Teas have been used for medicinal purposes all around the world for thousands and thousands of years. According to Chinese legend, Emperor Shen Nong discovered teas by accident when a leaf from a wild tree drifted into his pot of boiling water. It could just be a myth, but either way, teas found their way around the world and remain extremely popular today.
They’re not just popular for their taste, many teas are thought to hold a variety of medicinal purposes that may make you want to start drinking them if you don’t already.
Here are 37 teas that can potentially benefit your health
This is something everyone will want to hear!
Chaga mushrooms look similar to charcoal and grow in the form of parasitic irregularities on birch trees. For centuries people have been using Chaga tea for its various health benefits. Not only does it work as an antioxidant, but Chaga tea may also help lower blood pressure, regulate the immune system, and lower blood sugar levels.
Chai folklore dates back up to 9000 years ago in the ancient royal court of either India or Siam. Chai tea is super popular for its spicy taste, but did you know it also has a wide variety of health benefits as well? Chai tea may be healthy for the heart, help with digestion, lower blood sugar levels, and help you lose weight.
Barely tea is typically served on ice and is extremely popular in East Asia. It has a mildly toasty flavor, with a hint of herbs, and is also used for medicinal purposes. Barely tea is filled with antioxidants, which may help protect you from cancer, heart attacks, and other diseases.
Black tea originated in China to become one of the most popular teas worldwide, especially in Ireland and Great Britain. Black tea is among the strongest of teas, and unlike green tea, it can hold its flavor for years when in storage. Some of the research behind Black tea suggests it may be able to improve cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure, and help lower the risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
Essiac tea has a grassy taste with a faint hint of bitterness, and it was known to be a drink of choice for the North American Indian tribe, the
Ojibwa. Many people believe that Essiac tea can help treat cancer, although there is no strong evidence to prove that true, it can work as an anti-inflammatory.
Everyone has seen dandelions, and most of us picked them when we were kids. But did you know they’re actually edible? Although there are minimal studies out there on this tea, some research suggests it may help with digestion.
Originating in East Asia, Chrysanthemumund was first drunk by the Song Dynasty somewhere around the year 900. Chrysanthemumund is used to make a flower tea that people believe to act as an anti-inflammatory. This tea has an aroma of flowers and has a faint taste of sweetness.
Chamomile is another flower tea, but it comes from flowers of the Matricaria chamomilla plant. As one of the more popular teas, many people don’t realize the medicinal qualities it has. This tea may help treat anxiety, overall relaxation, and help people with insomnia get a good night’s rest.
Moringa tea derives from the Moringa oleifera tree and is native to North India. This tea has been known for its health benefits for thousands of years. Rich in healthy antioxidants, Moringa tea may help lower blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, and protect against toxicity.
Matcha tea dates back thousands of years, it is made with green tea leaves that are ground to powder, and grow best in Japan. There are also an array of potential health benefits from Matcha tea including; improving brain function, preventing cancer, promotes heart health, help with weight loss, and strengthen the immune system.
Hibiscus tea is made with hibiscus flowers and originates from North Africa and Southeast Asia. Hibiscus flowers have no scent, but some of the health benefits you may get from hibiscus tea are mind-blowing. Hibiscus tea may help prevent hypertension, keep your liver healthy, lower blood fat levels, and lower blood pressure.
Pau d’arco trees grow in Central and South America. They can grow to be up to 125 feet high with pink and purple flowers. Pau d’arco tea is made with the inner bark from these trees, it is claimed to be anti-cancer and antimicrobial. Other uses for this tea are thought to be managing diabetes, ulcers, stomach inflammation, asthma, joint pain.
Like all true teas, green tea is made from dried leaves off of the Camellia sinensis bush. Green tea is one of the more popular teas and may help lower the risk of heart disease, prevent cancer, reduce bad breath, keep the brain from aging, help with weight loss, and may help people live longer.
Red raspberry leaves are also known as garden raspberry leaves and are produced from Northern climates. They are used in many folk remedies and are especially good for pregnant women. Red raspberry leaf tea may help strengthen the urinal walls, reduce labor time, relieve premenstrual symptoms, and help with cramping.
Like a fine wine, Pu-erh tea can be aged over time and unlike most teas can be packaged like cake or bricks. It is believed that Pu-erh tea can be used as a hangover remedy, and may have other health benefits such as; lowering cholesterol, controlling blood sugar, increase oxygen levels, enhancing blood circulation, and even fighting migraines.
Peppermint tea is one of the more refreshing teas and is easy to confuse with spearmint tea. It is made by soaking mint leaves in hot water and may help with a variety of health issues. Peppermint tea may help increase energy, help digestion, freshen breath, help clear sinuses, fight bacterial infection, and improve sleep.
Oolong is a traditional Chinese tea, that is produced by drying and withering the Oolong leaves in the sun before curling and twisting them. Drinking this tea may help decrease vascular inflammation, improve the gut microbiome, improve sleep, lower blood pressure, and protect the brain.
Nettle tea is produced from the leaves on the stinging nettle plant, which can be found all around the world. It is a very potent plant, that grows especially great in moist climates like the Pacific North West. Drinking Nettle teas may help treat hay fever, treat enlarged prostate symptoms, reduce inflammation, control blood sugar, help heal wounds, and lower blood pressure.
