Weight Loss tea

Teas grouped here are mostly unsweetened, full-flavoured cups that make easy swaps for juice, pop or sweet coffee drinks. Green tea and oolong are light and refreshing; ripe pu'erh is earthy and satisfying after a meal; and yerba mate is robust and grassy. Herbal blends with ginger, cinnamon, lemon or mint add flavour without any calories when brewed plain.

Plain brewed tea has virtually no calories, so the biggest difference usually comes from what you add — sugar, syrups, sweetened milk. Try cutting sweetener gradually, or pick naturally sweet-tasting teas like cinnamon blends, rooibos or fruit infusions. A pitcher of cold-brewed tea in the fridge makes an easy go-to when you want something more interesting than water.

Tea is not a weight-loss product. Sustainable changes come from overall eating patterns, activity and sleep. Be wary of any tea marketed with dramatic promises or containing laxative herbs.

Green tea, oolong, pu'erh and mate all contain caffeine. If you are drinking several cups a day, mix in caffeine-free herbal blends, especially in the afternoon and evening.

Cold-brewed oolong and green tea make easy alternatives to bottled iced tea, which is often heavily sweetened. Brew a litre at a time with 8–12 g of leaf, refrigerate overnight, and you have a ready supply for the next few days. A reusable bottle with an infuser lets you top up with fresh water and keep steeping as you go.