When people say they do not like tea, what is probably happening is that these people have not gotten the chance to explore the wonderful world of tea. These folks do not know about all the different types of tea and the magical work tea can do for your body. Perhaps these humans do not drink tea because they are on the coffee side of the caffeine spectrum. Next time you have to stop at Starbucks, just keep in mind that the more coffee you drink the more cortisol, (an enzyme that increases the rate at which your body retains fat) is released. Fear not, weight watchers, yerba mate is here to save the day. Yerba mate is a plant that grows in South America. This is the tea that a lot of the people who are trying to quit coffee switch over to, because it has a significant amount of caffeine and it is lacking in the enzyme responsible for the caffeine crashes.

If mate does not suit your fancy there is a plethora of options. Black, green, oolong, and pu-erh are just a handful of other caffeinated teas. Depending on the time of day or how much caffeine you have already consumed, there is a tea for that. Black, green and white teas all come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, which is native to Asia. The reason they are different is because they are picked at different times throughout growth. White teas are harvested first, which means they contain the least amount of caffeine and the most amount of antioxidants. Black teas are picked last so they contain the most amount of caffeine and the least amount of antioxidants. Green teas fall in the middle. Yes, all of the teas are beneficial and will wake you up one way or another

You have probably heard at least once in your life to drink tea when you are sick. This is true, and there are different teas that help to ease different types of illnesses. Rooibos is a popular tea from South Africa that is known for working with the digestion system while it is working to help keep water weight off. Also, rooibos is not caffeinated so it is a perfect after lunch or dinner to soothe a stomach ache or settle your food. Another caffeine free tea is tulsi, or holy basil. This tea is native to India and it helps to naturally balance out your stress levels, perfect during the semester right before bed. The wonderful world of tea deserves to be explored, so until you have tried them all, it is unacceptable to say, “I don’t like tea.”