A Nice Cup of Tea

Tea is brimful of antioxidants, which protect the skin from sun damage. Whether you drink it cold or hot, whether you prefer green or black, it’s am ideal summer drink. It’s also very rich in zinc and vitamins. There are plenty of flavours to enjoy, too: flowers, fruits, spices…

The most popular drink in the world

The leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis are used in infusions all over the world. More tea is drunk than any other beverage. It is enjoyed everywhere, from English tearooms to the burning sands of the Sahara, the misty mountains of Tibet and the Russian steppes. It tastes good, but another side of its appeal is that it is also a medicinal plant, with a great deal to offer the serious sunbather. For instance, it contains a large quantity of flavonoids, substances with strong antioxidant properties of their own that also increase the action of other antioxidants, particularly vitamin C.

Inside and Out

Tea also contains vitamins E and A, as well as zinc, all substances that have a direct effect on the skin. If you drink tea regularly, it will help keep your skin supple and soft, even after exposure to the sun, and, even more importantly, will protect you from long term damage to the skin cells. If tea causes you to feel nervous and edgy, let it brew for a longer time: the plant’s tannins, which spread slowly into the hot water and give the drink its dark colour, neutralize the caffeine, which is responsible for its stimulant effect. If you have some tea left in your pot, don’t throw it away: it makes an excellent lotion that will close your pores, soothe sunburn and, if it’s black tea, even slightly enhance your tan. 

Did you know?

• Black and green tea both come from the same plant. The colour and taste variations are due to different production methods.
• Black tea is rolled to break the veins in the leaves and then fermented before being dried. Green tea is dried as soon as it is picked. Their properties are slightly different, but both teas are antioxidants and protect the skins.
• White tea, which comprises very young leaf buds picked before they are ripe, is only produced in small quantities and is therefore much more expensive than other varieties.

Key Facts

• Whether green, black or white tea is a wonderful health drink.
• It is very rich in flavonoids, zinc and vitamins E and A, as well as antioxidants that protect the skin from the sun.
• You can also use cold tea, after it has been infused, as a soothing skin lotion.