Expert: Dr. Kristina Conner - 11/11/2009

Question
I'm just curious which tea of all the different varieties is considered the healthiest?  Also, what is the best way for tea to be sweetened and still taste good? (other than sugar)

Answer
Hello Amber,
Thanks for your question.  Herbal teas are a different story, but all true teas (black, oolong, green, white) have a common origin from the same plant, the difference lies in the processing, & how/ where it's grown.  The type that has been studied the most for it's health benefits is green.  It provides the highest degree of antioxidants that have be shown to help inhibit cancer growth, maintain blood sugar levels, and other functions.  This makes sense since green tea is the least processed & likely to stay closest to the original form, providing the most benefits.  But there is evidence that black or oolong teas are helpful in many of the same ways.  They're a good alternative sometimes or if someone really does not like the taste of plain green tea, which can be an acquired taste.  
If you are interested in drinking more tea, I'd suggest starting with some high quality loose leaf teas.  Teas bags are convenient but are lower quality, so it's difficult to develop your palate using only tea bags.  Try a couple types & see what you like.  Try with & without sweeteners, the best for teas usually being honey, agave syrup, or unprocessed sugar.  (avoid artificial sweetener or stevia which tend to leave more aftertaste).  As time goes on you will most likely not need as much sweetener or prefer it without, but even with some sweetener there are many benefits to regular tea drinking.  
In health,
Dr Conner