Since ancient times, people have consumed different types of teas to stay healthy and fit, and to enjoy their taste. Teas contain many natural compounds that improve our general wellness and help us with preventing diseases.
I have gathered the top 10 healthiest teas in this article. The teas included in this guide are both herbal teas and “real” teas made from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis).
Read, enjoy your tea, and feel healthy and energized!
NOTE: There are hundreds of healthy teas available, and choosing the healthiest ones is a very subjective task. I have chosen my top 10 healthiest teas based on both scientific research and my own experience of studying teas for over twenty years.
1. Ginger Tea
Ginger tea has a nice and spicy taste and contains a high amount of antioxidants.
Chinese people have used ginger as a herbal remedy for thousands of years and there is a good reason for it!
Ginger has many health benefits and can be used to treat various conditions ranging from cough and the common cold to joint pain and indigestion.
Ginger Tea Benefits
Ginger tea stimulates your immune system and can help your body to fight against viruses and bacteria.
It contains gingerol, an antimicrobial compound that aids your body in getting rid of pathogens.
The antitussive properties of ginger are effective in suppressing a cough. It also stimulates mucus secretion helping with opening your airways. This is why ginger tea makes an excellent remedy against flu and cold.
If you’re feeling ill during early pregnancy, because of cancer treatment, or suffer from motion sickness, try drinking ginger tea. Research has proven it to be an effective remedy for nausea.
I recommend that you try my recipe for fresh ginger tea.
Or if you are looking to buy ginger tea, check out this guide: Best Ginger Tea Products – You Got to Try These!
2. Green Tea
You have probably heard people touting the health benefits of green tea, and there is truth behind it.
Green tea is brewed using unfermented tea leaves, which are full of healthy polyphenols and antioxidants that improve brain function and decrease the growth of cancerous cells.
Green Tea Benefits
Green tea is good for your heart because it improves blood flow and helps with regulating blood pressure. It contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is effective against atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque within the arteries).
Thus, drinking green tea daily may lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Green tea is also a great aid in weight management because it boosts your metabolism and aids with slimming down.
The caffeine and EGCG found in green tea work in collaboration to speed up your metabolism and break down excess fat. Research has found that it has a positive impact on weight loss and burning fat.
3. Rooibos Tea
The indigenous Khoisan people of South Africa have been using rooibos leaves to make herbal remedies for thousands of years.
I really like rooibos tea because it has so many health benefits and it’s also very tasty.
Caffeine-free, this herbal tea has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and contains minerals that our bodies need.
Red rooibos tea is made from fermented rooibos leaves, while green rooibos tea is made by brewing unfermented leaves. Both of them are very healthy, but green rooibos tea has a slightly higher concentration of antioxidants than red rooibos tea.
Rooibos Tea Benefits
The health benefits of rooibos tea are backed by scientific research.
Rooibos tea may reduce allergic symptoms thanks to the flavonoids chrysoeriol and quercetin.
The alpha-hydroxy acid and zinc found in rooibos tea are good for skin health. It can help with reducing wrinkles and making your skin look younger and more healthy.
Rooibos tea can also aid with lowering cholesterol levels and improving blood pressure. It contains no calories, helps with controlling appetite, and stimulates fat metabolism, making it an excellent help with losing weight.
It also aids digestion and supports healthier bones.
In addition to all this, rooibos tea promotes better sleep by lowering your stress hormone levels.
Considering all these amazing health benefits, rooibos tea definitely has its place in my top 10 healthiest teas!
Read my buying guide to find the best rooibos tea brands and products.
4. Yerba Mate Tea
Yerba mate tea is one of my favorite drinks because of its energizing effect, good taste, and numerous health benefits.
It is an herbal tea that originates from South America and has become popular all over the world. Yerba mate contains many different types of beneficial plant nutrients, and it has a very high concentration of antioxidants, even higher than green tea.
One reason that yerba mate has become so popular, is that many people use it as a healthier alternative to coffee. A cup of yerba mate contains a decent amount of caffeine, about half compared to what you get from an average cup of coffee.
In addition to caffeine, yerba mate contains two other stimulants, theobromine, and theophylline, which enhance its energizing effect. The energy boost of yerba mate is less jittery compared to coffee, and it gives you better mental focus.
Yerba Mate Tea Benefits
According to research the saponins in yerba mate tea have anti-inflammatory properties, and they stimulate your immune system. In addition, saponins help with improving cholesterol levels by reducing bad cholesterol (LDL).