Senna is a large genus flowering plant that originated in Egypt but can now be grown worldwide. While there may be up to 360 different species of genus plants, there are only approximately 50 species of genus being cultivated. Senna tea is most commonly used to help with constipation, and stimulate bowel movements, but is also said to have many other health benefits.
Rosemary bush is part of the Lamiaceae family which includes mint, basil, oregano, and lemon balm. Rosemary tea has been used for medicinal purposes and may improve your mood and memory, help support brain health, protect or improve eye health, and lower your blood sugar.
Rose is one of the oldest flowers, and most likely the most popular flower in the world. People have been talking about roses in literature, music, and art for centuries. Rose tea not only tastes and smells wonderful, one study found that rose tea reduced period-related cramping, bloating, pain, mood swings, and helped with anxiety.
Rooibos tea originated in South Africa and was drunk there for centuries before becoming a popular drink around the world. Unlike many teas, rooibos tea is caffeine-free but still holds a delicious flavor. Some of the health benefits you may see from drinking this tea include; protection from cancer, heart disease, and strokes,
Yerba Mate is native to the South American countries of Argentina, Paraguay, Uraguay, and Southern Brazil. In those countries, Yerba Mate is consumed 6 times more than coffee. rich in antioxidants, this tea may help boost energy, improve mental focus, protect against infections, manage weight, and boost your immune system.
White tea is said to originate in China during the Chinese Imperial Dynasties (600-1300) and is known as a delicacy because so little is processed each year. White tea may have a wide variety of health benefits like, reducing the risk of heart disease, protecting your teeth from bacteria, protecting against osteoporosis, and helping prevent skin from aging.
Spearmint plants are native to Europe and Asia and got their name for the pointy shape of their leaves. There are several potential health benefits to drinking spearmint tea. Compounds in this tea suggest it may help balance hormones, improve digestion, lower blood sugar, freshen breath, and improve memory.
Sencha tea is the most popular tea in Japan and is made by infusing whole tea leaves that have been processed in hot water. It is a true green tea and may help burn fat by boosting metabolism, give you more energy, and boost your immune system.
27. Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
Butterfly pea flower tea is made from the clitoria ernatea plant and has origins in Southeast Asia. The bright blue color of the flowers can also be used as a food dye. This is a great tea to mix with lemon and honey and has a range of possible health benefits like, reducing anxiety, combating stress, boosting stamina, and improving your skin health.
This tea is made from the leaves off of the mullein plant also known as Verbascum thapsus. The mullein plant is a weed-like plant that produces yellow flowers and has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Some of the benefits you may receive from this tea are, reducing inflammation, and aiding respiratory illnesses, like bronchitis and pneumonia.
Matcha Tea dates back to the Tang Dynasty in China, which spanned from the 7th-10th century. Back then, merchants would steam the tea leaves to form bricks which would make storage and transport more efficient. There may be health benefits associated with this tea, like promoting heart health, managing weight, lowering cholesterol, and lowering blood pressure.
Ginger tea originated in Asia and was first domesticated by the Austronesian people reaching the Philippines around 2200 BCE. There is an array of possible health benefits from ginger tea such as helping with digestion, soothing nausea, helping with weight loss, combating headaches, and reducing inflammation.
Lemon balm originated in the Middle East and North Africa, but swiftly found its way to Europe in 1500, followed by America in 1700. Lemon Balm tea may help lowers triglycerides, treat heart palpitations, helps with anxiety, treat anxiety, and act as a natural antibacterial.
The ancient Egyptian cultures are said to have used sage to increase fertility, while Emperor Charlemagne of France planted sage in Germany to use for trade and possibly medicinal purposes. Sage tea is thought to help heal wounds, promote healthy skin, control blood sugar levels, and may promote oral and brain health.
Compared to other teas, echinacea tea is relatively young and was used by Native American tribes during the 18th century. This tea is said to shorten the common cold by boosting the immune system. It may also help with upper respiratory infections, canker soars, and even yeast infections.
Passionflower or Passiflora incarnata was first used by the ancient Aztecs of Mexico for medicinal purposes. Passionflower tea is now widely used in Europe for anxiety treatment and relieving stress. It is also used for treating hysteria and seizures because of its strong calming effect
Fennel is part of the Apiaceae family which also includes carrots and parsley. It originated in the Southern Mediterranean region but grows wild in many countries including North America. Fennel tea is said to help with digestion, reduces bloating, soothes cramps, and even act as a natural diuretic.
Nobody knows exactly where kava originated from, but it was likely from either New Guinea or Vanuata. Kava contains kavapyrones which act similar to your brain as alcohol, giving you a calming, relaxed, and joyful feeling. Kava tea is thought to relieve pain, prevent seizures, and promote muscle relaxation.
TThe origin of lavender is believed to date back some 2500 years, in the Middle East, India, and the Mediterranean. Provence, France, is well known for growing large fields of this aromatic herb. Lavender tea is thought to hold many medicinal qualities, like helping with anxiety, depression, boosting sleep, and even soothing menstrual cramps.
There are good reasons why teas have been around for so long, and clearly, they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Every corner of the world you visit, you’ll find vast numbers of people using various teas for all sorts of medicinal purposes. Though the science might not completely back teas with extensive research yet, I’d bet our ancestors would swear by them.
Don’t let me tell you, just try one of these 37 teas for yourself and you may be surprised!.
Source: Nutrition Advance, Healthline, artful tea, Everyday Health, Pinterest, Britannica