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We’ve all heard claims about green tea being good for weight loss and chamomile tea reducing stress, but what are the other kinds of teas and how do we maximize their health benefit claims? We take a look at the flourishing tea market, its vast and interesting varieties and the health benefits of different kinds of tea available to us today.

How to brew oolong tea: 
– Bring water to a boil and use this water to rinse and heat up the tea cups.
– Add the oolong leaves to the tea pot and add boiling water to it.
– Cover the tea pot for max three minutes.
– Serve the tea while it’s hot.
– Tip: You can reuse the leaves a couple of times too

Health benefits of oolong tea: This tea is partially fermented and is fast catching up as a weight loss remedy. Besides this, oolong tea is beneficial for lowering bad cholesterol, healthy for type 2 diabetics, patients with heart diseases, reduces high blood pressure, prevents tooth decay and improves your skin thanks to antioxidants.

The research on these claims are in the preliminary stages, so there is no hard hitting evidence to prove these facts. Some brief research results (keep in mind that these are inconclusive):
-Oolong tea blocked oxidation by 50% over 15 days.
-Primary research suggests that oolong tea increases metabolism, burns fat and blocks fat absorption. But the extent is not yet clear.
-Research says that this tea reduces cholesterol and increases plasma adiponectin levels which saves you from the epidemic of obesity.
-When it comes to skin disease like eczema, a study reveals that if you drink one liter of oolong tea, your skin will show moderate improvement after a month.
-Another study claims that oolong tea prevents the formation of enzymes that cause ‘plaque’ on your teeth.

How to brew peppermint tea:

– Take fresh sprig of peppermint, use only the leaves and make them into small bits.
– Let dry for 24 hours in the sun, making the leaves crispy.
– In a vessel, bring the water to boil and add two tablespoons of peppermint tea.
– Let it boil for 20 minutes and add a twig of fresh mint to the water.
– Strain the leaves in a pot and add sugar to taste.

Health benefits of peppermint tea: Don’t get flustered by peppermint tea, it simply means pudina tea, essentially tea brewed from pudina. This is herbal tea and peppermint has medicinal properties for an upset tummy, or so the claims suggest. A point to note, peppermint oil has been clinically tested and it has shown relaxation effects on gastrointestinal tissue. The tests also mention that peppermint oil builds immunity and is beneficial for cancer patients for its ‘chemopreventive potential’.Peppermint oil can also be used as an antioxidant, based on research.

How to brew Parsley tea:
– Boil the water and remove it from the heat
– Chop some parsley leaves and add to the hot water.
– Let steep in the water for 20 minutes.
– Strain the water and you do not have to add sugar to it.
– If you want to warm it up again, let it heat up but do not let it boil.

Health Benefits of parsley tea: Parsley has two major properties: antioxidants and vitamin C. Hence parsley can reduce free radicals giving you ageless skin and it can reduce inflammation that is a symptom for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. So far research hasn’t linked parsley tea to these health benefits. There is no way of asserting how much parsley tea is needed to reduce osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and skin damage.

How to brew Chamomile tea:
– In a pot, add Chamomile tea flowers and then add hot water.
– Let steep for three minutes.
– Strain the flowers and add honey or a few drops of lime juice.

Health benefits of Chamomile tea: We may be aware that Chamomile tea has magical properties that relax and calm you. But did you know chamomile tea can reduce menstrual cramps and control your cold? However, researchers are still trying to determine these health benefits of chamomile tea.

One research reveals that chamomile tea increases immunity of the body while the other says that this tea increases amino acids that relieve muscle spasms. This could be the answer for fighting the common cold especially during the monsoon.

How to brew Matcha tea:
– The tea powder should be at room temperature.
– In a bowl, add a teaspoon of matcha tea and add one fourth cup of hot water.
– Whisk the tea and try to dissolve the matcha. One rule while whisking, move the whisk in
a vertical direction without touching the bottom.
– When it turns light green, it is ready to drink.

Health benefits of Matcha tea: This is a Japanese tradition, where the monks used matcha tea to relax, but that’s not all. Believers claim that matcha tea is a good antioxidant, in fact – even as good as dark chocolate.
-It is also believed that matcha has the ability to fight carcinogens or cancer causing cells. Matcha tea also claims to reduce bad cholesterol and weight loss.
-It is also a detoxifying agent that is rich in fiber.

How to brew Rooibos tea:
– In a pot add, Rooibos tea and then add hot water.
– Let steep for three minutes.
– Strain the flowers and add honey or a few drops of lime juice to it.

Health benefits of Rooibos tea: Rooiboos tea is gaining popularity and is becoming a hot favourite with fitness enthusiast.

The claims are almost alike with other teas; rooiboos tea also claims to slow down aging, builds immunity, relaxes the muscles, is excellent for skin ailments and reduces cramps. Apparently, red rooiboos tea is a good source for calcium, therefore it strengthens your bones. Rooiboos tea can also reduce stress, something most of us need at the end of the day.

How to brew Hibiscus tea:
– Add the shoeflower or hibiscus to boiling water and add a cinnamon stick. If you want stronger flavour add the flower to the water but do not let it steep for more than 20 minutes. It will turn bitter.
– Add honey and a few drops of lime to it.

Health benefits of Hibiscus tea:
What makes this tea different? Well, it is made from flowers and it’s a growing trend. When it comes to health benefits, there’s not much that separates this tea from the rest. This tea also claims to reduce blood pressure, lowers cholesterol and reduces sugar absorption in the body.

How to brew Pu erh tea:
There are two ways to brew this pu erh tea: The Western way and the Chinese way. The Western method involves the same steps as brewing hibiscus tea. While the Chinese method of brewing involves several steps from rinsing the leaves with hot water to steeping the leaves in a particular temperature.

Health benefits of Pu erh tea: In China, this is known as medicinal tea, but it is apparently a good hangover cure as well. Pu erh tea also claims to increase metabolism, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, improve digestion and detoxify the body.

How to brew Barley tea:
– You need roasted barley
– Boil the water with the barley seeds.
– Strain the water and add few drops of lime

Health benefits of Barley tea: This will remind you of barley water, which is a refreshing drink in the summer. But in Japan, barley tea is called mugacho. The biggest difference is that this tea can improve the flow of the blood. Along with other health benefits, barley tea is an antioxidant and reduces tooth decay.

This post originally appeared at PreventDisease.com, an excellent source of information about health and disease prevention.  

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