Tea Recipes

3 Energy drink recipes with tea

November 15, 2022

Because it has a low to moderate quantity of caffeine, tea might provide you with the boost of energy you require when you are feeling lethargic. Additionally, in comparison to other caffeinated beverages such as coffee and energy drinks, tea is a more beneficial option to consume. People who drink caffeinated tea often report that its effects on their energy levels are different from those of other caffeinated beverages. Instead of the high and subsequent crash that is typically associated with energy-boosting beverages, people who drink caffeinated tea often experience a more sustained energizing effect. This is due, in part, to a special chemical called l-theanine, which is found in tea and is responsible for promoting calmness, relaxation, and concentration. People who are attempting to abstain from caffeine completely may find that the constituents in herbal teas, such as peppermint and ginger, nonetheless provide them with the same stimulating and invigorating effects. You can get a surge of energy from tea, but without the negative consequences that energy drinks might have on your body in the long run. Because tea includes theanine, in addition to naturally invigorating you, the burst of energy you get from the caffeine will be more sustained and less jolting. We’re well aware that by now, you understand the significance of tea when it comes to energy but that’s not what this post is about, it’s about three unique energy drink recipes made with tea to give you that extra boost and also make your day a little bit more interesting.

Peach and Ginger Smoothie

Instead of using water as a base for this smoothie, we decided on a peach green tea.

Why use Green Tea? Well, for starters, it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial benefits. Also, the fact that you can increase energy levels, boost concentration, and even inceease fat burning with green tea, it’s a no brainer given the added taste and health benefits!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup brewed peach green tea cooled
1 cup silk almond milk
1 inch ginger knob peeled and grated
3-4 fresh mint leaves
1/2 lemon juice only
2-3 drops vanilla extract

Recipe

Put all of the ingredients into the blender, and then process them until you get a beverage that is smooth and creamy.
Pour the mixture into glass bottles with lids, and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Cherry Lime Energy Drink

This jitter-free energy drink will leave you feeling naturally energized and revitalized. This beverage is stimulating without causing jitters because it is made with cherry rose sencha green tea and does not contain any added sugar. This energy drink consists of only four basic components and has none that are manufactured in a lab.

Cherries with a tart flavor are loaded with vitamin C, which helps the immune system, as well as antioxidants, which aid in the fight against oxidative stress. Cherry polyphenols aid in the maintenance of healthy cells as well as a healthy anti-inflammatory response, making them an excellent choice for promoting muscle recovery following an intense workout.

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsweetened tart cherry juice
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp Cherry Rose Sencha Green Tea
1/2 cup sparkling water
Ice
Lime wheel for garnish
Fresh mint for garnish

Recipe

To make a refreshing cocktail, fill a tall glass with tart cherry juice, lime juice, and cherry rose sencha green tea.
To dissolve the green tea, stir it. Ice the glass, then fill it with sparkling water, squeeze in some lime juice, and garnish with some fresh mint.

Lime and honey energy drink

A recipe for a revitalizing energy drink with lemon that is high in caffeine and will give you a surge of energy when you don’t feel like drinking coffee. This recipe for a homemade energy drink contains roughly 150 less calories and less than half the sugar of store-bought energy drinks, so it’s a better option for those watching their calorie and sugar intake. The addition of chopped mint to the rim of the glass gives it an extra-refreshing flavor. The leaves of a South American tree are used to make the beverage known as yerba mate tea, which is similar to tea. You can find it in the natural foods area of large supermarkets or in places that specialize in natural foods, along with other types of tea.

Ingredients

Yerba Mate loose leaf tea
Lemon juice
Honey
Fresh Mint
Iced Cubes

Recipe

Place water that is boiling in a measuring cup that can withstand the heat. After adding the yerba mate tea, let the mixture steep for five minutes.
Filter out the tea and discard the loose leaves once you have squeezed any excess liquid out of them into the cup.
Sweetener and lemon juice should be stirred in at this point. After adding six ice cubes, give the drink a good swirl until the ice has melted and it has reached the desired temperature.
If you’d like, you can moisten the edge of your serving glass and then coat it with chopped mint. Pour the drink into the glass after additional ice has been added.

We hope these recipes give you an energy boost and you fall in love with our collection of loose leaf tea. Let us know your favorite in the comments below!

