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The benefits of drinking green tea have now gone beyond just cancer and heart disease, for boffins have found that a component in it may also help keep HIV at bay.

A team of American and British researchers found that the component, called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), helps stop HIV from binding to immune system cells by beating the virus to the cells, thus leaving it no room to take hold.

"Our research shows that drinking green tea could reduce the risk of becoming infected by HIV, and could also slow down the spread of HIV," the BBC quoted researcher Professor Mike Williamson, of the University of Sheffield, as saying.

However, the boffins warn that the research is still at a very nascent stage.

"It is not a cure, and nor is it a safe way to avoid infection, however, we suggest that it should be used in combination with conventional medicines to improve quality of life for those infected.

"Future research is also currently under way in order to determine how much effect can be expected from different amounts of tea," he added.

Keith Alcorn, senior editor of the Aidsmap web service, warned that there was still a long way to go before it was determined that green tea could be ‘relied upon’.

"This study only looks at the ability of a chemical in green tea to block HIV binding to human CD4 immune cells in the test tube.

"Many substances shown to prevent HIV infection in the test tube turn out to have little or no effect in real life, so I think there's a long way to go before anyone should rely on green tea to protect against HIV infection," he said.

Lisa Power, head of policy at the HIV charity, Terrence Higgins Trust also insisted that people should not think that green tea is an adequate substitute for medication and prevention techniques such as condoms.

"Condoms keep HIV at bay. Anything that boosts your immune system is beneficial for people with HIV, but green tea can't be a substitute for proper medication and prevention techniques," she said.

The study appears in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.