They cite the thermogenic effect of certain teas, which increase how much energy (and therefore calories) your body burns just going about its normal activities, as well as fat burning properties specific to varieties like green and oolong tea.

For once, it appears that something that seems too good to be true may actually be very useful after all. Tea for weight loss is being used as an adjunct to diet for the best results, but it can help even without any reduction in calories. However, if you don't make an effort to eat the right foods, and lower your calorie intake, you're not going to get the best results, at least in terms of losing weight.

Which tea for weight loss should you use?

There are a number of teas used by dieters, and they are all from China! Green tea for weight loss is one that is very well known. It has a small amount of caffeine, but a lot less than regular tea. This is due to the way the different teas are processed. Green tea contains the antioxidant EGCG, which increases your metabolism by up to 4%, helps suppress the appetite, and helps regulate blood sugar levels, which means less bingeing and snacking.

Green tea itself comes in a number of types, including oolong sencha, and white tea. Each has distinct properties, and oolong is a common ingredient in tea for weight loss formulae.

Oolong tea (also known as wuyi tea) is green tea that goes through a rather complicated system of processing (all natural, not chemical processing) to arrive at its' finished product. Oolong tea has many health benefits, some of which are significant for weight loss. It helps with cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels, digestion, burning fat, as well as improving the elimination of excess fat that you eat through your stools. Those with eczema and psoriasis have also benefited from drinking oolong tea.

Sencha tea is a type of green tea from Japan. Unlike regular green tea, sencha is not made from leaves that have been ground. It is also steamed instead of being pan-fired during the initial processing stage. In China, green tea is pan-fired to prevent the leaves from oxidizing. This gives sencha a more grassy, vegetal flavor.

When you use sencha tea for weight loss, you get all the same benefits of green tea, as well as very high levels of the antioxidant catechin. This makes it ideal for those who are also concerned about aging.

Another type of tea for weight loss is Puerh. This is also a type of green tea, and one that is highly revered in China - to the point that it is used by some as an investment. This capacity is due to the fact that, if prepared properly, and taken care of at the right humidity and temperature, the taste of puerh tea actually improves with age. It can be kept for decades in the right conditions, and a subtle fermentation process occurs during this time. In many ways it is akin to a fine wine.

Puerh tea tends to be used in tea for weight loss formulas rather than on its own. That may be because it is more expensive than other types of green tea, or because studies in regard to puerh and weight loss haven't been done specifically. The studies tend to be done on regular green tea.

But puerh is still a very valuable tea, prized for its' taste and health benefits. It is believed to help invigorate the spleen, aid digestion, increase circulation, and is known to help lower cholesterol levels. The Chinese believe it also counteracts the effects of alcohol. In terms of weight loss, it really helps with fat metabolism.

When choosing a tea for weight loss, you are faced with the decision to go with one individual type, or a combination of different green teas. If tradition is anything to go by, the latter may be the most effective. In Chinese herbal traditions, herbs were usually given in formulas for a more synergistic effect. And by going for a tea for weight loss combination, you get the benefits of each type of tea. The differences are subtle, but real.