0 Comments

Tea Recipes

3 Simple and Delicious Matcha Recipes You’ll Make Over And Over Again!

November 12, 2022

Matcha is a powder that is manufactured from specially grown green tea and is prepared using a traditional Japanese tea-making technique that dates back to the 12th century. In China and Japan, the process of preparing and drinking matcha, as well as serving and drinking it, is considered ceremonial, and the drink itself has gained popularity all over the world. Matcha has been compared to the protein powder used in the world of tea: Smoothies, baked goods, yogurt, and just about anything else you can think of are all wonderful candidates for its incorporation. You’ve probably heard of matcha, a sort of green tea that is pounded into a fine powder and has a flavor described as having hints of earth, spinach, and umami. You are aware that it is said to be beneficial to your health: It is strong in antioxidants, just like traditional green tea (that is, the leaves-in-a-bag type), but because it is a powder, you wind up swallowing the full leaf, and as a result, more nutrients—at least, that is what many people speculate. But what in the world are you supposed to do with it? Matcha is traditionally consumed by adding water that has been brought to a boil and then whisking the mixture with a bamboo whisk until it becomes frothy. However, that is only the beginning of things to come. Matcha has been compared to the protein powder used in the world of tea: Smoothies, baked goods, yogurt, and just about anything else you can think of are all wonderful candidates for its incorporation. In this collection of recipes, we have included a few of our favorite ways to prepare food with matcha, we hope you enjoy making these recipes as much as we do!

Matcha White Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients:

Matcha Powder
1 cup of heavy cream
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
4 oz white chocolate

Recipe:

Sift matcha powder into a double boiler and whisk in 1 tablespoon heavy cream. Add white chocolate and 3 more tablespoons cream. Melt chocolate over medium-low heat, stirring. Remove from heat and cool, stirring periodically, for 15 minutes.
Beat remaining heavy cream and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Fold the leftover whipped cream into the white chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate 4 small dishes for 2 hours.
Serve fresh, add whipped cream, white chocolate shavings, or berries.

Matcha Coated Almonds

Ingredients:

½ cup of almonds
60g dark chocolate
1 tbsp matcha powder

Recipe:

Line a baking tray with baking paper. Set aside.
You can melt the dark chocolate in the microwave or in a double boiler. If you like, you can temper the chocolate.
After adding almonds to chocolate that has been melted, give the mixture a good swirl so that the almonds are evenly coated in chocolate.
Spread the almonds out on the prepared baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Take special care to maintain the separation of one component from the others.
If you are using tempered chocolate, you should let the chocolate set at room temperature. If you are using chocolate that has not been tempered, allow it to harden in the refrigerator.
When the chocolate has cooled and hardened, place the almonds in a container that has a lid and sprinkle the matcha powder on top. Put the lid back on the jar and shake it vigorously until each almond is covered in matcha.
Voila, you have a perfectly healthy snack filled with matcha goodness.

Matcha Chia Pudding

Ingredients:

Chia Seeds
Oat/Almond milk
Matcha powder
Sweetener
Vanilla extract

Recipe:

In a dish, combine the chia seeds and the non-dairy milk, making sure to break up any clusters of chia seeds that may have formed. In a second bowl, whisk together the matcha powder and the warm water, and mix until smooth.
After thoroughly combining the matcha mixture, maple syrup, and vanilla with the chia seed mixture, place the mixture in the refrigerator to chill for at least two and a half to four hours, or for as long as overnight.
When you are ready to have your matcha chia seed pudding, I highly recommend garnishing it with some of your favorite fresh fruit, granola, almonds, or a dollop of non-dairy yogurt. Alternatively, you could also try serving it with a spoonful of chia seed pudding.

We have curated some of our favorite recipes with matcha, which are not only healthy but also really simple and easy to make. We’re hoping you get to try them and fall in love as much as we did! Let us know your favorite in the comments below and share it with a loved one. Give them a push to try a healthy but really yummy match recipe…maybe even this weekend?!

0 Comments

Tea Guides Tea Recipes Types of Tea

3 Teas to Enjoy this Fall

November 9, 2022

Even for people who consider themselves to be tea drinkers all year round and sachet connoisseurs, there is something indisputably special about sipping from a steaming mug during the fall and winter months. It’s possible that the evident connection between cold weather and hot drinks is what causes tea to work its magic on us. In addition to this, one of our favorite things about this time of year is the abundance of delicious tins with flavors that are appropriate for the season. The possibilities range from unique interpretations on some of our most beloved holiday sweets to spices and seasonings that perfectly encapsulate the essence of autumn.

It’s the most delightful time of the year to be merry and bright! Not the winter holidays; it’s autumn!

The start of cooler weather is something that we here at The Tea Kitchen couldn’t be happier about. Even while we enjoy passing the warm summer days by the lake or on our front porch with a glass of iced tea in hand, there is nothing quite like wrapping yourself in a cozy sweater and wrapping your hands around a mug of your favorite fall-flavored tea as the temperature begins to drop. A cup of a hot drink is an essential accessory for cold weather attire, such as sweaters, blankets, and rainy days. To get the most out of a cup of tea, you should drink it in the fall. It’s time to switch things up from your usual chamomile and honey infusion and find a new fall-flavored tea that quickly becomes your go-to beverage. We have compiled a list of the most unique tastes of tea to enjoy during the fall season.

