The general health benefits of tea are widely known and is one reason tea is the most widely drunk beverage in the world, next to water.  Here, I am going to describe the health benefits of black tea as well as something to be ware of.

First you should know, all "tea" is seperate from "herbal tea". "Tea", no matter if its white, green, black or oolong is all produced from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. Most tea is grown where it is most commonly drunk. Places like China, Japan, Taiwan, and India. Tea is also grown, though in very limited quantities, in Southern England and North Carolina.

Black tea is the most commonly consumed of all the different teas. Black tea is the most processed out of all the teas, which enables it to travel well. The tea lasted so well that it was pressed into bricks and broken off portions were used as an early form of currency. Black tea, because of the "cooking" process used, has less antioxidents than all the other teas. Although it does retain antioxident properties, its main benefit is for the heart and lungs. The "stimulant" in all tea is Theophylline. This type of stimulant is similar in structure as caffeine, but is different enough to be much better for you. This type of stimulation brings you up slower than caffeine and because you come down slower, there is no crash. Also, cup for cup, the stimulant in tea is much less than in coffee. Because of this characteristic, in moderation of course, helps strengthen your heart. Also, Theophylline is a broncial diolator. This is great for in general breathing better, but its also great for people who have athsma. Ahsma is when your lungs are inflamed and your airway is narrowed. Tea (theophylline) diolates this passageway (makes wider) and has anti-inflamitory properties for your lungs. It also saves you a ton of money paying for the same drug as a treatment for athsma.

Earlier, I stressed moderation. A lot of things can be very good for you in moderation, but seldom do we practice this. Black tea is the same, specifically, a type of black tea called pu-erh (sounds like poo-air, I know, I know). Pu-erh is processed, then buried for anywhere between three to (from what I've seen) 15 years, maybe even more. This concentrates certain chemicals found naturally within the tea and makes this not very well known tea, a diet tea. People use this as a type of "clenser" because it becomes a type of Diuretic. Basically, it makes you go to the bathroom. This tea taken in excess (it can taste really good) will cause dehydration and eventually fainting. Excess, is anywhere from one to two pitchers of this specific type of tea.

I don't want to paint a bad picture of pu-erh, its just a caution, it is actually very useful as a cup-a-day weight loss medium.

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