Fans of a regular cuppa have another reason to put the jug on - new research has given the all-clear for drinking up to eight cups of tea a day.
British nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton says both black and green teas can reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke,
and improve mental function.
And tea-lovers who sink up to eight cups a day, can enjoy the health benefits, without going over the optimum daily caffeine intake of 400mg.
The head of Auckland University's nutrition department, Lynnette Ferguson, said there was good evidence of tea's healthy effects.
At least three cups a day provide the best benefit and news of the benefits of green tea was "even more interesting," she said. "It doesn't have to be tea either. These properties are present in other things, and herbal teas have the same sorts of components."
Auckland tea enthusiast Leanne Pratt drinks "easily eight cups" of black tea a day. "And I'd have some green tea and usually a herbal blend just before bed," she said.
Pratt, the founder of the Aaaah! Tea company goes through about 200gm of loose leaf a week.
And she's very particular about making just the right brew. "You actually need to brew your tea for three to four minutes to give the flavour time to develop, and have the antioxidants drawn out by the hot water," she said.