Apple Spice Black Tea

Our Apple spice black tea delightfully fresh and sweet, with hints of lovely cinnamon spice. Cinnamon and red wine can be used to create your own Gluwein at home. Apple Cinnamon is a soothing blend of black loose leaf tea that is reminiscent of the autumn season in New England. This tea was made to honor the beauty and flavors of fall, and if you prefer sipping on a glass of warm apple cider, you’re going to absolutely adore this tea. This particular tea is best enjoyed on days and nights that are cool, wet, and cloudy. Apple Cinnamon herbal tea is perfect for cinnamon enthusiasts since it satisfies all of their cravings: double apples, double cinnamon, a touch of rooibos, and a sprinkling of marigold flowers. This tea has a flavor that is truly traditional for the fall season.

Holiday Fruit & Spice Blend

Our Holiday Fruit & Spice Blend is the perfect tea for this holiday season. A great cup of tea is the perfect way to warm up on a chilly day or night, and it also has the added benefit of soothing. A fan favorite throughout the colder months, our Holiday Fruit & Spice Blend is the ideal beverage to share with your loved ones over the holiday season. This energizing tea is a mixture of select black tea leaves from India, chunks of sweet orange, small bits of tart cranberries, small bits of spicy ginger, and warming cinnamon sticks. It is a concoction that is sure to wake you up. Our Holiday Fruit & Spice Blend is going to become one of your favorites very fast because of the careful blending that went into it.

Cinnamon Orange Spice

The South Indian black tea, orange peels, cinnamon, and cloves that go into our Cinnamon Orange Spice Tea help give it its signature flavor. This tea’s popularity as a hot beverage as well as an iced beverage can be attributed in part to its enticing aroma, which is accompanied with a pleasant taste that is reminiscent of orange and spices. Even the chilliest winter night can be made more bearable with a cup of this tea, as well as any tropical evening! The zesty and invigorating Cinnamon Orange Spice tea is perfect for a warming pick-me-up first thing in the morning or as an afternoon pick-me-upper.

We are ardent believers that tea may be enjoyed throughout the whole year, from calming hot teas in the depths of winter to reviving iced teas in the middle of summer and any season in between. There is, however, nothing that quite hits the spot like a good cup of tea, particularly during the beginning of fall when the temps begin to turn and the leaves change color. We wish you the best of luck in savoring these flavors of autumn while also taking pleasure in the changing of the seasons and everything that October has to offer.

0 Comments

Types of Tea

Best (Non Chamomile) Sleepy Time Teas

November 8, 2022

A better night’s sleep and high-quality sleep have been linked to drinking tea before bed. Given how many Americans experience sleep problems like insomnia, this is fairly important. Additionally, when you spend too much time on screens and don’t get enough exercise, sleep problems might get worse. A warm cup of tea, particularly at the end of a hard day, is said to help soothe the mind, according to some experts. In actuality, the deliberate process of making a cup of tea can also promote relaxation. There is something comforting about having a nice cup of tea before you wind down from the day and get ready for the next. It is impossible to put into words the warmth, affection, and comfort you have after brewing some tea before bed. With the modern world’s distractions, social media, and a hectic lifestyle, we are aware of how difficult it may be to fall asleep, but happily, we have a savior—or rather, a number of saviors. Let’s look at some teas that help you fall asleep; no, chamomile tea is not one of them.

Lavender Earl Grey

The lavender flower’s buds are steeped in water to make lavender tea, which results in a brilliant beverage with a distinctive flavor and aroma. In addition to being frequently consumed as a calming bedtime tea, a recent study suggests that lavender may also help with relaxation and improve the quality of sleep. For instance, a tiny study discovered that women who drank 1 cup (237 mL) of lavender tea every day for 2 weeks after giving birth felt less worn out than a control group. Aromatherapy with lavender is frequently thought to have hypnotic effects, calm moods, and increase mothers’ pleasant feelings for their infants. Lavender earl grey tea effectively reduced the signs of anxiety and despair in older persons, which could lead to insomnia. Another study on 79 college students who complained of having trouble sleeping found that maintaining good sleep hygiene and inhaling lavender enhanced sleep quality.

Evening Comfort

Everybody must benefit from some downtime and relaxation at night! Why not start the kettle and unwind with this special concoction of hand-picked peppermint leaves, chunks of ginger, and lemon peel? After a long day, this herbal nighttime tea can help you relax and regain focus. This herbal blend of mint is naturally caffeine-free and features prominent ginger and lemon aromas. Ideal for cuddling up with on a chilly night. Because it does not contain caffeine, it puts you in a state of relaxation in the first sip and allows you to enjoy some me-time while helping you prepare for an intense day ahead the next morning. Add some evening comfort to your evening, or even your day.

