Recent Study: Black and Green Tea Can Inactivate COVID-19 Omicron Subvariants

Japanese researchers set out to explore various foods and ingredients that may inactivate the strain of SARS-CoV-2 responsible for COVID-19.

Research has found that tea polyphenols in tea can inactivate various Omicron subvariants. Shutterstock

As the virus that causes COVID-19 mutates over time, variants and subvariants of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus emerge. A recent study conducted in Japan found that green tea (Japanese sencha), matcha, and black tea can effectively inactivate certain Omicron subvariants. In addition, saliva produced after consuming candy containing green tea or black tea exhibited virus-inactivating properties in the laboratory, rendering the virus less contagious.

The virus that causes COVID-19 primarily spreads through the saliva of infected individuals, including asymptomatic carriers. Saliva containing the virus is released when talking, sneezing, or coughing, forming droplets and aerosols that disperse into the air.