TEA DOES NOT KILL THE COVID-19 VIRUS
In all the years working with tea I have never imagined that something like this fake rumour will be going around spraying false hope to people. It makes me really angry to think about it. At the moment, there are so many tea companies trying to sell tea to prevent or to kill the “virus”, any virus, that the publicity and advertisement in social media is just madness.
NO, DRINKING A CUP OF TEA DOES NOT KILL the Covid-19 or any other virus or bacteria. There are a few studies where researchers screened some chemical structures from traditional Chinese medicinal compounds including black and green tea, proven to show antiviral activity in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV) and the similar chemical structures through a molecular docking study to target RdRp of SARS‐CoV‐2, SARS‐CoV, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV). But this are only studies and to promote that tea kills the corona virus is criminal and dangerous, in a difficult time like humanity is facing.
There are some facts about the health benefits of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, completely proven by different studies around the world. Camellia sinensis leaves are similar to other plant leaves in their exterior structure and their interior cells. But what makes them different, and what has long intrigued scientists, is that the cells hold some very powerful compounds that can be beneficial to the human body. Tea leaves contain proteins, fluoride, and vitamins A, B, C, D, and E; but what especially fascinates researchers are the compounds found in tea, like polyphenols (AKA antioxidants), amino acids and methylxanthines. And yes, tea has so many properties and benefits, but this is a matter of explaining them very carefully, generalizations are not always good.
Depending on where the tea plant grows, what time of the year was plucked, the type of tea and the quality of the loose leaf tea, determine how much of each of these compounds you can find in your daily cup of tea.
Spices, herbal tea and loose-leaf tea will help to boost your immune system, but what really will help you is a healthy diet plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercise and meditation.
There are not magical remedies, cures or vaccines for what is happening with the Covid-19 worldwide, just follow the recommendations of your government.
Be safe
References
Original Research Paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jmv.25761
World Health Organization
Modern Tea, Lisa Boalt Richardson, Chronicle Books, 2014.
El Té verde. "La medicina milagrosa que alarga la vida", Neil Stevens, Editorial Sirio. 1999