A cup of tea can help the body recover from over-indulgent holidays. Provided to China Daily

Hong Kong

A New Year means renewed resolutions to turn over a new leaf. While the holidays are always a fun time with friends and family, it is also a great excuse for over-indulging. Christmas turkey, puddings, mulled wine and champagne eventually take their toll, particularly under January's cold light of scrutiny.

Start your new year's resolution to be trim and slim with a tried and tested remedy: tea.

Long known for its restorative powers, tea is a staple in Traditional Chinese Medicine. And, with such a myriad of tea shops in Hong Kong, getting healthy is just a sip away.

Since its origins as a tea house in the 1960s, Wing Wah has been producing fine tea and local delicacies that capture the nostalgia of a Hong Kong past. Its latest venture was opening Tasting Hong Kong to demonstrate tea-making and other culinary arts in an informal, interactive environment.

Eliza Woo, promotion manager with Tasting Hong Kong, believes that drinking pu'er and tie guanyin (iron buddha) tea is excellent for restoring balance to the system.

"Pu'er and tie guanyin are highly recommended as effective detox solutions for those over-indulging on food and drink during the holidays," says Woo. "Due to their fermentation process, the tea leaves contain a large amount of nutrients that help the body release fat. In addition, they also help to lower blood pressure."

Tea aficionado Thomas Lee founded Fook Ming Tong in 1987 to offer premium tea that has carefully monitored quality control and well-designed packaging. Fook Ming Tong uses low temperature ventilated cabinets to keep tea fresh and fragrant for longer periods of time.

Ann Sit, brand manager with Fook Ming Tong, suggests Anxi Crown Grade Tie Guanyin, Yunnan Aged Pu'er and Shifeng Pre-Qingming Longjing to help combat excesses.

"Tie guanyin is good for digestion and fat decomposition," Sit says. "Pu'er can help reduce the absorption of oil, and if you drink it after eating, it can reduce the feeling of fullness as well as decrease cholesterol. Longjing (dragon well) is rich in vitamin C and amino acids, which enhances your resistance to diseases."

Leo Kwan's passion for the beverage led to the launch of MingCha in 1998. Kwan wanted to revitalize the industry with a friendly, contemporary and sexy approach to fine tea. In MingCha's flagship shop in Taikoo, there is a wide selection of smartly packaged tea and tea ware, as well as a tea bar to show visitors how to coax the best out of each leaf.

For hangovers, MingCha's director Vivian Mak suggests MingCha Wuyi Supreme Ginger Tea with ginger and sugar.

"Amino acids in tea can help the liver break down alcohol," says Mak. "The ginger enhances blood circulation and stimulates perspiration to remove toxins, while the sugar helps to burn the alcohol faster."