Purifying Tulsi

Ayurvedic Purifying Tulsi Herbal Tea is made of Holy Basil, spearmint, rosehips, lemon myrtle, and linden blossoms. It helps in cleansing your mind and spirit as well as improving the body’s immune system, due to its rich antioxidant and adaptogenic properties. Apart from the fact that it promotes sleep and gives you an utter sense of relaxation, there are numerous health benefits it comes with. The antioxidants in tulsi tea shield cells from the harm done by free radicals, which promote the development and spread of numerous diseases. The adaptogens in this herbal brew, also known as holy basil tea, act as potent anti-stress medications to shield your body from a variety of health issues.

For many people, having tea at night has become a ritual. It can be quite calming and thoughtful to boil the water, steep the tea, and wait for it to be ready to consume. It makes preparing the tea as calming as drinking it because it helps with relaxing both your mind and body after a hectic day. Ultimately, adding a little bit of tea to your bedtime routine could be helpful to both your sleep and overall health. Herbal teas, like the ones mentioned in this post, are less likely to wake you up in the middle of the night than caffeine-containing teas, and they also won’t keep you up as late. All of these teas have numerous health benefits and if you are someone like us, who needs better sleep, we highly recommend trying some of our other herbal loose leaf tea.

0 Comments

Tea Health Benefits

5 Top Health Benefits of Oolong Tea

June 21, 2022

Oolong tea has been enjoyed for centuries — rising to popularity in the Eastern world during the Tang dynasty. It’s been commonly used as a delicious daily drink and enjoyed for its lighter, floral taste. Tea enthusiasts can also enjoy various health benefits with regular consumption, making this tea one of the top blends to reach for in your tea cabinet. Below, we’re covering what oolong tea is, the tastes of oolong tea, and the benefits that you can enjoy in every cup.

What is oolong tea made of?

Oolong tea is brewed from the leaves and buds of the Camellia Sinensis plant, placing it in the same family as black and green tea blends. While they are related, oolong has a unique taste and mouthfeel compared to its more bold, herbaceous siblings. You can expect a lighter, fruity taste and a more rich sipping experience with oolong. This is due to the duration of fermentation time compared to black and green teas. It’s allowed to gain some oxidation in the fermentation process, but not so much that it would place it in the same taste category as a black tea blend.

Is oolong tea healthy for you?

Oolong tea is healthy for you and is safe to consume daily as part of your routine. There are many health benefits that tea drinkers can enjoy with every cup of oolong tea. We’ve listed them below:

1. Lower blood sugar levels

Oolong tea works actively to lower blood sugar levels, making it an ideal drink of choice for those who struggle with diabetes or hypoglycemia. A Japanese study has found that drinking oolong tea resulted in 30% lower blood sugar levels for drinkers across the board. Caffeine, also found in oolong, has been positively correlated with lower sugar levels. Regularly drinking oolong tea can promote pancreatic health, proper function, and regulation, making this a strong choice of tea for those to use preventatively to promote total body wellness.

2. Boost antioxidant levels

Antioxidants help your body minimize the risk of cancer and other diseases. Oolong tea offers your body a powerful boost, giving higher doses of antioxidants than its related black or green tea blends. They also work more effectively in fighting mutations and free radicals that could potentially affect your body’s proper function. Oolong teas are great if you’re looking to boost your immune system and there are many flu-fighting teas used preventatively by many during the peak of flu season.

3. Support digestion and gut health

Oolong tea has been frequently associated with gut health and support. Frequently drinking oolong after heavy or rich meals can help your body metabolize the food more effectively and lower the risk of bloating or digestive upset. It also is a potent alkalizer in your gut, which can assist those who struggle with acid reflux or GERD. Oolong is a popular tea to enjoy with your meal, as the tastes are very mild and fruity. It goes with far more palettes and flavor profiles than its other black or green tea relatives, featuring a less bitter taste and a more palatable flavor and feel.

4. Weight loss support

Drinking oolong tea regularly can help support your weight loss journey. This is due to the combination of polyphenols and caffeine, which promote a faster-operating speed for your metabolism and food breakdown in the gut. You can enjoy a higher caloric burn rate when you regularly drink oolong tea. The effects of oolong on your metabolism also continue after you fall asleep, making this a very effective means of weight loss. Caffeine, for example, stops affecting your burn rate once you fall asleep. Green tea can also assist with weight loss, and can be a delicious addition to your favorite oolong blend.

5. Enjoy better sleep and more resiliency

Oolong has been used to support sleep and emotional resiliency. It is often affiliated with relaxation due to its high levels of L-theanine. This acts as a soothing element in the brain and is known for its ability to boost dopamine and serotonin levels. This influences your mood and overall cortisol levels, providing added resiliency to assist you in managing stress and tension.

0 Comments

Tea Health Benefits

5 Benefits of Chamomile Tea You Won’t Want to Miss

March 14, 2022

Chamomile tea is one of the most widely known and loved teas in the world, consumed by thousands for its numerous health benefits and delicious, clean taste. It’s easy to find in grocery stores and farmed in bulk simply to meet high demand. You’re likely wondering: why chamomile tea and what caused it historically to rise to popularity? We’ve got answers, and we also know that you won’t be able to get enough of this light, springy blend. Let’s get into the history, popularity, and wide list of ways that you can use chamomile tea for additional benefits.

