Mirabilia Organic Olive Leaf Tea. Move Over Green Tea, There’s A New Tea In Town!

We all know the wonders of green tea don’t we. Well turns out there’s another plant leaf tea that boasts even more antioxidants. Olive leaf tea which I’d never previously heard of, has been a traditional herbal remedy in many ancient civilisations including for the Egyptians. I spotted Mirabilia organic olive leaf tea in a health food store recently (by the way i share new discoveries on Instagram that might not make it over here so do find me there) and the owners got in touch to tell me a little bit more.

Mirabilia has been set up by two British ex-pats, Bimbi and Kim, who have lived in Abruzzo for 10 years. Their aim is to capitalise on the local resources, provide employment in a rural area where work on the land is dying as youngsters head off to the cities and most importantly to safeguard the historic olive groves, culture and natural beauty of the region. Everything including the packaging and machinery used is locally sourced. So aside from the health benefits, the olive leaf tea is also doing wider good.

The tea is made from the leaves of organic olive trees and has double the antioxidant capacity of green tea. The young, green leaves are quickly dried to maintain high oleuropein and antioxidant levels. Caffeine and tannin-free, olive leaf tea has traditionally been used for treating fevers and malaria. Scientific research shows it has antibiotic, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. The oleuropein has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Science is backing up much of the ancient wisdom.

I’m a coffee drinker and on the tea front drink green, white tea or herb tea as I can’t stand the strong tannin taste or scum left behind by black tea. I’m not an olive fan either so wasn’t sure what to expect.

So what does olive tea taste like? There is absolutely not the slightest whiff of olive. The taste to me is like a cross between a light green tea and rooibos. There are no harsh edges and I like drinking it on its own. The longer you leave it to steep the deeper and more full bodied the flavour. And impressively there really is no scum. Look at my empty tea cup.

Mirabilia-olive-leaf-tea-2 — Tea cup after drinking the olive leaf tea. Absolutely no scum.

Cold brewing is my new favourite thing in the world and olive leaf tea is great with a slice of lemon and mint.

I think what we eat and drink has a greater impact on our skin than the products we put on so I’m always happy to discover something new to imbibe. Over the summer, I’ve been drinking olive leaf tea far more than any other. Move over green tea, olive leaf tea is in town!

Have you tried olive leaf tea?

Mirabilia Organic Olive Leaf Tea, 30g, rrp £4.69 www.oleaft.com