Can you picture it. The sun already set. Candles lit and only dim lights remaining. A blanket weighing over your body as you lounge in bed. Everything already done and tended to for the day. A book eager to be read lies against your chest. And to make this dreamy scene even more ideal, a warm mug rests between your two hands. Heat evaporating in the form of steam, as your tea steeps and cools. You’re not even bothered by the fact that it’s too hot drink yet because the warmth of the mug feels so good to your cold finger tips. Finally, you take a sip, and the warmth drifts from your lips to your throat to your stomach. Your whole body calms, as if that one sip carries the entire comfort of a long, quiet bath. You savor the quiet rhythm of tea and a story, peacefully knowing sleep is close behind.
This, my friend, is the ideal scenario I offer myself nightly. It’s become a daily ritual I plan to abandon never. I find it so important to have little romanticizations like this whenever possible, especially at the end of the day.
Why Tea is Great for You
Tea offers me not just mental bliss, but also great effects on my body. My chest relaxes, my body warms, any leftover stress of the day dissipates—as if my whole body takes a deep sigh. It genuinely helps relax my nervous system, in the same way stretching, taking magnesium, or EFT tapping do.
It also helps with digestion and congestion. (Especially when I eat too much ice cream and stomach and throat start getting mad at me, tea immediately helps to soothe me.) Tea aids digestion by soothing the gastrointestinal tract, stimulates digestive enzymes, reduces inflammation, and relieves bloating and gas. A study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who drink tea (three times weekly for over six months) are less likely to develop cancer in the digestive tract compared with those who don’t drink tea. Tea helps with congestion by loosing and breaking down thick mucus, reduces inflammation in nasal passages, and provides steam that helps open airways.
So yeah, don’t even get me started on when I’m sick. I will be drinking tea from dawn till dusk, and I highly recommend you do as well. (Although, I have not been sick in a long time, and I definitely contribute drinking a nightly tea to helping me stay healthy.)
Now that was just some brief research, but hopefully enough to convince you on how beneficial tea is.
My Tea Recommendations
Over time, I have fallen so deeply in love with many teas, so here is a list of my favorites and some recommendations.
- Peppermint: my go-to tea, very cooling, good for aiding digestion, relieving tension headaches, reducing stress, alleviating menstrual cramps, is a natural decongestant.
- Licorice Root: warm and flavorful, soothes sore throats, reduces respiratory issues, soothes stomach lining, anti-inflammatory, balances cortisol levels.
- Ginger: speeds up digestion, remedy to sickness and nausea, helps muscle soreness, helps stabilize blood sugar levels.
- Mullein: a favorite when I’m sick (great w honey), it loosens mucus, calms sore throats, rich in antioxidants (vitamin c, iron, calcium, potassium), helps treat coughs and bronchitis
- Marshmallow Root: very soothing and slightly sweet, coats the throat and digestive tract, helps dry coughs and irritation, supports gut lining health (fun fact, it used to be used in marshmallows)
- Elderberry/Echinacea: immune-supporting staples, rich in antioxidants, great for illness, supportive for upper respiratory health.
- Raspberry Leaf: grounding, menstrual support, rich in minerals (magnesium and iron)
- Hibiscus: fruity and tart, high in vitamin c, supports heart health and circulation, refreshing hot or iced
- Spearmint: supports digestion, lowers androgen levels (helps with PCOS), lowers blood pressure, reduces inflammatory acne, eases stomach pain
- Oolong: low caffeine, polyphenols help improve cholesterol levels, reduces inflammation, helps prevent heart disease, boosts metabolism, has L-theanine (boats focus and clarity), has fluoride (can prevent cavities and increase bone mineral density)
- Green Tea: rich in antioxidants, supports brain function and metabolism, improved cardiovascular health, antioxidants lower cancer risk (matcha is made from the same plant!)
- Chai: so so good as a latte, grounding, spices in it reduces inflammation, aids in digestion, rich in antioxidants
- Dandelion: supports liver detoxification, promotes digestion, high in antioxidants, vitamin A, C, and K, and minerals, helps manage blood sugar, lowers cholesterol
- Earl Grey or London Fog: caffeinated from black tea, great as lattes, rich in antioxidants, reduces cholesterol
Herbal blends are great as well (making or buying them). My current favorite is a ‘Inflammation Fighter’ from Tea and Turmeric, which includes tulsi, devil’s claw root, burdock root, dandelion root, licorice root, turmeric root, ginger root, cinnamon, orange peel, peppermint leaf.
Three Tea Tips
I have two tips for you future tea lovers…
- Loose leaf teas over bagged teas. Many tea bags are harmful because they are made with plastic polymers which release billions of microplastics into the hot water you drink. These plastics can contribute to health conditions like endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, cancer risk, and metabolic problems. Plus it creates more waste which negatively impacts our environment as well. So, better to find some loose leaf teas.
- Cover your cup with a lid while steeping the tea. Herbs have volatile oils, which hold a lot of the medicinal properties you want to be consuming. If you steep your tea uncovered, you allow the volatile oils to evaporate with the steam, and you get a weaker version of the tea. However, if you steep your tea covered, those volatile oils reabsorb into the tea water and you get the full medicinal benefits of the herb. Try to steep for 10 minutes, remove the lid, and enjoy!
- If you don’t like how it tastes, add some honey! It helps make it taste better and honey is packed with antioxidants, antibacterials, and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Tea, Anytime Anywhere
Tea isn’t just great at night time. It can help open digestion before breakfast in the morning. When you need a caffeine boost. If you need more hydration but water tastes boring. When you need a drink while getting ready for the day. Pairs with a sweet treat in the day. Great iced with honey in the summertime. Or with a splash of milk for a fun beverage. Literally anytime anywhere anyway.
Drinking tea can also be thought of as a hobby. You get to start a tea collection, maybe find cute cups, kettles, containers, and strainers. You can learn about different herb benefits, educating yourself and others.
I love tea, it seems such a grown, chic, and good for you. I hope you can grow to love drinking tea too!