History and rise of chamomile tea

There are two main types of chamomile: German chamomile and Roman chamomile, which have an even longer and more diverse history. German chamomile tea was discovered and used widely in Europe and Eastern Asia since ancient times, working as both a drink and medicinal brew depending on the needs of the drinker.

Roman chamomile’s name was handed down from its impact on both Roman and Grecian cultures, coming from the Greek Khami (ground) and melon (apple). This was very appropriate, as this variety of the tea was known for its long stems and bulb-like endpoints that would brew into a delicious drink. It was so popular in ancient cultures, many considered it to be “god-given” and a type of religiously holy herb.

At this point, chamomile has been infused throughout a variety of products in both Western and Eastern cultures, including food, beverages, medications, cosmetics, and more — with good reason. This herb has a delicious, light taste and a variety of health benefits that you can enjoy with each cup.

What does chamomile tea taste like?

If you haven’t gotten to experience the taste of chamomile tea, you can expect an airy, floral taste. This gives way to a honey-sweet aftertaste and smooth finish. This is especially true if you make it hot. If you enjoy iced chamomile, you’ll likely encounter more of an herbaceous tang and deeper flavor depending on the depth of the brew. In either case, both types pair very well with honey, lemon, or ginger, and they are generally sold in standalone brew kits or paired with other soothing herbal blends.

Health benefits of chamomile tea

There are many health benefits that you can enjoy with each cup of chamomile tea, no matter what type is available to you. We do want to note that if you plan on using this tea for medicinal purposes, it is important to speak to a healthcare professional first to determine if this option is correct for your unique health needs.

1. Lower blood pressure

When you regularly drink chamomile tea, it is likely that you’ll experience naturally lower blood pressure. This is due to the presence of flavones, which are a class of antioxidants that are known to indicate your cardiac health levels and influence key health elements, like your cholesterol and blood pressure. If you find yourself constantly stressed or in a chronic state of burnout, chamomile tea can be especially helpful in regulating your circulatory system due to its calming effect.

2. Soothed sore throats

Allergy season is upon us, as well as the variety of spring flus that are going around. If you find yourself dealing with a sore throat from any trigger, this is a great tea blend to reach for. It is naturally anti-inflammatory and especially helpful in managing sore, irritated throats. You can find it at your nearest grocery store, making this an accessible treatment option to enjoy whenever you feel under the weather.

3. Restful and easier sleep

If you find yourself struggling with insomnia, you aren’t alone. Sleep issues affect 70 million of Americans per year according to the Cleveland Clinic, and this number can spike due to extreme stress and burnout like we currently face. Chamomile tea has been used since ancient times to address this issue and does so by its chemical composition that includes apigenin. This is known to influence GABA release and can be just what you need to get you into a deep, restorative sleep.

4. Restored gut health

Chamomile tea is a great herbal tea to reach for to support your natural microbiome and overall gut health. The tea is high in rich prebiotics, which allows your gut to rebuild any part of its damaged or less diverse flora.

5. Lower blood sugar levels

Chamomile tea can be very helpful in lowering your overall blood sugar levels. Recent scientific research showed consistent results spanning a total of eight weeks, and further research is being conducted to examine the extent of the benefit that the tea can bring to those dealing with hyperglycemia or diabetes. It’s also low-calorie, so it’s great to assist you in any sort of weight loss efforts.

We hope this list inspired you to pick up more of this delicious blend on your next store run. We know that you won’t be able to get enough of this drink!

0 Comments

Tea Health Benefits

4 Health Benefits of Passionflower Tea That You Shouldn’t Ignore

March 10, 2022

If you’re looking for a tea that tastes like an exotic summer abroad with pops of vibrant, floral flavor, passionflower tea is the tea for you. This tea is just as delicious and rare-tasting as the name suggests, and is a favorite of millions of tea drinkers around the world. We don’t just love it for the taste — we also can’t get enough of the health benefits that are available with every cup. We know you won’t be able to either, so let’s get into what makes this tea so special.

Where did passionflower tea come from?

Passionflower and its edible uses became popular with teas and tinctures that originated in Aztec culture, as the ancient people used it to help their own with a variety of illnesses and discomforts. They quickly experimented and learned about the wide array of benefits in this deep violet flower, and were able to access it up and down the towns of the Southwestern United States.

In the present day, it’s actually used in medicine in several foreign countries, more specifically in Egypt, Germany, France, and others throughout Europe and the East. There it is recognized as a pharmacological medication due to its potency and wide range of use, where it is used more liberally. In the West, the flower has a more widespread medicinal reputation among natural practitioners and alternative health professionals.

