T ea is considered the second most popular drink in the world, a real surprise for Western coffee drinkers. The first most popular drink is water. Tea, real tea, Camellia Sinensis and not the so-called herbal tea is the tea which contains the beneficial compounds, polyphenol, catechin, and phytochemicals. The benefits of tea are attributed to these compounds. Oral health is linked to the fluoride content of tea.
Cancer prevention is attributed to the antioxidants contained in tea.
Reduction in heart disease risk and the reduction in blood pressure is attributed to the lowering of cholesterol levels among tea drinkers. In many parts of the world, tea drinkers have the additional benefit of maintaining an adequate fluid intake. C ontroversy has followed tea despite the beneficial attributes found during research. Caffeine content in tea appears to be the leading concern voiced by the public. Caffeine has been associated with blocking iron absorption, yet a March 1991 article published in The New York Times, states that brewed tea has about half the caffeine content of coffee.