HEALTH

Here's the right cup to reach for if you...

Need a pick-me-up

Opt for the most common type of tea found in the West: black tea. Varieties like Early Grey have about as much caffeine as a small cup of coffee, but without the post-sip slump. It's a serious treat with a little milk and honey.

Absolutely cannot get sick this week

Sip on a white tea, which has the highest percentage of immune system-boosting antioxidants. Need a shot of caffeine? Up the dose with green tea, instead, which still has high levels of antioxidants.

Want to relax

Try herbal chamomile tea with a few drops of honey and a spritz of lemon. The chamomile plant is known for its calming, therapeutic properties.

Feel icky 

Try an herbal tea, like mint. Peppermint tea can help stomachaches, and chamomile is great for keeping you chill (and, hey, stress can make you sick!).  

Don't like tea

Give fruit-infused white tea a try. It's flavor is subtle and sweet, without any bitterness.

Are seriously addicted to hot chocolate

You might just like one of the many spiced chocolate teas that are out there. At its heart, chocolate tea is a blend of cocao and black tea, sometimes with cinnamon, orange, vanilla or other spices in it. Tasty!

Love coffee

Try rooibos, which hails from South Africa. It has the rich flavor of black tea without the bitterness. Add milk and you just might feel like you're drinking a latte.

Need a new guilty pleasure

Chai tea is the ultimate. Order at a coffee or tea shop, or make it at home by steeping black tea with cinnamon, cardamom, clove and ginger. Add milk and you're good to go. Yum!

Want to feel like it's summer again

Whip up a batch of fruity herbal tea, perhaps with a dose of mint to keep things fresh. Grab a blanket on a cold day and add ice cubes if you're feeling particularly summer sick.

Are you a tea lover? What blend do you recommend?

by GL | 2/1/2016