If you want to live a long life and a healthy life—it's very much a matter of what you eat and drink. So next time you are shopping in the supermarket or health store check out their loose leaf teas and herbal infusions or if they don't stock loose leaf tea then simply go online, infect most high end foods these days can be shipped to you by next day delivery, including loose leaf teas. .

What are the best foods for longevity for people who live in Britain and Ireland ?

Our climate can be difficult in winter but all the natural ingredients that we need for a healthy life do grow in these islands, it is just a matter of knowing how to use them. So what are the life boosting foods we should all be using .

BERRIES FOR LIFE 

Yes berries are natures secrete weapon to help keep us healthy, in the UK and Ireland we  are not part of the Blue Zone of countries where people commonly reach their 90's but we do have the most amazing variety of berries growing everywhere and sure today we can pick them up in the supper market and buy a pack of frozen berries, i love blueberries but what ever your tastes are go for it.. Also beans , leafy greens are all linked to giving you extra years to your life. So  what are the best types of drink to help us live a long life ? 

For a long time they said red wine in moderation could be beneficial but new research seems to indicate that even small amounts of any alcoholic beverage is not really that good for you ! To day almost all research indicates that the best drink for longevity is actually green tea. Tea is a super beverage that has potent phenolic compounds which can help fight cancer and protect our cardiovascular system. Green tea is by far the winner for healthy drinks, it is  rich in catechins, which are some of the most powerful disease-fighting phytonutrients we can find anywhere on the plant kingdom.

So green tea protects against cancer and helps your heart stay healthy and also very importantly it can help you sleep better. The studies undertaken around the world seems to indicate that  drinking green tea on a regular basis is directly linked to living a long and  healthy life. 

There was a 2018 study which found that regular tea drinkers have a reduced risk in age-related decreases of high-density lipoprotein , that is in ordinary English it helps with "good" cholesterol"! .Green and black tea are helpful with green tea having a slightly stronger effect than black tea. It has also been found that Green tea’s EGCGs , which is a type of good for you catechin, which is particularly prevalent in the tea and this may help inhibit tumor growth.

Green tea is also good for your gut health as within your gut there are beneficial gut bugs, these feed on foods rich in polyphenols, which include green tea. One of these beneficial gut bugs is called akkermansia muciniphila and it is this bug that supports the protective mucus layer that prevents a leaky gut , it basically keeps the gut lining strong. It has been found that low levels of this critical bacteria have been linked to diabetes, obesity,  autoimmune disease, cancer, and  heart disease.

It also seems that green tea is good for the brain, this is because of green tea has caffeine and catechins, and it is these Catechins that can help protect your body from free radicals, so protecting both your brain and the rest of your system.

So green tea is definitely a supper food and most definitely the winner, it is the best beverage to help you live a long and healthy life. 

So how much green tea should you drink? we think two cups a day is perfect !

What if you don't like the taste of green tea ?

That is not a problem , because high end tea companies have expert blenders who add little touches of taste like vanilla which is actually our most loved , yes green tea vanilla is the most healthiest breakfast tea. Also green tea is blended with many really good ingredients like mint, check out our Mr Doyle's chillout tea , it is probably the best minty tea in the world and also you can have green tea with rose petals like our Emperors Seven Secrets tea or try a green tea blended with white tea .

The overall message is that green tea is really good for you and so we would say check out the many tastes of green tea and the many blends of green tea with other herbal infusions so that you can taste the best and most healthy drinks in the world , Go On Go.

Oolong tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant, and it is  totally  good for you

Health Benefits of Oolong Tea

 Can oolong tea be used to help with weight loss?

We know oolong tea has many health benefits. Oolong comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant and so it is  rich in antioxidants. 

If ypu want the best tea for your health , simply pick pure loose leaf tea, which is grown sustainably and grown  without pesticides or herbicides.Hand grown and crafted tea will always taste better and it will be so much better for the environment.

Oolong tea high in caffeine?

