5 Common Myths About Drinking Tea

1. Banana tea helps you sleep

One concern to keep in mind is the use of chemicals and pesticides - because they’re sprayed onto the skins as the fruit grows, you want to make sure you’re using organic bananas if you try this sleep remedy.

2. Tea makes you dehydrated

In fact, drinks that contain caffeine such as tea have a lot more water than caffeine which negates any dehydrating effects. Drink as much tea as you like - you won’t become dehydrated.

3. Herbal tea is tea

White tea, black tea, oolong, green tea, and dark tea such as pu-erh all come from the same plant. The difference between them is whether the leaves are young and the degree to which they have been roasted or cured.  

Herbal or fruit teas that don’t contain any tea leaves aren’t strictly teas at all but are actually infusions or decoctions of various herbs and plants in hot water. These herbal teas include ingredients such as chamomile, peppermint, or rooibos and it’s common for many herbal teas to be caffeine free (although some still can). You can still get a whole bunch of

4. Adding milk or sugar negates the health benefits

This is untrue! Adding sugar or milk to your tea won’t remove any of the great antioxidants or catechins (thought to have great health benefits) in the tea. By adding milk you’re adding a little extra calcium and if you put honey in your tea, there are plenty of great benefits it can offer too. Additionally, by adding a citrus such as lemon or bergamot to your tea, the acidity helps to preserve the flavonoids. 

That’s not to say that you SHOULD add milk to every tea though as many varieties, such as green tea or most herbal teas, will taste better without it.

5. Green tea is better for you than black tea

There’s no denying that green tea has plenty of health benefits but black tea can be just as good for you - they’re picked from the same plant after all. 

Both types of tea have plenty of antioxidants which are thought to help reduce the risks of heart disease and other illnesses. Additionally, both tea types contain plenty of good bacteria which can help to improve gut health and may help to lower cholesterol and lower blood sugar levels when enjoyed without sweeteners.  

 Both green tea and black tea contain varying amounts of caffeine. The caffeine content depends on how the leaves have been cured as well as being dependent on the different tea bushes, where they’re grown, and a number of other factors. Green tea typically contains 30-50 mg of caffeine per cup while black tea can contain up to 90mg of caffeine per cup. In comparison, coffee has an average of 95mg per cup.  

So how many of these tea myths did you know and how many surprised you? Now that you’re up to scratch on your tea knowledge, why not brush up on your coffee or water trivia too?There are some facts about both that might surprise you! And of course, for enjoying any drink, make sure you rely on a reusable stainless steel bottle or coffee cup to keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold all day long.