Yerba mate also increases fat oxidation and energy consumption during exercise, which makes it an effective fat burner.
It can also help with many digestive problems, lowering blood sugar levels, and killing cancer cells.
Yerba mate tea is an excellent choice for people trying to quit drinking coffee, burning fat, and losing weight.
Or why not use it just for getting a nice energy boost to work or exercise more efficiently!
READ ALSO: Yerba Mate Tea Reviews – 5 Popular Brands
5. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is made from the dried flowers of the Asteraceae family of plants.
It is one of the healthiest herbal teas, known especially for its relaxing and sleep-inducing properties. This floral infusion contains apigenin, which is an antioxidant that has a tranquilizing effect.
Chamomile Tea Benefits
In addition to its relaxing qualities, chamomile tea has many additional health benefits.
The phenolic compounds of chamomile help strengthen our immune system, while the apigenin has proven to target cancer cells reducing cancer disease development.
Chamomile tea also helps with stimulating osteoblast activity, which can prevent or slow down osteoporosis
If you are suffering from pain or catch the flu, you should definitely try drinking chamomile tea. It relieves the symptoms of the common cold and helps with a headache.
Studies also suggest that it reduces menstrual pain and cramps.
I often drink a cup of chamomile tea before going to bed. It helps me unwind and have a better and more refreshing sleep.
Good sleep is one of the most important things in our lives, and I can recommend chamomile tea for everyone who needs help with relaxing and improving their quality of sleep.
Read this article to find out what are my favorite chamomile tea products: What is the Best Chamomile Tea – My Favorite Brands
6. Peppermint Tea
Peppermint contains a hefty amount of menthol, which makes it the most powerful mint in terms of medicinal effectiveness.
It freshens your breath and helps with the common cold by relieving congestion and boosting your immune system so that you can get well faster.
Peppermint Tea Benefits
Peppermint tea is often used as a remedy for digestive problems. It increases bile secretion and helps with bloating, stomach cramps, constipation, and diarrhea.
It also has antispasmodic and pain-relieving properties that are beneficial for reducing symptoms related to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
Suffering from stress and headaches after a long day at the office?
Make a nice cup of peppermint tea and chill out and let its muscle-relaxing and pain-relieving compounds help you unwind.
I have put together a guide with my favorite mint teas. I recommend that you check it out to find some delicious and healthy options!
7. Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea is made from dried sepals of the hibiscus plant. The most commonly used variety is Hibiscus sabdariffa.
Originating from North Africa and Southeast Asia, it is a tasty tea with tart and sweet floral notes. There are many delicious hibiscus tea recipes and it can be served hot or iced.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits
Historically, hibiscus has been used to treat high blood pressure, constipation, cancer, liver disease, and cold symptoms.
Consuming hibiscus tea daily has proven to be an effective treatment for reducing high blood pressure. It also increases good cholesterol and decreases bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Drinking hibiscus tea may also be beneficial when aiming to lose weight and burn fat.
Want to make some healthy hibiscus tea at home?
Check out this article with the best hibiscus tea brands.
Here is a video with an excellent breakdown of this amazing herbal tea:
8. White Tea
When we are talking about the true teas (brewed from leaves of Camellia sinensis), white is the least processed type.
White tea is brewed from leaves and buds picked just before they are fully opened, and then sun-dried immediately after harvest.
This allows white tea to retain a very high concentration of antioxidants.
White Tea Benefits
White tea has many health benefits backed up by research.
It is good for the skin because it helps with eliminating free radicals and protects skin cells from oxidative damage. It also reduces redness and inflammation caused by skin diseases.
Furthermore, white may reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. In addition, it can help with losing weight and protecting your teeth.
The polyphenols in white tea may lower the risk of insulin resistance, which could lead to type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
9. Masala Chai
Masala chai is an Indian tea that is made with milk, black tea, and several different spices.
The spices in chai tea contain antioxidants and other compounds that provide many health benefits.
Masala Chai Benefits
The high amount of antioxidants in masala chai help with eliminating free radicals that can cause cell damage. This is why it can help improve your overall health and prevent chronic diseases.
The black pepper in chai tea stimulates the digestive enzyme production of the pancreas, while cinnamon may help with improving heart health by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.
The anti-inflammatory properties of the spices may help with alleviating common aches and pains. The cardamom used in chai supports your immune system and helps your body with keeping sickness away.
If you want to try making authentic chai tea at home, I recommend that you check out my recipe for masala chai.
