A study conducted by scientists from the University of Georgia found that certain types of tea may be useful in the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The study results were published in the journal Food and Environmental Virology.
During the experiment, it was revealed that black tea, ginger with raspberries, mint Eucalyptus, mint mixture and green tea can reduce the number of active viral particles in saliva by 99.9%. However, scientists do not recommend using tea as the only remedy against coronavirus, since the virus can also multiply in the nasal cavity. However, tea may be a means of preventing severe forms of COVID-19.
According to scientists, teas inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. This is important for reducing pathological effects as the virus infects cells and multiplies inside the mouth, passing through the oropharynx before reaching the lungs.
Teas that have been shown to significantly reduce virus levels in saliva include: ginger and raspberry , peppermint eucalyptus, peppermint blend, green tea and black tea. All five teas reduced the amount of virus in the mouth by at least 96 percent in 10 seconds, with black tea showing the strongest effect at 99.9 percent. In addition, all five varieties reduced the amount of virus by 99.9 percent within 10 seconds of rinsing.