Here's a way to make your tea healthier

Find out here

For any avid tea drinker, this news may come as a surprise: scientists have recommended to heat tea in a microwave!

Dr Quan Vuong from the University of Newcastle in Australia conducted research to find ways to add value to natural products.

Following are his recommendations to make the perfect brew:

1. Put hot water in the cup with your teabag

2. Heat the tea in the microwave on half power for 30 seconds

3. Let it sit for a minute

The aforementioned technique, he said, activated 80 per cent of the caffeine, polyphenol and theanine compounds found in black and green teas.



But, why does this make our tea healthier?

Theanine is an amino acid that encourages relaxation while polyphenols are antioxidants, which help prevent degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Further benefits of heating your tea in the microwave include better tasting tea. The technique, however, doesn't mention whether milk was being added to the cups of tea.

The claim by Dr Vuong is one of the most controversial known to tea drinkers, and has sparked a debate across social media for all the right reasons. Here's what tea fiends had to say:

Imagine thinking you loved someone and then finding out they make tea in the microwave

— Kitty - Freelance Illustrator (@kittystrand_) April 2, 2017

https://twitter.com/rharris334/status/851715443853099009

It is a breach of the Human Rights Act to microwave a cup of tea. DO. NOT. DO. THIS. EVER! https://t.co/R3CGtwoJle

— Ben (@lawsofben) April 11, 2017

This is a crime https://t.co/tYjMjSplfm

— Simba Ω 🏳️‍🌈🦄🦁 (@abmis0) April 11, 2017

https://twitter.com/andrewwhiteau/status/851724701499924481

This article originally appeared on Independent