I drink a lot of tea. It doesn’t seem so next to my British in-laws who seem to constantly sip sugary, milky gumboot tea. But nearly all my fluid intake consists of pots of aromatic gorgeous brews of green or white teas, florally-infused blacks or herbal concoctions. Plants all brewed in water, imparting nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants into my diet.

For years I’ve been assaulted with messages from the media about how I should be drinking far more pure water, and how drinking tea is bad for girls because it strips away iron from the body, or how tea is so dehydrating because of all the caffeine.

Researchers at Kings College London have thankfully said “poppycock!” to the aforementioned bologne. After reviewing numerous studies on the benefits of drinking tea, they’ve concluded that tea is a superior drink.

Dr Ruxton said: “Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so it’s got two things going for it.”

As for caffeine in teas being dehydrating, the research team says:

“Studies on caffeine have found very high doses dehydrate and everyone assumes that caffeine-containing beverages dehydrate. But even if you had a really, really strong cup of tea or coffee, which is quite hard to make, you would still have a net gain of fluid.”

I am starting to make my own blends but my favourite source of fine, fine tea is Wellington’s t Leaf T They’re delish!