5 Common Types of Tea and Their Benefits

During the winter, hot tea is one of my favorite treats. Not only does it taste great (usually) there are so many different types that I never get burnt out, plus they’re natural healing agents!

There have been a couple specific tea recipes shared here at Old Fashioned Families, including a cinnamon honey tea and an elderberry tea, both of which have a long list of benefits. Since tea is great for warming you up and keeping you healthy during the cold winter months, I thought we would take it back another step and go through the different types of teas and how they can benefit you!

Green Tea

Green tea is full of antioxidants, and is often referred to as the tea that does it all. It’s health benefits include boosting your metabolism and energy therefore promoting weight loss, reducing cholesterol, helping with sore muscles and arthritis pain, preventing bacterial and fungal infections, and ultimately boosting your immune system. You can view a full list of the benefits of drinking green tea here.

Black Tea

Black tea, from the same plant as green tea, is the highest in caffeine content and also contains a couple types of antioxidants. It can help treat headaches and diarrhea, lower your blood sugar and cholesterol, and is most commonly used to aid with weight loss.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is one of the best known herbs, and for good reason. Chamomile tea, unlike the teas above, are made from flowers on the chamomile plant. I would definitely say that it is most commonly used to help you fall asleep or just relax, but it can also help with nausea and bloating.

Ginger Tea

To make ginger tea you really only need some raw ginger and some honey to take the bitterness out of it. This is one of the best ways to treat an upset tummy, and it can also work wonders for us ladies during our special time of the month. Ginger is also great for fighting bacterial infections, which makes it a good immune booster!

Chai Tea

Chai is a little bit unique because it’s actually a blend of herbs and spices, rather than just one like the rest of these. It may vary a little bit based on where you live, but typically it includes some blend of black tea, ginger, cinnamon, and clove. Chai tea has antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and its commonly used to ease anxiety, treat colds and coughs, reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system.

You can make tea from plenty of other healing herbs, including echinacea, hibiscus, lavender, rose hips, and lemongrass. All you need is a little bit of hot water, some disposable tea bags or a tea infuser, and time! You can also experiment with adding spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to help with healing or tweak the taste! Honey is another great sweetener, and it has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties and naturally soothes a sore throat.

Do you guys have any delicious tea recipes that you use during winter? Share with me in the comments!