Drinking a bit more black tea, not just green tea, might also offer health benefits, study suggests

A cup of black tea with a spoon and tea leaves. A large study of tea drinkers in Britain, where black tea is popular, has found that people who reported drinking two or more cups a day appeared to gain a modest benefit: a 9% to 13% lower risk of death from any cause. (Alastair Grant / AP)

People who drink black tea might be a little more likely to live longer than those who don’t, according to a large, new study.

Tea contains substances known to reduce inflammation. Past studies in China and Japan, where green tea is popular, suggested health benefits. The new study, though not definitive, suggests the same for black tea — the United Kingdom’s favorite drink.