We know that green tea is good for us—it helps reduce inflammation, is a potent antioxidant, and may help with weight loss and general feel-goodness. But did you know that black tea (the Chinese variety, not the English), Oolong, and a marvelous tea called Pu’er are also potent medicines? Oolong is a type of tea that has been dried in the sun and then oxidized (or fermented). Benefits include: weight loss, aging prevention, lower blood pressure, prevention of tooth decay (antibacterial), stress relief, and liver detox (which, in turn, helps treat skin problems such as acne and eczema), and lower blood sugar levels. In traditional Chinese herbalism, pu-erh tea is considered to open the meridians, ‘warm the middle burner’ (the spleen and stomach) and be beneficial to ‘blood cleansing’ and digestion. For these reasons, it is often consumed after heavy meals or drunk as a hangover cure / preventative.

Some people find that drinking good quality pu-erh tea can induce a state known as ‘tea drunkenness.’ Another tea to watch out for is Ti Kuan Yin, which is one of China’s most beloved oolongs and is extremely time consuming to produce. The cup of tea has notes of toasted walnut and tender collard greens, an intriguing lingering floral aroma, lightly orchid. It’s a complete meditative cup.