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caption@P@ 1 70 Black tea is the most common tea variety drunk in the western world. The diff erence in taste and colour between the teas comes down to the way they’re processed. Black tea leaves are fermented after being rolled and heated, giving them their darker colour and stronger fl avour. Black tea has the most caff eine of the four varieties, with between 10mg to 50mg per 250ml. Why we love it: Black tea can boost your heart health. Last year, Swedish researchers found people who drank four cups of black tea a day reduced their stroke risk by 21 per cent, while other studies have linked drinking black tea to lower blood pressure and less stress. The perfect cuppa can soothe, relax and off ers health benefi ts aplenty. Patricia Flokis reads the leaves to fi nd out more Herbal teas are made from the leaves, fl owers, bark and seeds of various herbs and plants. They’re not actually made of tea and are caff eine free. “Herbal teas have a strong therapeutic eff ect and can be used like a natural medicine to benefi t things like the liver, digestion and nervous system,” says Michèle Wolff , naturopath and author of Digestive Solutions (digestivesolutions.com.au, $39.95). Made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, tea may well be the healthiest drink around. It is the world’s most popular beverage after water and it’s packed with powerful antioxidants that give it a load of health benefi ts. Studies have linked tea to brain and heart health, diabetes and cancer prevention, weight loss, improved mood and cholesterol control. Looking to fi nd your perfect cuppa, and brew it perfectly? Here’s what you need to know. Green tea is produced when freshly picked leaves are steamed or dried, which prevents them from fermenting or changing colour. The result is a greenish-yellow tea which can often taste a little grassy and bittersweet. It contains between 8mg and 36mg of caff eine in a 170ml cup. Why we love it: Gr

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caption@P@ 1 71 Pukka These organic and herbal teas are blended by the company’s founder, Sebastian Pole, an Ayurvedic practitioner and herbalist. From health food stores or online at pukkaherbs.com.au. Madame Flavour These teas and tisanes, including fl avours like Green Jasmine & Pear, add an Australian twist to traditional fl avours. From supermarkets. Nature’s Cuppa This certifi ed Fairtrade and organic tea range comes in varieties such as English Breakfast, chai, green and camomile. In supermarkets, or go to naturescuppa.com. START WITH COLD, FRESH WATER. “It will help you get that pure taste of the tea,” says Wolff . GET THE WATER TEMPERATURE RIGHT. “For green tea, you’re best to have water not quite boiled, because water too hot will destroy some of its antioxidants and alter the taste,” says Wolff . “Take the teapot off the heat just as steam begins to leave its spout.” BLACK TEAS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE BETTER STEEPED IN HOTTER WATER, AS IS OOLONG. Let boiled water cool for a minute before adding to black tea and for a few minutes for oolong tea. White tea does best with water that’s about 70° C. STEEP TEA FOR 2 TO 5 MINUTES, or follow the packet instructions. The longer a tea is steeped though, the more antioxidants are released. One of the most popular teas in China, oolong tea goes through a shorter fermentation process so it retains more health-giving catechins than black tea. A 170ml cup of oolong contains contains between 12mg and 55mg of caff eine. Why we love it: Oolong tea may help you slim down. One Chinese study found overweight people who drank oolong tea daily for six weeks lost weight and decreased their waist size. It could also help soothe an itch. One Japanese study found 63 per cent of people with eczema who drank three cups of oolong tea a day saw an improvement in their skin after a month. White tea is made from the young leaves or buds which are left to with