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There’s been a certain amount of media coverage recently, suggesting that people who are habitual tea drinkers are likely to live longer, and be less at risk of cardiovascular disease than those who never drink tea, or not so often. These assertions were predominantly based on a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, where a questionnaire was used to look into the tea-drinking habits of 100,902 Chinese adults from 15 provinces in China.

As the days get shorter and the weather gets chilly, we hope to avoid the coughs, colds, snuffles and sneezes that will inevitably surround us. As tempting as it may be, we can’t just shut ourselves away until spring, so are bound to be in environments where cold and flu germs lurk. Stuffy, heated buildings can create ideal conditions for germs to thrive, and crowded seasonal social events can help to spread more than just goodwill.

It may be the season to be jolly, but it's not so much fun if you come down with a cold or flu. As well as the usual remedies to reach for on your road to recovery, there are a number of great-tasting teas that can contribute to your line of defence against infection, or help alleviate symptoms and keep you warm and hydrated, should you succumb to a cold or flu.

Rooibos Tea is a naturally caffeine-free drink that is rich in minerals and vitamins, and renowned for its many health benefits. Also known as 'bush tea' or 'redbush tea', rooibos is more of a herbal infusion than a tea. It grows in South Africa's Cederberg fynbos, a mountainous area rich in botanical diversity, with a landscape of striking rock formations, colourful shrubs and mountain streams. Although there have been attempts to cultivate rooibos in other countries, the unique subclimate and environment of this region of South Africa has proved to be the only place where it can thrive.