Cure it with tea

Oolong has disease-fighting antioxidants, say Chinese researchers, green may protect your gums, a 2009 Japanese study finds, while black may ward off Parkinson's disease, says a 2008 American Journal of Epidemiology study. Here's what to drink:

Sencha
Best for: Green-tea beginners. It's sweet and mellow, without the bitter bite of some other green brews. Sip it with sushi or dessert.

Genmaicha
Best for: An afternoon pick-me-up. This Japanese green tea is mixed with roasted rice kernels. It has a savoury smell, almost like popcorn.

Sur Le Nil
Best for: After-dinner relaxing. Its flavour is more delicate than that of many green teas. Think of it as chamomile-plus, with hints of lemon and spice.

High mountain Oolong
Best for: Relaxing after work. It's made with thick tea leaves, which gives it a full fl oral flavour with an earthy finish-a good balance for before dinner.

Wood Dragon Oolong
Best for: Coffee quitters. This strong, woodsy brew contains more stem than leaf and has significantly less caffeine than other oolong teas.

Honey phoenix Oolong
Best for: Wintertime defrosting. It's a robust tea, with a flavour almost like a cherry pit, making it sweet, with a tinge of bitterness.
Vanilla Rooibos
Best for: Dessert-and not just because it's free of caffeine. You'll taste a light sweetness followed by a creamy finish.

Cassis
Best for: Snapping awake on a cold morning. This black tea is rich and powerful. You'll taste black currants, with a sweet, dry finish.

Pu-Erh Tuocha
Best for: Coffee drinkers. It's strong, earthy and has a kick of caffeine. The black tea comes pressed into nuggets, which break apart when boiled.

How to brew
Pour one cup of almost-boiling water over one teaspoon of leaves and steep. (Don't use this method with pu-erh tuocha, which you should boil.