BEHIND THE HEADLINES
T
he herbal tea aisle looks
more like a health and
wellness centre than
a section of the supermarket these
days. The manufacturers would like
us to think these drinks can do us
good – a lot of good. With the global
market for caffeine-free hot drinks
predicted to be worth £3.3 billion
by 2025, the world’s food and drink
giants have
joined the herbal
tea charge.
Industry
analysts report
that new flavours
with ‘mildly
stimulating
effects and
medicinal properties’ are driving
the trend. Blends of different
herbs offering ‘multiple health
benefits’ are the most sought after,
followed by ginger, camomile
and cinnamon. Infusions designed
specifically with the wellbeing of
women in mind are also on the rise.
The boom is supported by
wellness websites and blogs saying
that the antioxidants in herbal teas- substances that can help protect
the body against disease – make
them the healthiest hot drink
choice. “The benefits of herbal tea
might convince you to quit coffee:
everything from your skin to your
stress levels can improve”, states
one. Another says: “Get glowing
skin with these herbal teas”.
One widely shared Facebook post
(quickly rejected by scientists and
doctors) even claimed that some
herbal teas’ ‘anti-viral’ properties
could protect
against COVID-19.
Can we believe
any of the herbal
tea hype?SOME BENEFITS
Some people may
get some benefit
from drinking types of herbal tea,
says registered nutritionist Dr
Laura Wyness. Camomile tea, for
example, is well known for aiding
relaxation and sleep, and it also has
antispasmodic properties that may
ease menstrual cramps. The
menthol in peppermint tea can act
as a muscle relaxant and help aid
digestion and dispel gas. And
ginger tea may help with digestive
issues, nausea and period pain.
There’s no scientific proof they work,
however. “As long as you don’tThere’s never a
quantified dose on the
packet. Herbal tea
seems to get away
with vague claimsImmune support, stress relief, weight loss, improved
sleep, memory boost, glowing skin... Whatever you’re
after, there’s an infusion promising to enhance your
wellbeing. But, asks Sue Quinn, can a hot drink that’s
99.9 per cent water really deliver health benefits?