Spotlight on benefits of tea

A nice cup of tea is a truly English tradition, but research shows that it has health benefits for our body and mind too.

A study by the Tea Advisory Panel showed that 86 per cent of Londoners say drinking tea improves their mood, while 43 per cent say it improves their calm, and where better to enjoy a truly calming cup of tea than the Tea House Theatre in Vauxhall.

Tea House Theatre

Situated in a Victorian pub built on the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in 1886, a cup of tea at the Tea House Theatre is a wholly different experience.

The ethos of the place is that tea should be unhurried and unrushed.

Customers are encouraged to enjoy a leisurely lunch break, hold meetings or bring their laptop as they work from home.

Children are also welcome, as well as those who want to read the paper in peace.

The tea house serves more than 50 teas from around the world, homemade cakes and freshly cooked meals.

Loose leaf tea is available to buy and take home, and can also be ordered online.

Hand-knitted tea cosies, comfy chairs and large tables with real fireplaces give us a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere.

The Tea House Theatre also sells its own honey, collected from the three beehives on the roof.

The tea house is also often transformed into a theatre at night, with a number of regular events including jazz jams and poetry evenings.

It’s safe to say that whatever you’re in the mood for, you can find it at the Tea House Theatre.

Health benefits from tea

All teas are derived from the Camellia Sinensis plant – a shrub native to China and India which contains unique antioxidants called flavonoids.

People often say that green tea is the most healthy, and this is why.

It has a high concentration of the most potent of these flavonoids called Epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCE.

EGCE helps protect cells and molecules from damage, which plays a role in the ageing process.

It is also said to interfere with the growth of cancers, prevent the clogging of the arteries, burn fat and improve cholesterol levels.

Green tea also has a lower level of caffeine, and contains the amino acid L-Theanine which increases alpha activity and can heighten mental alertness.

The combination of these two have a particularly powerful effect in improving brain function.

In addition to all of these benefits, green tea is also rich in polyphenols, which are natural bioactive compounds that can reduce the risk of dementia.

But green tea is not the only tea with health benefits.

Herbal infusions have been used for centuries as natural remedies for various ailments, with scientific proof to support their effectiveness.

Tea recommendations from the Tea House Theatre

Dragonwell

Also known as Longjing or Lung Ching.

This tea is considered one of China’s finest and most famous.

It is said to have been named after a well that contains dense water.

After rainfall, the lighter rainwater floating on its surface sometimes exhibits a sinuous and twisting boundary with the well water, resembling the movement of a Chinese dragon.

Japanese Gen Mai Cha

Japanese Bancha (second flush). Meaning literally brown rice tea, this green tea is blended with toasted rice kernels.

It is a woody, toasty and nutty flavoured tea that is perfect with food.

Also known as the people’s tea, it was originally drunk by the poor as the rice was used as a filler to reduce the price.

Jasmine Dragon Pearl

This is a pale, delicate green tea, twisted with Jasmine flowers.

The jasmine flowers are picked in the late afternoon when the small petals are tightly closed and the flowers are kept cool until nightfall.

In the early evening, when the flowers begin to open, the tea is blended with Jasmine flowers and stored overnight.

During the night Jasmine flowers open, bloom and release their fragrance into the tea.

Ginger Root

Ginger root is a natural remedy for morning sickness, nausea and indigestion.

It is also excellent in the early stages of an infection because it can promote a fever and hasten healing.

Echinacea Lavender Herbal Flowers

A beautifully fragrant infusion, lavender has traditionally been used to treat upset stomachs, while also helping to calm nervousness, anxiety, and stress.

Echinacea, also called purple coneflower, is a well used natural remedy, which has been used by Native Americans for centuries.

In the modern world it is often used to alleviate the common cold or flu.

It is also used against pain, inflammation and migraines and is great for whenever you are feeling under the weather.