Tea time

A calming tea break isn’t just good for your mood, it’s good for your body too. Studies suggest black (not herbal) tea improves blood-vessel function, blocks the absorption of fats and helps lower cholesterol. What’s more, both black and green teas are packed with powerful compounds that protect against cancer.

A calming tea break isn’t just good for your mood, it’s good for your body too. Studies suggest black (not herbal) tea improves blood-vessel function, blocks the absorption of fats and helps lower cholesterol. What’s more, both black and green teas are packed with powerful compounds that protect against cancer. And if you skipped your flu shot, that’s even more reason to indulge in a cup of the fragrant brew: Tea has also been shown to bolster the immune system!

So where to go to take your tea? If you’re looking for a Darjeeling, Earl Grey or spicy chai experience where the accent is more on serenity than ceremony, check out Tea Fields in Englewood (201.541.0765, theteafields.com). Two years ago, owner Erica Morrison left the hustle and bustle of her high-powered Manhattan marketing job to open this charming café, where you can savor one of more than 70 types of tea. Best sellers include ginger-peach white tea, black tea with mango and, ever since Dr. Oz touted its metabolism-boosting powers, oolong! Your cup is brewed to order from loose leaves, because “the full leaf provides more robust, intense flavor  and greater health benefits,” says Morrison, who’s also one of Bergen County’s only purveyors of loose-leaf tea by the ounce. To go along with your tea, nibble on a slice of baked-on-the premises pound cake, a smoked turkey wrap or other fresh, lively fare.