You may find it soothing or comforting or it may be your guilty pleasure at the end of a day. However you enjoy drinking tea, the evidence is growing of its value in combating an array of health problems that affect older adults. More than 80% of American households are thought to stock tea in their cupboards and the origins of tea as a medicinal product can be traced back to the earliest of written texts. You may be surprised to learn that unless it’s an herbal tea (which is a combination of some sort of spice, herb, fruit, or flower) virtually all other “real” teas come from just one plant- Camellia sinensis- though depending on the processes of growing, harvesting and fermenting the plant, it can result in a range of different types, flavors and properties to be found in the tea. No matter your choice, as brain health expert Dr. Annie Fenn makes clear, “Tea is one of those foods that can be exceedingly good for you, flooding your brain with robust doses of polyphenols. In fact, most studies support tea drinking as a habit that may help reduce dementia risk.”

While there are some differences in the health effects of green tea versus black tea, there is much recent research on the beneficial health effects of green tea. Brain health is thought to distinctly benefit from green tea, which contains catechins, a type of antioxidant that powerfully fights inflammation. A recent study published in Nature found that higher green tea consumption was associated with fewer cerebral white lesions in the brain of community-dwelling older adults without dementia, suggesting a possible benefit from green tea in preventing or reducing the risk of dementia. This study of over 8000 Japanese seniors over the age of 65, during the years 2016-2018 matched self-reported tea consumption with MRI brain scans and found fewer brain lesions among those who drank at least 3 cups of green tea per day, and even fewer lesions if that amount rose to 7-8 cups a say. Green tea is also known to aid in lowering blood pressure and supporting heart health, and experts recommend that to achieve the beneficial health effects of green tea, you should consume 2-4 cups/day over the long term, as the benefits accrue cumulatively over years of consumption.

There have also been several studies of the health benefits of matcha green tea, a fine green powder that has stronger antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic effects than regular green tea. In a study published in PLOS ONE, researchers from Japan investigated the cognitive benefits of this drink for older adults. Some improvement was found in sleep and social cognition, but more broad-based cognitive benefits were not found. However, a recent article in MD Linx reported on possible anti-Alzheimer’s properties of matcha tea (with its powerful polyphenols that reduce inflammation) and also discussed the antimicrobial properties of matcha tea that may help fight against periodontal disease.

While the health benefits of matcha or green tea more generally are still under investigation, rumors that green tea may be a “natural” Ozempic, or weight loss panacea, do not appear to hold up under scientific scrutiny.  But for a soothing drink, with less caffeine than coffee and a powerful punch from antioxidant polyphenols, you probably can’t do better for your brain and your heart than steeping yourself a cup of hot tea this winter. For a selection of the Wirecutter’s best-tasting teas, put on the kettle and click here.