Oolong tea is usually picked later than many teas, so the leaf is lift on the bush for a longer time which increases its caffeine content. So yes the caffeine content in oolong tea is usually higher.So if you need a hit of caffeine it does the job but you can keep adding hot walter to the same leaves and it still tastes great after 3 OR 4 cups of tea!

The big question will oolong Tea help you loose weight?

There's is some research that may suggest that bacause there are higher caffeine levels in Oolong that it might help speed up metabolism, other than that theres no definite research to conclude anything else!

Can you put milk in Oolong Tea?

There is a type oolong called Milk Oolong which comes from Taiwan. It is made in a particular way to help the flavours and aromas of the hot milk.

We think it very important to chose your oolong very carefully. Puting milk in your oolong IS REALLY A PERSONAL TASTE TYPE THING! . Milk was not added in ancient times, but we love it with a dash of milk ,so Go On what ever you feel like, main think is to take your time and enjoy every cip!

Either way Mrs Doyle's Oolong tea has to be tasted it is totally amazing on the taste buds.

It all started one summer at Ireland's Electric Picnic Music festival, we were selling Irish tea to help UNICEF Ireland, and well Mrs Doyle walked by the tea tent and next thing you know she was making her famous Irish cream tea for everyone!

We got in all the newspapers and even got mentioned in the Irish Times and later in the Washington Post and of course the Irish gift stores wanted to stock Mrs Doyle's Irish teas. Eventually we persuaded Mrs Doyle to share all her famous Irish tea blends.

 After that, well, the word spread and next thing you know, Mrs Doyle's tea tent , was everywhere that summer, eventually we all took the advice of Mrs Doyle and decided that touring is only for the summer !

So We got technology, and now, Mrs Doyle's online Irish tea and gift store works 24 /7 

so Go On, try one of Mrs Doyle's happy teas

or 

sign up to Mrs Doyle's monthly tea box subscription and get 4 teas sent to you or a friend ,every month !     just tea-riffic

1. Good for the immune system

Like other types of tea made from the camellia sinensis tea plant, black tea is extremely high in antioxidants. Cinnamon bark, cardamom, and cloves are also high in antioxidants. Chai tea is a wonderful source of antioxidants, so helping reduce free radicals in your body and promote your cellular health. 

2. Importantly at this time of year it fights off colds

When you’re feeling under the weather, a decent cup of chai can actually help to ease symptoms of the common cold, or even ward off colds . Black tea contains catechins with antiviral properties that may also contribute to the prevention of common illnesses like colds and flu. Ginger contains antimicrobial properties that can help to fight illnesses like sore throat. Cinnamon contains unique antibacterial properties that can sometimes to protect against infection and keep you healthy. Also cardamom and cloves also contain antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, so making a cup of chai tea is a great choice if you want to stay well this winter , Go On Go 

3. Boosts your heart health

Ingredients in chai tea have amazingly been shown to help boost heart health. Basically black tea contains flavonoids, these can help prevent plaque buildup in the body’s arteries, which reduces stress on the heart. Cinnamon is also been shown to help to treat cardiovascular diseases and reduce harmful cholesterol.

5. Improves your digestion

Drinking chai tea can also help to improve digestion. Ginger is also a powerful digestive aid, and drinking ginger can help to improve gastrointestinal symptoms and so help the digestive system to work better, and of course cardamom has many digestive benefits .

6. Good for skin

Black tea is high in a variety of vitamins and minerals that are good for the skin, including zinc, magnesium, and potassium, all of which can help to protect and help rejuvenate the skin, and of course  drinking tea is also a great way to stay hydrated, which will help your skin look healthy and fresh. 

7. Increases your energy and your alertness

Black tea is an energizing tea that can help to increase alertness and focus. Black teas like chai tea contain moderate amount of caffeine to give us all a welcome boost of energy, and the caffeine in black tea helps to encourage our focus and alertness.

