Tea — why that cuppa you love is the workout drink of the moment 

We're a nation of tea drinkers but did you know your daily brew can help you exercise for longer and aid recovery? 

Your daily cuppas come with some surprising fitness benefits. Picture: iStock 

As the second biggest tea drinkers in the world (only the people of Turkey consume more cuppas), we collectively consume an average 2.19kg of tea every year and, according to one of our favourite brands, Lyons Tea, the average Irish person sips up to five cups a day and an annual 300 litres worth of tea. And, provided we don’t dunk a digestive in it and add extra calories in the form of sugar, our love of the black – or green - stuff might bring unexpected fitness benefits.

For experts say that tea is having its turn as the workout drink of the moment with studies showing that various varieties – from black and green to ginger, matcha and yerbe mate (both concentrated versions of green tea) – have the power to boost endurance, aid recovery and prevent aching muscles. It’s a favourite of athletes and footballers — Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are among those seen sipping matcha tea prior to games — while gym-goers in the know have been sipping chilled and blended ‘performance’ teas from their water bottles since well before lockdown began.