In addition to being the centre of tea parties and garden parties, tea of all flavours is also a very healthy beverage. According to some studies it is loaded with antioxidants and can help increase alertness without making you jittery.

Here are three great reasons to love tea:

1. It offers cellular protection
Whether green, black or oolong, tea from the Camellia sinensis plant contains antioxidants, which can help protect against free-radical damage to your body's cells.

For maximum antioxidant content in your cup, brew tea for at least two minutes and give the tea bag a good squeeze before removing it.

2. It makes you feel alert, yet calm
Unlike coffee, tea has the ability to improve alertness without negatively affecting sleep or causing jitters. This is due to theanine, a unique amino acid with the power to relax the mind without inducing drowsiness. Theanine also boosts your attention span and cognitive performance.

3. It's hydrating
As the world's second-most commonly consumed beverage after water, tea provides much of the fluid we need. Tea contains just 50 milligrams of caffeine per cup, so it has little diuretic effect. In fact, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that black tea offers hydrating properties similar to water.

Reap the rewards and health benefits of tea by testing out one of these recipes:

Puffed Wild Rice Green Tea
Rose Petal Tea
Chocolate Chai

This story was originally titled "Why We Love Tea" in the May 2013 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!