8. Reduces inflammation in the body

Chai contains plenty of ingredients that can help with inflammation, including black tea, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom. Black tea can help  reduce inflammation in your body, which can help soothe muscle soreness and chronic pain, and  ward off inflammation-related diseases .

Cinnamon has also been shown to help reduce inflammation and soothe pain. If you’re suffering from temporary inflammation, or dealing conditions like arthritis, a cup of cinnamon tea can have great  anti-inflammatory effects.

Ginger can help with inflammation too, and has been used for many centuries in herbal medicine for its powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Cardamom also contains anti-inflammatory properties.

These ingredients all make chai tea a great choice if you’ want to reduce inflammation in your body.

9. Good for skin

Black tea is high in a variety of vitamins and minerals that are good for the skin, including zinc, magnesium, and potassium, all of which can help to protect and help rejuvenate the skin, and of course drinking tea is also a great way to stay hydrated, which will help your skin look healthy and fresh. 

10. Good for the old teeth

Many caffeinated beverages, contain  heaps of sugar, tea of course does not and has been shown to be good for oral health. Black tea contains compounds that attack harmful bacteria within your mouth, which can help prevent the buildup of plaque. Ginger and cardamom also contain antimicrobial and antifungal properties that help to kill off harmful oral pathogens. This can help to improve your the health of your teeth .

Its almost Saint Patrick's Day and Mrs Doyle is of course Irelands most famous tea lady so here's her favorite green tea mocktail ! So go on enjoy Irelands National day and go green 

Here's how you do it,  make a pot of Mrs Doyle's minty tea, not too hot, add a dash of ENNIS Irish non alcoholic gin, with a dash of lemon and a little lime juice and garnish with a few little Irish shamrocks and if your Canadian , may be a little maple syrup 

ok here's  the ingredients 

• Mrs Doyle's Minty tea 
• Ennis non alcoholic inspired gin
• lemon and a little lime juice  
• Irish shamrock 
• and a dash of maple syrup

Going Vegan for Easter ? it can be difficult if you love your tea with milk , what to do ? find an alternative to milk or find a tea that simply tastes as good without milk , like Mrs Doyle's Irish tea !

We have had lots of questions from customers all over the world on vegan tea and lots of remarks from customers who tell us that because  Mrs Doyle's tea is so smooth and rich,  it simply doesn't  need  milk, and well it's true , and of course  you don’t have to stick to black tea either as there's lots of great herbal teas .

Also to day there is a a lot of dairy-free milk alternatives out there , easily available , in health food shops and  pretty much all supermarkets, too. If you do really need to have a really creamy tea here's a list of milks that go really well with black teas: almond milk, hazelnut milk, coconut milk, oat milk, rice milk, hemp milk and, of course, soya milk. They all have many health benefits but you have to try them to see what's perfect for your taste and it's definitely worth experimenting ,

So Go On try everything once ...well almost everything 

1. what if you want to cut back on your intake of milk and diary but love a little milk in your cup of Irish breakfast tea ? If you fee like messing around with almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk or rice milk well best of luck , but honestly, these alternatives are all good but its just not a decent cup of tea. However things are about to change ! Well Mrs Doyle loves vegans, she loves everyone and so she has come up with her brand new Irish tea specifically designed for all of us who want our cup of tea without milk or any thing else pretending to be milk ! Yes this new blend is so silky on the taste buds you wont even notice there's no milk !                                                 Mrs Doyle's and her team of lovely girls have been working in their tea lab for the last year during the Irish lockdown and have come up with an amazing Irish blend that is perfect without milk ! Mrs Doyle being a perfectionist and with her PHD in Tea decided to test the new blend  on the total population of Ireland for 1 month last year in 140 Aldi stores across the island and the feedback was amazing , its just as lovely without milk ,close your eyes and you cant tell!  that's how lovely it is !  so Go On and check it out  now exclusively on sale on Mrs Doyle's online shop www.mrsdoylesteashop.ie   Go on be nice to your self for lent