Waking up and preparing your cup of tea in the morning is a ritual many people cannot live without. We find peace in the simple things that we do to insure our well-being. Tea is contentment. ... Drinking tea, desires diminish and I come to see the ancient secret of happiness: wanting what I already have, inhabiting the life that is already mine. -- Anonymous

Selecting the type of tea that best suits your needs can require a bit of research. Teas are separated into two categories. The first category is the true tea plant, camellia sinensis, which offers the tea lover many different possibilities, including white, green, oolong, black and pu-erh teas. The second category is the world of tisanes, or herbal teas. This category includes herbs, botanicals including fruits, nuts and flowers, spices and flavorings. More tea lovers are combining these two categories, thereby creating teas with various health benefits and more visually appealing teas.

Take for example a best selling white tea called White Plum Berry. This tea, harvested as a premature leaf, is processed and then mixed with hibiscus, rose hips, safflowers, black currants and natural plum and plum flavorings, thereby creating a floral cup of tea that not only provides an excellent antioxidant for the day, but the aroma and flavor of the many fruits.

Another example of a blended tea is the Green Mint Tea Chai. This tea combines the mature tea leaf with mint, spices and licorice. The green tea offers antioxidant properties, while the mint offers calming effects for nervousness and coughs, and enhances digestion. Licorice has properties that have been used in medicine for bronchial problems, coughs and congestion and it can be taken for stomach problems such as ulcers and bladder and kidney ailments.

An oolong tea called Ginseng Oolong is coated with powdered ginseng creating a cup of tea with a powerful lift. The oolong teas, as in all camellia sinensis plants, contains the natural amino acid theanine, creating a mood of relaxation while the ginseng promotes mental and physical vigor.

A blended black tea can contain the simplest of combinations. Mixed with raspberry leaves, bits of dried raspberry fruit and flavorings, a Raspberry Black contains caffeine along with the mild astringent and laxative properties in the fruit. Mixed with cinnamon and orange peel and orange flavorings, a Cinnamon Orange Spice tea can act as a stimulant to the senses while soothing the stomach. Black tea combined with black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves makes a cup known as Chai. Not only is this tea flavorful, it's also an excellent medicinal as the spices clear the upper respiratory tract and calm the stomach.

When blended with ginger, the earthy and pungent pu-erh teas make a medicinal yet mild colonic, dispelling toxins and enhancing digestion.

When blending teas, I recommend purchasing good grade tea and high quality herbs, spices and botanicals. Please remember that teas along with herbs, spices and botanicals, can react negatively with some pharmaceuticals.