight-loss goals you have. Cream provides 20 calories per tablespoon, most of which are due to saturated fat, according to the USDA.

To cut calories, replace sugar with a nonnutritive sweetener, such as Stevia. Low-fat or non-fat milk will add fewer calories than cream or whole milk.

Adding 1 fluid ounce (2 tablespoons) of low-fat milk to your tea will add 10 calories to your cup, per the USDA. You'll also get some nutritional benefits: This small amount of milk offers 3 percent of your daily value (DV) of calcium and 2 percent of your DV of iron, according to the USDA. You can also opt for protein-packed soy milk as a lower-calorie alternative to cream.

But it's not just the calories that are a potential concern.

There's evidence that adding dairy products or soy or almond milk to your tea diminishes its health benefits. For instance, a January 2007 study in the ​European Heart Journal​ found that adding milk to tea counteracted the beverage's protective effect on the blood vessels. Adding milk also appears to interfere with the metabolic benefits of tea, per an August 2011 study in ​Nutrients​.

More research is needed to fully understand if adding milk to tea blunts its antioxidant activity.

There are many tea brands that sell any number of black, green, herbal or other teas. Some may add ingredients like antioxidant-rich fruit or anti-inflammatory herbs that may slightly change a tea's health benefits. Otherwise, the health benefits of teas are very similar across different brands.

Yogi Tea is a tea brand that makes a variety of green, black and herbal teas. Along with taste, Yogi Tea puts an emphasis on the benefits each of their teas delivers.

For example, the brand claims its Yogi Green Tea Kombucha Tea provides antioxidants, its Yogi Berry DeTox Tea "supports healthy cleansing" and its Yogi Ginger Tea helps with digestion.

But keep in mind that, as the company notes, these health statements are not evaluated by the FDA, and their teas are not a treatment, cure nor preventive measure for conditions and diseases.

Calli Tea is made by Sunrider International. It's available in several varieties, including Calli Original, Calli Cinnamon and Calli Mint. As well as green tea, these teas contain other ingredients, such as alisma root extract and perilla leaf. Alisma is a diuretic, per a September 2017 article in ​Molecules​.

Along with the benefits that accompany drinking green tea, other ingredients found in the tea may also be associated with certain health benefits, but more research is needed.

​Additional reporting by Bojana Galic and Tiffany Ayuda.​