A POT OF BOTHER?

Does tea help or harm your gut health? Amira Arasteh sips her way through black, green and herbal teas and talks to the experts to uncover how popular cuppas can affect our bodies

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Fancy a cuppa? It’s the age-old question that sets everything in motion – from work meetings to family gatherings. For many Brits, it’s second nature to reach for the kettle and pop in a trusty earl grey or English breakfast teabag – milk and one sugar, thanks. However, as more of us begin to consider the impact of our food and drink on gut health, brain function and inflammation, it may be time to ask: is your tea actually benefiting you?

For me, tea has always been part of life. Being Persian by blood and British by birth, multiple cups of tea are a staple custom in both cultures. Typically, this is black tea in both, with tea in Iran even skipping the milk (and leading me to drink it this way in the UK as well).

Saffron tea is also something I get up with – saffron isn’t some luxury spice I reach for once in a blue moon, it’s a staple in the kitchen cupboard. It’s in my rice, it’s in my stews and, more recently, it’s been in my mug.

With growing chatter about the health benefits of daily olive oil shots, it got me wondering: could saffron tea be the next big gutfriendly trend?

So I took a proper look into the world of teas: from the humble builder’s brew to antioxidant-packed green tea; from soothing fresh mint to fragrant turmeric – all in the name of finding out how these different brews affect everything from our brains to our bellies.

Sip on this: the science behind your brew

Black tea

First things first: not all teas are the same. While black and green tea both come from the same plant, camellia sinensis, the way they’re processed makes all the difference. Black tea is fully oxidised, giving it its dark, rich colour and malty flavour, while green tea is steamed or pan-fired to keep those fresh and earthy notes.