We love tea: at the office, after a workout, on the sofa or first thing in the morning, this drink is with us all day long! Enjoyed for thousands of years, tea comes in a wealth of varieties. Here’s a tour of black, green, white, blue and red teas: how to drink them, when to enjoy them and a few homemade beauty ideas…
There isn’t just ONE tea, there are MANY! Each variety has its own character. To make the most of them, simply enjoy them as an infusion: hot or cold, with lemon, stevia or honey for a touch of sweetness. Some teas also lend themselves beautifully to homemade treatments, perfect for pampering your body the natural way!
Black tea
How to enjoy it
Its leaves are fully oxidised, which gives black tea its dark colour and full-bodied flavour. This is the tea with the highest caffeine content. If you choose this tea, have one cup in the morning and another after lunch. If you have any questions about your health or your caffeine intake, speak to your GP or another medical professional.
Beauty tips
Fancy a homemade hair treat? Try a black tea rinse. Brew your tea, let it cool, then apply it to your hair after shampooing. Leave on for around 30 minutes, then follow up with a moisturising treatment. If hair loss is a concern, speak to your GP or another medical professional.
Green tea
What the studies say about green tea
Green tea has been the subject of several studies, including a randomised controlled trial carried out in Thailand (2), listed in the sources at the end of this article. No effect on weight can be drawn from it or promised.
How to enjoy it
A true classic among teas! Its leaves aren’t oxidised: they are heated shortly after picking, so they keep their green colour and vegetal taste. It also contains caffeine. You can drink 1 to 3 cups a day, ideally chilled. To find out more, read our article on water retention. For any health questions, ask your GP or another medical professional.
Beauty tips
For a quick homemade face mask, combine a green tea bag, a little water and some brown sugar in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Leave to cool slightly, stir in some flour and mix well. Apply this mask to your face and neck for around twenty minutes, then rinse off with cool water.
White tea
How to enjoy it
Made from the buds and young leaves of the tea plant, simply withered and then dried, white tea has a light, delicate flavour. It fits easily into your day: try a cup alongside your morning and afternoon snacks.
Blue tea
How to enjoy it
This lesser-known tea, also known as Oolong, deserves to be discovered too. Semi-oxidised, this variety of tea sits between green and black tea, with more or less woody notes depending on how oxidised the leaves are. You can enjoy a cup after a workout or a palper-rouler massage session, for example.
Red tea
How to enjoy it
Red tea undergoes a long post-fermentation process, which sets it apart from other varieties of tea and gives it a deep colour and a distinctive earthy, woody character. Its taste is rich and round, and it goes well at the end of a meal. It can also be a pleasant alternative to your morning coffee, served hot and without sugar!
Can you drink tea in the evening?
It all depends on the variety and on how sensitive you are to caffeine. Black tea contains the most, which is why it’s best enjoyed in the morning and after lunch, as mentioned above. Green tea also contains caffeine. Everyone reacts differently, so go with what works for you, and if you have any concerns about your sleep or your caffeine intake, speak to your GP or another medical professional.
So, what place should tea have in your daily life?
As we’ve seen, tea comes in many varieties, each with its own taste. But let’s be clear, ladies: tea is not a magic drink! Think of this flavourful drink as one small pleasure, simply enjoyed for its taste within a balanced, varied lifestyle that also means paying attention to what you eat and staying physically active!
If you enjoy tea and want to make it part of your morning ritual, discover our tea bags: one tea bag every morning for 20 days, a daily ritual to:
icon-arrow-right Take time
icon-arrow-right Slow down
icon-arrow-right Enjoy the flavour
icon-arrow-right Start gently
Our tea is free from added flavourings and has no laxative effect!
Sources
(2) Auvichayapat P, Prapochanung M, Tunkamnerdthai O, Sripanidkulchai BO, Auvichayapat N, Thinkhamrop B, Kunhasura S, Wongpratoom S, Sinawat S, Hongprapas P. Effectiveness of green tea on weight reduction in obese Thais: A randomized, controlled trial. Physiol Behav. 2008 27; 93 (3):486-91. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.10.009
Frequently asked questions
Does black tea have any effect on your figure?
No effect on your figure or on cellulite can be promised, whether for black tea or any other variety. Enjoy it for its taste, as part of a balanced diet and regular physical activity. If you have any questions about your weight, speak to your GP or another medical professional.
Can you drink green tea every day?
Green tea contains caffeine, and everyone reacts to it differently. If in doubt, speak to your GP or another medical professional before making it a daily habit.
Should you stick to just one type of tea?
Not at all, there’s nothing to stop you switching between varieties depending on your mood and the time of day.
Related articles
- 7 alternatives to cardio worth exploring
- 7 habits to drop to slim down and smooth the look of cellulite
- Drinks to try daily: from Sassy Water to green tea
Useful categories: Slimming Nutrition.