What does passionflower tea taste like?

Passionflower tea is known for its rich, deep, and floral taste, with an intensely sweet aftertaste that fades to a light feel on your tongue. It’s often paired with citrusy flavors in mixed drinks and teas, such as lemonade. These can brighten and amplify its flavor profile, making it more complex and the perfect pairing for your next outdoor dinner party or date night. If you’re looking to deepen this type of flavor in your next batch of tea, passionflower has been known to perform and brew exceptionally well with the cold brew process.

Health benefits of passionflower tea

There are a variety of health benefits that you can enjoy with every cup of passionflower tea. We’ve listed the top four below.

Before we get into this list, we do want to reiterate that if you plan on using the tea for medicinal purposes, it’s best to contact your health professional and work with them to determine if the tea is the right choice for your unique health situation.

1. Fewer symptoms of menopause and hormonal dysregulation

Passionflower tea has been known to trigger the brain to release a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid, otherwise known as GABA. This has been found to have an increasing role in our gut health and elasticity, and also to have a direct effect on hormonal stability, regulation, and health, among other effects. This is a fantastic way to naturally support your body’s ability to regulate itself naturally.

2. Lessened instances of anxiety and depression

It’s been a hard few years. If you’re finding yourself struggling to rest at night, or dealing with instances of anxiety and depression, passionflower tea may be able to help give you a natural aid. The way it works is also centered around the brain’s release of GABA, which is known to slow the rate of transmissions between neurons. This can give you a light sedative effect without causing any sort of harm to your body’s natural rhythms and processes.

3. Enhanced sleep quality and duration

If you’re looking for better sleep and want a change from the regular routine of chamomile blends, passionflower tea can help. Used by the ancient Aztecs for this very purpose, passionflower is powered by phytonutrients, which can have an emotionally and neurologically calming effect on the brain. This, paired with its ability to calm your brain through the use of GABA, can help you sink into a rejuvenating, restful sleep.

4. Preventative wellness benefits for neurological health

Passionflower can also be used in your preventative health journey and is very valuable for its contributions to your neurological health. This beautiful bud works to prevent and mitigate the risk of debilitating neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. It does this through natural compounds in the flower, known as vitexin, apigenin, and chrysin.

We hope that this guide was able to give you additional insight into the benefits that passionflower can provide beyond its delicious, crisp taste and gorgeous appearance on the vine.

0 Comments

Tea Health Benefits

Flu-Fighting Teas to Keep You Healthy This Spring

March 2, 2022

Spring is a time of lush growth and the change of the season. With the beauty that comes in that change, there also comes a plethora of flu and colds that you don’t want to deal with. Tea is a great treat to indulge in that also offers immune-boosting properties that can help your preventative wellness regimen, and keep you healthier through even the most vicious flu seasons. Let’s dive into some of the most delicious flu-fighting teas that you can enjoy, minimizing your risk of sickness.

What does the body need to stay healthy?

When evaluating if your favorite tea will do the trick and keep you well and boost your immune system, it’s important to understand what our body needs to stay healthy during cold and flu season. Most notably, you’ll want to look for options that help your body naturally maintain your levels of vitamin C and D, which can defend against flu viruses. You can also get Vitamin D naturally by getting out in the sunshine, and soaking in those deliciously warm spring days.

Additionally, you can look for teas that offer benefits that promote your total-body health. For example, choosing blends that have a rich antioxidant profile or supportive measures for your other bodily systems can help reduce your body’s strain in that area and redirect its resources to keeping you well. This type of wellness framework is known as a more holistic approach to wellness. Teas can fit very well into this type of routine.

5 flu-fighting teas to enjoy

No one enjoys being sick — and teas are a great way to preserve and protect your natural health and immunity. Below, we’ve listed five top flu-fighting teas that you can enjoy all year long!

1. Peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is delicious, classic, and a great tea to enjoy if you’re wanting to nip an oncoming flu in the bud. Often, viruses come with a variety of unpleasant symptoms that range from your average cold including GI upset and body aches and pains. Peppermint is a great tea that addresses both of these concerns, acting as a muscle relaxant that is gentle on your body and soothing to inflammation anywhere in your muscular system: either the smooth muscles in your GI tract or the body-wide skeletal muscles throughout your aching body. Peppermint can also soothe a sore throat quickly, offering a clean-tasting, comforting wash over your palate and throat.

2. Green tea

If you’re beginning to feel under the weather or want to mitigate the risk of getting sick, reach for your nearest box of green tea. This type of tea has been found to have high concentrations of vitamin C, and is known to be a powerful antiviral against the common cold and flu. More recent studies have also shown promise toward green tea is a natural combatant against certain strains of coronaviruses as well, but more research needs to be done before anything conclusive is found. The tea is also known to be anti-inflammatory and is packed with antioxidants for a powerful immune boost.

