' you have to gargle with tea'

[Taro Toporific]

PREVENTION IN A TEAPOT?
National hygiene begins in the classroom
The Japan Times: June 5, 2003
I saw the health handouts my kids bring home from school. These handouts urge students to go to bed early, exercise regularly and wash their hands frequently. They also urge kids to gargle as soon as they get home.
Gargle? That struck me as just plain silly, although I know many Japanese believe gargling prevents colds...
Tadakatasu Shimamura, a professor of microbiology at Showa University School of Medicine, in Tokyo.
"It's a common belief in Japan that gargling prevents colds," he confirmed, "but the truth is that gargling with plain water does nothing but wash out the throat."

"To prevent infection, you have to gargle with tea."

[kotatsuneko]

yep, i get this every time i come home from work.. waste of good tea imho, but hey, only caught one cold since oct.. shame its this sunny week, doh!