A growing body of research suggests that drinking hot tea has numerous health benefits. From reduced risk of heart disease, to improving spatial cognition and mental acuity, tea is a liquid powerhouse for your health.

Most recently, a study published in the International Journal of Cancer revealed that hot tea can lower your risk of kidney cancer by as much as 15 percent. Men's Health magazine suggest trying pu-erh tea, a lesser known kind that is more effective at preventing DNA damage than black or green tea.

Whatever variety of tea you choose, there's a good chance you'll be doing your body a great favor by drinking it. And, as former British Prime Minister William E. Gladstone once said, tea is the perfect drink. In his words, "If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you."