Being the die-hard Brits that we are, tea is obviously a staple part of our diet.

So when we heard about a 30 second hack that could unlock all kinds of health benefits in our favourite cuppa, we knew we had to pass the knowledge on (we’re nice like that).

The finding comes courtesy of Dr. Quan Voung, an Australian scientist at the University of Newcastle whose speciality subject is “adding value” to natural products, ABC reports.

Voung found the simple act of microwaving a mug of black or green tea was enough to activate 80% of the theanine, polyphenol and caffeine compounds found within tea, making the microwaved mug healthier than one made simply from boiled water.

Theanine has been shown to relieve stress while polyphenols, which are an antioxidant, can help reduce inflammation and keep blood pressure and blood sugar levels constant.

How to unlock the hidden health benefits of a cup of tea