From work breaks to times of tears and strife, popping the kettle on is always a welcome remedy, and the humble cuppa is bursting with health-boosting benefits. Abi Jackson brews up the basics

We don’t need scientific studies to confirm we're a nation of tea-lovers – according to the UK Tea Council, we Brits get through 165 million cups a day.

What science can confirm, though, is that tea is officially good for us, in countless ways, from helping prevent stroke, type 2 diabetes and reducing stress.

“The British started drinking tea in the 17th century, when it was introduced by the Dutch and Portuguese,” says Jane Pettigrew, a tea historian who’s written a number of books on the topic, including A Social History Of Tea.

“The East India Company, who had the monopoly on trading goods from the South China seas into England, started importing its own supplies in 1669.”

At the time, all tea – the traditional form, made from the leaves and leaf buds of the Camellia sinesis plant – all came from China.

Initially, it was expensive, a luxury item enjoyed by royals and wealthy aristocrats, but over time, this changed. By the end of the 18th century, trading with China – which remains the world’s greatest producer of tea – had become difficult and plantations were developed in India (which remains the second biggest producer of tea).

Thus it became cheaper, more widely available and, eventually, our iconic national drink.

“When tea was first drunk in the UK it was hailed as a cure-all, with such benefits as curing headaches, memory loss, stomach problems, skin disorders, scurvy,” said Jane.

“Back then, those stories were based on legends and experiences arriving with travellers and tea merchants from China. But gradually over time, research has shown that a lot of these stories are actually true.”

Dr Tim Bond, from the UK Tea Council’s Tea Advisory Panel (TAP), will vouch for this.

“One of the most interesting things about tea is flavonoids. They’re antioxidants and help support our body cells, and are recognised as being important in terms of long-term health. Black tea [as traditional tea is known – it doesn’t mean tea without milk] is actually the number one source of flavonoid antioxidants in the UK diet, and there have been some really good studies recently on the associated health benefits, including reducing the risks of certain types of cancer.”

These studies, he explains, analyse data gathered through other research, looking at incidence rates of particular illnesses and people's lifestyles and diets, and rooting out significant correlations.

Recent examples found regular tea drinkers were less likely to develop oral cancer, for instance.

“There's also evidence that tea helps control blood pressure fluctuation, and growing evidence for a link with reduced cognitive decline,” added Dr Bond.

Research published in the American Society of Nutrition earlier this year reported that high tea intake (seven or more cups a day) was associated with a 63% reduction of cognitive impairment, medium intake (four to six cups) with a 55% reduction and low intake (one to three cups), 44%, while a number of recent studies have found strong suggestions that tea can help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Adding milk doesn’t ‘undo’ these beneficial effects, Dr Bond said. Cups of tea even count towards your recommended daily water intake (TAP published a report in 2011 which found it had similar hydrating effects as water).

Green and herbal teas are often portrayed as being more healthy but, scientifically speaking, that’s not the case.

In fact, the qualities associated with all varieties of tea are vast, and even if you're making your selection based on personal preference, you can't really go wrong.

Of course though, we don’t just love tea because it’s good for us.

“If we only drank for hydration, we’d just drink water,” said tea expert Bruce Ginsberg. “The reason people drink something for a second time, is because it pleases them. Tea has a curious pleasing effect.”

The wellbeing benefits of tea go far beyond the contents of the brew too. Ginsberg has travelled the world exploring the culture and history of tea, and explains how for Buddhist monks tea-drinking was a part of their meditation rituals.

“In meditation, what you’re after is relaxed alertness,” he said. “You’re very relaxed, but your senses are also open and alert, and this is the curious affect that tea can have.”

The ritual of tea drinking is a big part of its magic, and Ginsberg says we shouldn’t underestimate the wellbeing-boosting power of the whole experience of taking tea.

“The smell and taste are crucial parts, but the ritual begins before that. Even as the tea is brewed and poured and passed to you, you begin to compose yourself. You quieten down and your senses are engaged, ready to lift that cup to the nose, and then you have a taste. You’re bringing your whole body into a state of mindful-ness.”