Another great option is to use a ready-made chai blend. To help you out, I have put together a guide with the best chai tea brands.
10. Echinacea Tea
Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, is a plant known for its capability for strengthening our immune system.
Echinacea tea or supplements are commonly used for preventing and shortening the common cold. This plant has also been used by Native American tribes for centuries.
Echinacea Tea Benefits
Research indicates that echinacea tea can help with preventing the common cold and getting well faster. It also soothes sore throat and aids with clearing up a stuffy nose.
According to a University of Connecticut study from 2007, echinacea can reduce the chance of catching a common cold by 58 percent and reduce the duration of it by 1.4 days on average.
Echinacea tea also helps with managing anxiety, controlling blood sugar, and reducing inflammation and the risk of breast cancer.
With all these benefits, echinacea tea has undoubtedly earned its place in the top 10 healthiest teas.
Enjoy the Benefits of the Top 10 Healthiest Teas!
Teas are natural remedies that provide us with beneficial compounds and can help us stay fit and fight against diseases.
In my opinion, many people rely too much on medicines coming in the form of pills and injections.
Instead of choosing a factory-made pill full of chemicals, why not try the tools that nature has provided us with?
I don’t mean that everyone should just stop taking the medicine that a doctor has prescribed. But it’s good to at least acknowledge that other options are available.
Combine regular exercise, a healthy diet, and some of the top 10 healthiest teas introduced in this article. Your body will thank you!
I like to drink tea (both herbal teas and green tea) daily. And I have noticed that it makes me feel more vigorous and improves the feeling of general well-being.
I also use herbal teas to treat specific health problems, such as sore throat, common cold, or indigestion.
One way to make sure your tea is free of harmful chemicals is to use a plastic-free tea kettle for heating the water.
I hope this article has provided you with useful information related to the health benefits of different types of teas.
What are your favorite teas for improving health and treating illness?
Please comment below, and share your opinion related to the health benefits of different types of teas.
Enjoy Your Tea and Stay Fit and Healthy!
-Joonas
Hey, this is a great article about herbal teas! Nice blog you have here keep up the good work.
Thanks for your comment, and good to hear that you liked my article.
I agree with you that drinking teas have a beneficial compound to help us stay fit and fight against diseases, and in my opinion, it also boosts metabolism, makes you calm with the aroma and taste.
In Japan, green tea is a norm drink in every meal but I like Chamomile tea in the afternoon tea with a piece of cake.
What tea would you recommend to stay awake while doing my writings, aside from coffee?
Thank you, it’s great information.
Hi Lyn,
I like Japanese food and having green tea with it. I often go to Japanese restaurants to eat and drink green tea and maybe some sake.
I think you should try yerba mate tea! I drink it almost every day, and I feel like it really makes working more efficient. The effect is more smooth and lasts longer than with coffee, and it’s also more healthy. You can find some good yerba mate products in this article: https://yerbamateculture.com/yerba-mate-tea-reviews-5-popular/
Wow, this was a really good article about teas! I never really thought that certain teas have so many health benefits. I have had green tea and Hibiscus tea before but not any of the other ones. I would definitely have to try the other ones.
Hi Scott,
Great to hear that you liked my article and there was some new information for you. Go ahead and try the different teas, you will be surprised how good they make you feel and how delicious they will taste!
-Joonas
I love hot teas and actually have many of these in my cabinet right now; Rooibos tea, Ginger & Turmeric tea, White tea, and Green tea!
I try to give my body a break from coffee by switching it up with tea. I never knew about some of the benefits you mentioned here, but that makes it even more awesome.
The Rooibos tea I drink is caffeine-free, but it still gives me a boost of energy.
I’ll have to check some of the other teas you mentioned out sometime.
Thanks for sharing!
Devara
Hi Devara!
Years I also used to drink a lot of coffee but not so much teas. Now that I have shifted more to drinking teas I feel much better. There is nothing wrong with drinking a cup of coffee once a day, but too much is not good. With herbal teas I feel like it’s the opposite, the more different herbal teas I drink daily, the better I feel!
Go ahead and try the other teas, when you have time to do it. If you need an extra energy boost for working or exercise, I can recommend yerba mate tea.
-Joonas
Each type of tea can not only give us pleasure, but also to have a positive effect on our body. Many of these herbal teas strengthen our immune system and energize us.
Thanks for commenting Jerome! You are absolutely right, drinking herbal teas is a great way to strengthen our immune systems and get some extra energy.
-Joonas