Victoria Beckham, Madonna and Joss Stone are among the many celebrities who are said to be staying slim through drinking Pu’er Tea, an ancient Chinese brew which is thought to raise the body’s metabolism so that it burns more calories with minimal exercise.

With its celeb status, it is the Chinese Pu’er (or Pu’erh) tea that has received the most attention when it comes to weight loss. Others include green tea, ‘hoodia’ and various tea blends, such as ‘Figuro’ by Birt&Tang, which combines Pu’er with other Chinese herbs such as Cassia tora, Water Lily leaf, cinnamon and cloves (herbs which have apparently been used in China for centuries to warm the stomach, stimulate digestion, and eliminate retained fluids and stagnant chi energy).

Another slimming tea on the market, which is based on the principles of Ayurveda, is ‘Women’s Fitness Tea’ by Yogi Teas. This has been formulated with ingredients including rosemary, nettle, rooibos and green mate, the South American plant and natural energiser that, it is claimed, promotes a healthy metabolism.

‘I wasn’t expecting any miracles from a simple tea, but I noticed the effects within a month after drinking it ceremoniously three-times-a-day with just a normal, balanced diet and the odd naughty treat,’ she explains. ‘I lost 10lbs in a month and went from a size 16 to a 14. Five months down the line, I’m very content with my curvy size 12 frame, and although I know that my new healthy living lifestyle has contributed to my weight loss greatly, I have no doubt that Pu’er has been instrumental in my successful long-standing fight against the flab.’

If you do not think you can lose weight with tea then drink it for the health benefits and to reduce cholesterol and aid digestion. They also contain high amounts of antioxidants and so are healthy from that perspective.

Interested in trying these teas?

Dragonfly Organic Pu-er or green teas available from: www.dragonflyteas.com

Slender Pu’erh tea, £8.99 per box available from: www.lifes2good.co.uk

Women’s Fitness £1.89 per box available from health food stores, Holland & Barrett or www.teaworld.co.uk

Birt & Tang Figuro, £1.99 per box, available from Sainsbury’s, health food shops or www.birtandtang.co.uk