The Experts: What Tea to Drink to Feel Better

There aren’t enough posts on this subject.

“But hang on…” I hear you say. “That’s nuts. You can barely move on the internet for articles about tea doing this or that for your health. There are experts lining up to spout about this.”

“And while you’re hanging on…” I hear you continue (in your slightly idiosyncratic way that suggests ‘you’ might be me). “Lord Devotea, you are usually quite dismissive of such things. I don’t remember you mentioning Dr Oz without swearing.”

Whilst ‘your’ points are valid, you are simply misunderstanding my contention.

True, there are many articles, blogs, essays by scientists who have studied one aspect of one tea for one health issue for years.

True, there are articles, blogs, essays by journos and bloggers who have combed the net for these things and put them together in a listicle-style overview.

But remember, none of that was written by tea bloggers.

What use is there of an article written by someone who doesn’t know a Da Hong Pao from a Big Red Robe?*

No, I’m talking about people who drink tea all day, every day. Tea Bloggers. WE are the experts when it comes to what tea we instinctively reach for when we are feeling a bit rubbish.

I was a bit inspired by my friend Geoff Norman, the Lazy Literatus, mentioning that Ya Bao and Silver Needle are go-to teas for him when he was feeling less than 100%. Since that is basically also my list of two favourite teas when I’m feeling off, I thought maybe we are onto something.

So, I simply invited the best tea bloggers and writers in the world to comment on the simple question “What tea do you drink when you are feeling poorly?”

Some of the writers refused, threatened to sue, sent someone around to break my kneecaps or just ignored me, but I’m delighted to say that others got right behind this, and I’m going to give you the best information, straight from the horse’s tanniny mouth.

And some just refused to play ball:

Xavier Lugherini (author of the Teaconomics blog):

“I am afraid I don’t have a favorite tea for when I am not feeling well. I keep on moving from one of my teas to another.”

When I sent my request, I assumed that people would assume that I meant basically camellia sinesis, or at worst actual tea with a bit of one or another herbal in it. Not straight herbals. In fact,  the single most common comment I got back was people confirming that, But some people obviously didn’t go down that path, including a member of The Devotea family:

Simon Duffin (blogger at Fancy A Cuppa Now and author of a bunch of books):

“Chrysanthemum Tea. We discovered this when I landed at Singapore Airport with dreadful flu symptoms. Chrysanthemum tea was the only thing that soothed the aches and the misery of that feverish flight. It happens to look nice too if you get it with the flowers bobbing around in the steaming water.”

Nicole Schwartz (Owner/Blender The Devotea USA and author of Amazon V tea blog):

“Peppermint!

If just feeling blah or head stuffy, Ginger and Lemongrass Quiet Nights herbal (I mix it up for myself,  it was once a tea of the month) Straight up ginger if I am nauseous, and finally chamomille and honey if my throat hurts.”

And definitely some went down the path of herbally-doctored teas:

Katrina Ávila Munichiello (author /editor of A Tea Reader, blogger at Tea Pages and tea industry writer of note):

“When sick I go to a black tea blend with orange peel and mass quantities of cinnamon. It always feels comforting, reminiscent of winter days by a fireplace, and the burst of cinnamon clears my head and makes me feel alert.”

Jen Rosenvall Piccotti (Blogger at An International Tea Moment)

“I sip a lemon flavoured tea – preferably Meyer Lemon Tea from Teas Etc. I like the soothing quality on my throat.”

As to our next expert, this one has a lot to say, and a couple of choices. (And the same ability as I do to ask the questions)

Rachel Carter, ( I Heart Teas):

“Traditional Indian Chai Why? Chai holds has a sort of magical power for me. The spices add a warmth to the experience. A cozy, comforting feeling that allows my body to relax. The aroma is pungent enough to penetrate the stuffiest of noses. A pleasant sinus pleasing experience plus a soothing experience for my throat, mind, body, and soul.

Matcha Why? Despite how sick I get I don’t have the luxury of putting my motherly and wifely duties on hold. Matcha helps me with a boost of added energy. It is a smoother, gradual increase in energy and equally gradual coming down than with coffee. I find the experience lasts longer and is less jarring making it ideal to help me get through the day.”

Rachel is joined in doubling-up stakes by Jo – yet another expert with two choices, as Geoff and I do. What is it with us tea people? We hate to have just one tea to choose from?

Jo Johnson (writer of Scandalous Tea Blog, author of World’s Special Tea, organiser and promoter of tea events in NYC and owner of A Gift of Tea):

“A toss up for me. Matcha for flu and general malaise.

Pu’er for stomach ailments and indigestion.

Both anytime, anywhere.”

One popular idea was to drink quite a light-flavoured tea, which is in keeping with my own preferences. Here’s a couple of examples:

Naomi Rosen (Owner of Joy’s Teaspoon and associated blog Joy’s Jabberings):

“When I’m sick, I’m a big fan of light oolongs, like Four Seasons. If it’s a head cold, I consider myself doing better if I can actually smell it. In general, I just find them relaxing and they are my “go to” when I’m under the weather.”

Gary D. Robson (Owner of Red Lodge Tea, blogger at Tea With Gary and author of kids educational classics such as “Who Pooped In The Park?” I kid you not):

“Generally an understeeped black tea (a Scottish Breakfast or Keemun, for example). Most of the health effects are psychosomatic, simply because that’s what Mom always fixed me when I was a sick as a child.”

But there was one tea that was a clear winner, and it firstly came from the people who blog AND grow tea. And in the first case, not even the tea in question:

Rajiv Lochan (owner of Lochan Teas, and India’s most engaging tea personality by far):

“Robert – my answer is simply pu’er, because it is the only real tea for wellness of the human body”

Nick Lozito (Misty Peak Teas):

“When I feel unwell, the best tea for me is an Aged Sheng Pu’er, especially from our farm. The reasons are many, but more than anything, it uplifts my spirit (I smile a lot when I drink it).”

And Pu’er had another fan, and we’ll finish on this one – because it’s not just steep, it’s deep.

Liz Darcy-Jones, (England’s Tea Poet):

“That Buddha of teas – Vintage Pu Erh – sits me back into the wholesome roots of my being when the body is chronically fatigued. Why? it’s strength and earthiness re-turns me to the earth and the pot of humanity in which we are all connected.”

So the results are in. They might not help, but they are in. For myself, I am awaiting a shipment of pu’er. If I could get sick around the time it arrives, I could get some good data.

*yes, we know they are the same thing. It’s a joke. Ref: Fawlty Towers