Integrative medicine guru Dr. Andrew Weil has teamed with ITO EN to launch a line of teas called Dr. Andrew Weil for Tea.

As part of an overall approach to wellness, Dr. Weil believes in teas' benefits. He's also picky about what he lends his name to. The Harvard-trained physician is the founder and director of the Program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona, where he is also a clinical professor of medicine.

So far, only three products are available locally – a selection of the canned brewed teas. Whole Foods Market carries the gyokuro, which is a shade-grown green tea; Darjeeling, which is a black tea; and turmeric, which, strictly speaking, isn't a tea at all.

Both green and black teas contain a number of beneficial compounds, such as flavonoids and saponins. Each of the two has round, pure flavor, and you can tell they've been properly brewed because the tannins don't overwhelm. The turmeric tastes clean and earthy. Curcumin, turmeric's main active component, is a powerful antioxidant.

Dr. Weil adds at least 100 percent of the daily value for vitamin C to each 8.2-ounce serving, and the cans carry a freshness date. They're $1.99 each. Besides Whole Foods, you can find them at Healthy Approach in Colleyville, and they're scheduled to be in select Target stores.

To see the full line of loose and bagged teas as well as the canned teas, visit www.itoen.com/weil.

Kim Pierce