3. Black tea

That’s right — something as common as black tea can be a powerful tool against the common bacterial and viral infections during flu season. Flavonoids in black tea have been found to have flu-fighting properties. These types of antioxidants are known to be powerful antimicrobials that are highly effective and bioavailable in the body when ingested in tea form. Black tea is easy to enjoy as well and can be purchased at your local grocery store. For an added antiviral punch, consider blending it with citrus and cinnamon to get the most benefit from every cup.

4. Cinnamon tea

This type of tea is great for helping you to deal with the symptoms that can run rampant with brutal cases of the flu, including sore throats and congestion. When you drink cinnamon tea, you’re also ingesting its antioxidant polyphenols and proanthocyanidins that can reduce inflammation in irritated areas (such as the throat,) and offer temporary pain relief with each sip. It also gives your immune system a temporary boost and can be taken in tandem with other flu-fighting teas such as black tea.

5. Lemonbalm tea

Lemonbalm tea is ideal if you’re struggling with GI upset but still need a symptom-relieving, comforting tea to sip on. The flavor of lemonbalm is very mild, and it still delivers a potent blend of necessary antioxidants and antiviral properties that can help to shorten the length of your sickness. It’s also great to alleviate symptoms of respiratory infection, congestion, sinus pain and inflammation, and chronic coughs. Simply inhaling the steam before each sip can help to bring some instant relief.

We hope that these teas help you to prepare to weather cold and flu season. If you find yourself feeling under the weather, reach for these teas to get some relief. Stay healthy and well!

0 Comments

Tea Guides

Exploring The Cold Brew Process — Boost Your Tea’s Flavor Naturally!

February 21, 2022

Tea is delicious in any form…but cold-brewing your tea can amplify more nuanced flavors and give you a beautiful, full-bodied brew. Cold-brewing is a simple (yet often overlooked) step that you can take to boost your tea’s natural flavor and benefits and can be done with tea tools that you can find around your home. Read on to learn more about the tea cold brew process.

Benefits of cold brew tea

Cold brewing tea is a Japanese-based tradition that has impacted tea enthusiasts around the world today. The purpose of cold brewing is to preserve as much nutritional benefit and taste as possible, creating a crisp, refreshing, and one-of-a-kind beverage as a result.

There are additional practical benefits that you can enjoy with each cup, including a lesser amount of tannins in each brew. This results in a cleaner, fresher taste, and avoids the bitter aftertaste that some teas are known for. If you’re working with caffeinated leaves, you can also expect slightly fewer milligrams of caffeine to make it into your cup — helping you avoid that dreaded mid-afternoon crash.

Types of teas to use for cold brew tea

The tea experience comes down to elements of personal preference, which gives you ample room to experiment with the cold brew process. You can technically enjoy any type of tea cold-brewed, but you may have mixed results depending on its natural strength, taste, and composition. Generally, you’ll want to stay with loose-leaf tea blends for ultimate flavor and feel, but you can also use your favorite bagged teas in a pinch.

Common cold-brew friendly teas include:

Green tea
Herbal tea
Black tea
White tea
Passionflower tea
Hibiscus tea
…and many, many more. Time to experiment!

A great way to explore the tastes that you can create is to use blends from specialty tea shops. You’ll get to indulge in exotic blends, like autumn cranberry black tea or Cloud & Mist green tea. Generally you’ll find flavored teas and green teas that are cold brewed due to the aromas. You’ll also find a wealth of information about how you can optimize your cold brewing process.

Exploring the cold brew process

The cold brew process is effortlessly simple, and can often be done with things that you can find around your own kitchen. That’s just one of the many reasons we can’t get enough of delicious, cold-brewed tea. Below, we’ve outlined the steps that you can take to enjoy fresh cold brew tea today:

1. Choose your tea & your vessel

Choosing the right tea for the cold brew process is simple — choose your favorite blend and get ready to enjoy! If you’re feeling more on the adventurous side, you could also shop around and indulge in a special tea blend to experiment with.

Lighter flavored, sweeter blends can be made even tastier with this process, as cold brew often results in a more sweet taste due to the lack of tannins present through the brewing process. Consider experimenting with a floral tea, such as jasmine, or delving into something light such as oolong-based blends. In either case, the result will be a refreshing glass of cold brew tea.

You can make any vessel work, such as a pitcher or oversized decanter. You can even purchase a dedicated cold brew pitcher. These often include a strainer attachment to keep your loose leaf teas intact, allowing the water to flow over them and capture the flavor off of the leaves.

2. Prepare your tea

The question you’ve been waiting for: how much tea do we add to the pitcher for the perfect glass? Well, the answer may vary. Experts estimate anywhere from 2 tablespoons to 5 tablespoons is the right amount for a pitcher filled with 6 to 8 cups of water. You can take the time to make multiple batches and experiment with the perfect concentration for your favorite blend.

