For as long as I can remember, I've always been a morning coffee person. My day hadn't started until I'd had my coffee fix. A year ago I discovered how good herbal tea and green tea were as a substitute, and since then there's been no turning back.

Now I'm no guru in the roots, culture, or even scientific benefits of the stuff, but what I do know is that since it replaced my morning cuppa, I certainly feel a whole lot better. When I say that, I don't just mean that instant, satisfactory feeling you get from a morning beverage, but also the overall mental and physical well-being that we experience during the day.

I started out buying the bagged one and although it does have high anti-oxidant properties, I've found one in particular with appears to be in it's most natural and protected form. Gaia Research, a Knysna-based health products manufacturer, distribute a range of organic health products in and around the country, one of particular interest - being their organic green tea.

Described as a mega-potent anti-oxidant, health optimising and anti-aging beverage, the tea contains high levels of vitamins and nutrients. The box, loaded with generous amounts of literature regarding its content, further lists:

“Relatively high levels of nutrients in quality green tea include organic forms of the Vitamins A, C, E & K, Beta-carotene, biotin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium...antioxidant flavanols and bioflavannoids including kaempfrol, rutin...biological activity superior to that of pine, the rare immuno-modulating mineral, organic germanium (which is 8 more times concentrated in green tea than in garlic).”

Winning ComboWhich, in English, means it will make you feel good in some way or another. What grabbed my attention was the fact that it “has the same comforting, refreshing and exhilarating effects as common caffeine beverages, but without their many health hazards and swinging nervous system impacts”. I can definitely warrant for that, having been drinking this particular brand of tea since April this year. I know some people who get headaches if they don't follow their regular tea/coffee drinking schedule, and if you're one of them, not to worry - you can safely transfer to green tea without any withdrawal symptoms. Now you may laugh, but I'm sure you've noticed how many tea/coffee purists can get quite cranky without their regular 'fix'.

Besides it's anti-cancer potential and numerous health benefits, the stuff tastes good, in fact much better than common bagged products. You can add other stuff to it, like ginger, honey, lemon, cinnamon or nutmeg to customize it how you like. My favorite combo being lemon, raw ginger and honey.

But I swear officer, it's only tea!You can get it at any good health shop, I found it in the Village Market (Westville Central). The tea comes bagged or in whole-leaf form, the latter being more appealing from my point of view. I buy it without the bags because its good to see exactly what you're drinking, not to mention that you also get more control over the strength of the tea. You can buy a 200g box of wholeleaf tea, that comes in two 100g bankies, which will set you back about 100 bucks. One box lasts about 5 months, even if you're drinking it every day! Just be sure not to get pulled over on the way back from the health shop. It does resemble another more common, indigenous herb, at first glance.