Unlike most of the PBN reviewers who read The Ultimate Tea Diet by Mark Ukra, I’ve never been a tea drinker. I’ve tried to be - especially iced tea, that quintessential summertime drink - but I’ve never acquired a taste for tea. I keep a box of mint tea in the pantry for when I’m not feeling well and want a soothing, hot beverage. I think I’ve had the same box for two years.

But after reading this first set of reviews, I actually dug out that box of tea. So it’s plain old Bigelow herbal tea - not what Dr. Tea advocates - but it’s a step in the right direction.

And that’s the gist of the book: “a gradual change in one’s eating and exercising habits.” As this blogger described it: “So often, we quit and change things cold turkey and then have a hard time sticking to them. With a gradual change, you slowly build something into your daily life, so that by the time you’ve totally taken the idea on, it’s old hat. A part of you, so to speak.” In this sense, it’s easy to integrate the tenets of the book into your daily life: “The diet is simple and straightforward. Drink all the tea you can drink each day, and eat a sensible diet. The more tea you consume, the more it will help you…” Or, as another blogger simply and humorously put it: “Essentially, the idea of The Ultimate Tea Diet is to consume tea all day and night. Drink it hot. Drink it cold. Drink green tea. Drink black tea. Drink cheap tea. Drink expensive tea. It matters not. Just drink the hell out of tea.”

But what kind of tea should you drink? If my Bigelow herbal tea isn’t the right stuff, what is? “…ANY tea - green, black and white teas - as long as the tea comes from one plant - the Camellia Sinenis plant. Herbal teas that do not contain leaves from this plant are called tisanes.”

What’s really amazing though is the variety of teas that are available. Dr. Tea has created many himself, including the famed Candy Bar Black Tea. “Other flavors of tea include Peach Pie, Pineapple Coconut, Strawberry Pie, and Black Apple. Apparently, those who crave french fries may be satisfied with Tai Ping Green Tea, and BBQ lovers should try Lapsang Souchong Black Tea.” There really is a kind of tea for everyone. “And if you’re new to the idea of tea? There’s even a quiz as to what type of tea would best suit you.”

The Ultimate Tea Diet also contains dozens of recipes - for actual food - that incorporate tea. How about “Oven-roasted tea tomatoes, anyone? Tea Crab Salad in Endive Leaves?” Somewhat less adventurous, but still effective, is using tea as an ingredient in rubs for meat: “I created rubs for both pork and chicken on a couple different nights and it was darn tasty! I had never even considered using tea to cook with in that way, and I’m glad to have been introduced to a new cooking method.”

What does tea really do for you? One of our bloggers, a scientist by training, was truly impressed: “The health benefits are amazing, and the twelve-page list of citations is convincing. Dr. Tea says he could list many more studies; I believe him.” Specifically, “Caffeine, L-theanine and EGCG are the main components linked to tea’s weight loss properties.” But the latter two are linked to other health benefits as well. EGCG is “a chemical compound that cleanses the blood of additional triglycerides before they’re deposited into the fat tissues…” and L-theanine “naturally relieves stress, anxiety and tension, and activates neurotransmitters in your brain to promote a state of calm relaxation.”

Does it work? Did any of our bloggers lose weight?

One blogger, who was already a devoted tea fan, joked that: “I already have a bunch of tea, and I already have a big butt! Why not let one take care of the other?” But on a more serious note, she enthused: “The plan is complimentary to other weight loss plans, which is nice. I’m starting back to Weight Watchers next week, and by adding tea and tea recipes to my plan the book claims I can enhance my weight loss results.”

Another lifelong tea drinker stated: “By following his direction to drink as much tea as you can with and between meals, you soon find yourself so full you have no desire to snack. Whether this is because of the chemicals in the tea working as an appetite suppressant as he claims, or just because of the sheer volume I have no idea. What I do know is that when I am filling up on tea I’m not grazing or drinking sodas, and that alone made a difference…Even though I didn’t get to really start the tea plan until after Christmas due to the holiday rush, I have been on it a week now and have lost 4lbs.”

In fact, trading soda for tea seemed to be a common theme among the reviewers. Another blogger commented, “I’ve lost two pounds in the last week and that is with only adding a few cups of tea in place of a three of my usual glasses of Wild Cherry Pepsi…” She went on to invite others to join her in her pursuits: “If anyone decides to try The Ultimate Tea Diet please let me know. We can have fun with this together and hold each other accountable.”

Although coffee proves to be a harder habit to break: “If you’re like me…you’ll find the book interesting and compelling. You’ll briefly consider detoxing your body with gallons of tea. You’ll go as far as making a tray of tea ice cubes. And then you’ll brew up an extra dark pot of shade grown, certified organic, fair trade coffee,” that’s why the book is focused on making small changes. One cup at a time.

More reviews of The Ultimate Tea Diet are coming up!

1/23 - Ebony Mommy
1/24 - Modern Mamma Marvels
1/25 - Lawyer Mama
1/28 - Cool Stuff con Queso, The Silent I Speaks
1/29 - Snarky Momma
1/30 - Radioactive Girl
1/31 - Mayberry Mom
2/1 - Get in the Car, Mother Bumper
2/4 - Mummy’s Product Reviews, Taste Like Crazy
2/6 - Round-Up Review on PBN