After you’ve determined your ratio, fill your pitcher with water. You’ll want to float the leaves or tea bags on top lightly, letting them fall naturally into the water. Allow it to sit out of the fridge for up to one hour before refrigeration, after which you’ll leave it uncovered and undisturbed in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours.

This time is crucial to help the flavors disperse, leaving you with a well-rounded and delicious glass of tea. It will also result in a more flavorful cup of tea due to the longer steeping time but will deliver that flavor without the afterbite of bitterness that hot brew styles tend to offer.

3. Garnish and enjoy

After the brew is complete, you will have a delicious pitcher of cold brew tea. However, there’s always room for improvement — which is where your garnish comes in. You can easily uplevel your experience by garnishing your tea with a zingy lemon wedge or with fresh notes of picked mint from the garden. You can also enjoy with some raw sugar to help elevate the notes of sweetness in your glass.

0 Comments

Tea Health Benefits

5 Delicious Health Benefits of Peppermint Tea

January 31, 2022

Peppermint tea has been enjoyed for centuries and was made popular thanks to its clean, crisp, and refreshing taste. Beyond its deliciousness, peppermint tea offers a variety of health benefits to drinkers — elevating the drink in an entirely new way. In this blog post, we explore the history of peppermint tea, and review five health benefits of peppermint tea that you can enjoy with every cup!

The history of peppermint tea

Peppermint tea has had a long-disputed origin story but was first recognized and used widely as medicine by the ancient colonizations of Egypt and the Middle East. This was dated and discovered in pyramids hailing from 1000 B.C., showing the extensive and rich history of the use of peppermint in dishes, oils, tinctures, and medicinal brews.

Throughout the past few centuries, the teas and blends were traded widely throughout Europe and its surrounding regions, often comprised of a blend of different mints and herbs. The popularity of the drink has continued to rise to the present day, with peppermint often being featured in a variety of blends that you can find in grocery stores and cafes.

The drink is widely enjoyed, and with good reason — you can enjoy a variety of health benefits in each earthy, sweet, and herbaceous sip.

Enjoying health benefits of peppermint tea

To fully enjoy the health benefits that you can gain from peppermint tea, you can drink 1-2 cups consistently per day. Consistency is key for long-term gain, although you may feel more immediate relief from certain ailments with a single cup. Below, we’ve compiled five of the main health benefits that you can enjoy from peppermint tea.

1. Stress reduction

Peppermint tea is one of the top teas that you can drink for stress relief and relaxation. Peppermint oil has been used for centuries as an inhalant that can help you enhance your natural resiliency and stress management processes. If you’re experiencing anxiety, peppermint tea or an infused blend can help to quiet your nerves and give you a mood boost. Plus, the overall sensory experience of tea is very soothing, as you shift your focus from the feelings to the warmth, comfort, and delicious taste of the blend.

2. Headache relief

In the peppermint leaves, there are plenty of natural oils such as menthol that provide relief from intense headaches and pains, specifically tension headaches. You can use a variety of types of peppermint products, such as oils and teas, to naturally ease tension headaches. This is due to the natural ability of the herb to promote circulation and its cooling properties. Peppermint tea can also be used in conjunction with other peppermint products, such as oils and poultices, for a more amplified effect in the body.

3. Muscle relaxant

Muscular aches and pains can happen for a variety of reasons, and often send people reaching for the medicine cabinet just to find an ounce of relief. With peppermint tea, you can enjoy the benefits that you would experience with a traditional muscle relaxant — without any of the unpleasant side effects. The oils and compounds in peppermint naturally promote circulation and relaxation, making peppermint tea an incredibly effective agent for muscular relaxation. Whether you’re experiencing lower back cramps, sore arm muscles, or menstrual cramps, peppermint tea can help.

4. Respiratory tract support

Peppermint is especially soothing and helpful for those who struggle with respiratory illness or chronic conditions — such as asthma or bronchitis. The soothing elements in the plant and tea can work similarly to eucalyptus, dilating your airways and helping the oxygen to flow freely through your respiratory system. The pleasant aroma is also strong enough to help clear your sinuses as you sip. Peppermint tea is also beneficial for those who may need additional lubrication in their lungs, and can help to clear a variety of virulent respiratory infections. The anti-inflammatory properties in the tea make it an excellent bronchodilator and can help soothe the rest of your system in the event of a flare or an infection.

5. Gastrointestinal relief

We’ve saved the best for last. Peppermint tea has been used for decades to promote a healthy GI system and can soothe a variety of stomach complaints. Most famously, the tea can easily ease the spasming of an empty or too-full stomach, help those with spasmodic disorders and nausea, as well as reduce instances of bloat. If you struggle with acid reflux, however, you may want to go to a gentler, less-strong tea or oil, such as fennel. Peppermint has a particularly strong flavor that can worsen pre-existing gastric reflux and heartburn.

0 Comments

Older Posts