The power of tea, one tisane at a time

In Asian countries, where green tea is drunk daily, research has linked the consumption of it to a lower risk of cancer and heart disease.

I've brewed my green tea for a little too long this morning and it's left me feeling faintly nauseous. This could be the tannins - naturally occurring chemicals which are higher in green tea than black - though it's more likely to be the caffeine, for the longer you let tea leaves stand, the more caffeine is released. It's why self-respecting spas don't serve caffeinated teas after a treatment, but instead hand-blend their own herbal versions of herbs, flowers, roots and spices. These drinkable infusions are actually called tisanes, not teas, and are an important part of any spa experience.

Like the hot soup your mother brought to your bedside when you were sick as a child, being served a tisane by a therapist in a relaxation room should make you feel nurtured and comforted, for it's a continuation of the treatment process. What goes into them is important - mint and lemon balm revive you and ease unsettled stomachs, rosemary improves circulation and relieves nervous tension, nettles make an excellent detoxifier, elderflowers calm, and camomile flowers should help even the most hardened insomniac nod off. A dab of something sweet, such as organic honey or agave syrup, gives a tisane a soft edge, adding to the feeling of comfort.

How your herbal concoction is served is just as important. Who wants to be offered a cup of hot water with a commercial herbal bag on the side? Disaster. You want a proper pot, or at the very least a good quality mug, and it should be offered in a spirit of serenity, so you feel as if the therapist continues to care about you after she's completed your facial, wrap or massage. It's the sense of ritual that's important, because that post-treatment lull is a magical time, when your body has been ironed out, your mind (with any luck) becalmed, and you can sip and let your thoughts float any which way - preferably in a comfortable lounger while enjoying an inspiring view.

The Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh puts it beautifully: "Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life." Of course, if you're in a relaxation room next to two friends having a gossip beside you, the moment can be marred, though there's something wonderful about meeting over a cup of tea. This can be explained in part by the Japanese, whose highly stylised tea ceremonies represent a concept known as "Ichi-go ichi-e", or, "one time, one meeting" - reminding us that every encounter we have with another person is a one-off moment, to be shared and savoured. Just ask them to do it in the spa cafe.

Though I enjoy tisanes and make my own at home, I confess that once I've "come down" after a treatment and had something to eat, I go back to the green tea. In Asian countries, where it's drunk daily, research has linked the consumption of it to a lower risk of cancer and heart disease. The leaves are steamed, so they retain most of their beneficial catechins, which are the antioxidant properties that have been proven to aid digestion and detoxification, help keep blood-sugar in balance and support the immune system.

As any tea aficionado will tell you, every type of tea comes from the same evergreen tree, the camellia sinensis - its colour and health benefits depend on how it's been processed. White tea is a younger, milder version of green tea and contains even more catechins, while black teas are partially dried, crushed and fermented, which leaves them with far fewer. They're still good for you, though, especially the more delicate versions. In fact, if you fancy an alternative spa experience, I'd recommend a replenishing visit to Glenburn Tea Estate in the hills of Darjeeling in India. Staying in an immaculately restored tea planter's bungalow, you can enjoy foot soaks with fresh mint and camomile from the organic garden and foot rubs and massages with Darjeeling green tea massage oil. I can assure you that tasting the first flush on the romantically long veranda looking out to the Himalaya beats any relaxation room I've ever sipped in.

Caroline Sylger-Jones is the author of Body & Soul Escapes, a travel resource book of over 450 places around the globe where you can replenish mind, body and soul. See @email:www.carolinesylge.com.