Yes, 5 teas. We drink a lot of tea around these parts.
I’m actually a sucker for allll the liquids. Maybe due to Sjogren’s, but who knows. Just give me cute mug for my cozy drinks, and a chic glass straw for my cold ones, and I’m a happy girl.
Just a heads up, before we dive in, this blog is not medial advice. This is simply my personal protocol for all things tealicious right now. I mean… I know you came to this purply sparkly blog thinking that this HAS TO BE the workings of a medical doctor… 🙃 so I wanted to remind you that it isn’t. But on a serious note, pandemic or not, always consult your medical doc before introducing any new supplements, teas, herbs, etc into your diet. Teas and herbs are VERY powerful (even though they may seem small, they are mighty), and some can’t be taken with certain medications, or conditions, or while pregnant, or breastfeeding. I trust you catch my drift, so let’s move along.
Experiencing life during a pandemic has parts of it that really suck, and one way I find it to be less suckier is with tea. Tea is wonderful, not just for tea’s immune supporting effects, but also it’s positive effect on your emotional well-being.
We’ve all had heightened emotions and extra tension this year. Whether it’s concern over contracting the virus, how the virus has affected your business, seeing that dude move his mask to sneeze and then put it back on (yes we saw you!), the election, and anything else that has ya wondering what in the world is going on in 2020, you are not alone! This has been a year full of emotions, toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
I am all about wearing my mask (I love this one), using my boujee hand sanitizer (YL thieves), and staying away from weirdos, but I always like to ask myself what else could I be doing to stay on top of my health during this time…
Pour moi, the answer was load up on the Tea, Supplements, and Sleep. While none of these will prevent covid, they will definitely make your immune system smile.
How can I put TEA in 2020 terms? Ahh YES, simple…
Tea is a fucking vibe.
That’s it.
Tea is cool and chic AF. It’s fancy, healthy, calming, and it evokes all the senses.
I find so much joy in tea – especially when I take the time to savor the moment and properly brew the cup, or pot, of tea just right.
Side note: I mean there is nothing worse than a scalding, boiling cup of water being poured over a green tea bag into a chipped mug – when you know the water needs to be at 175 degrees (maximum!) and steep for only 3 mins… Just by looking at it you can taste the bitterness, but honestly who cares because that mug would have killed the mood anyway… 🙃
Getting back to a beautifully brewed cup of tea – It’s like a little mini vacay in itself, and who couldn’t use a bit of escapism right now? Anyone care to join me for Emily in Paris + tea in a fancy pot with chic teacups? OUI OUI.
A lot of people use wine as a way to experience different regions of the world, which is wonderful, but you can actually dive even deeper into the world of tea. Did you know that? I had no idea how much there was to discover in tea until I went to my first tea tasting at the coolest tea shop in Beverly Hills in 2013. There is unlimited discovery available in the world of tea, and it may be just the perfect healthy habit to indulge in during the pandemic. Why not come out on the other side of all this with a new interest, hobby, and a fully supported immune system?
Below, is one traditional tea (green), and the rest are herbals. Herbal teas aren’t made from tea leaves, and are technically an herbal infusion, but for the sake of this not being a tea lesson, let’s call just call it all tea. Let’s put it this way, you would find it all in the same area of the supermarket! We will save tea vs. herbal “tea” for a future Tea Tuesday.
Here are the teas I’m loving lately:
Green Tea
I start my day with green tea. It’s just enough caffeine to make me feel alert, but doesn’t give me the jitters.
Green tea is something I drink every day – for it’s health benefits, for beauty benefits, for healthy energy, and because studies show that green tea may protect against some viruses. (I would suggest checking out the antiviral research HERE and HERE from the US National Library of Medicine – it’s awesome). The powerful components in Green tea are called catechins, which are polyphenolic compounds from the tea leaves. Polyphenols are micronutrients that we get through certain plants, 🌱 and they’re jam packed with antioxidants!
Green tea is so comforting and healing, and there are soooo many varieties / brands to choose from.
One of the handiest and tastiest green teas I really enjoy is by Numi, their Jasmine Green Tea is delicious. Green tea is tempermental, meaning if you use boiling water and leave the tea in the water too long, you’ll have a bitter after taste; what I have found with the Numi Jasmine, is that it’s hard to screw up; it’s still delicious even if you don’t have a temp of your water on hand. 😉 Numi brand is free of all toxins, and doesn’t contain additives. It’s definitely a go-to brand, and perfect for on-the-go.
If you want a full bodied green tea, try matcha. Matcha was made for goddesses. It is magical green dust. Two types I would check out are a traditional, ceremonial grade matcha like Jade Leaf, and a non-traditional version by Pique Crystals (it’s the most convenient tea you’ve ever seen – it dissolves in water)
Turmeric Ginger Tea
Before lunch I sip on Turmeric Ginger.
Do you know how healthy we would all be if we had turmeric and ginger every single day?? Turmeric and ginger are two things that I try my best to get in my body in some form daily. Turmeric is a orangey-colored root that has a history of medicinal use dating back to 4000 years ago! They are actually one of the most extensively studied herbs in herbal medicine; Some studies suggest that ginger and turmeric could help decrease inflammation, relieve chronic pain, reduce nausea, and improve immune function (it essentially one of those “heal everything” plants). Nerd out about turmeric HERE in another article from National Library of Medicine.
Turmeric isn’t the kind of thing you want to take a big bite of, so you can to infuse your life daily with a hint of it. Of course, one of the most convenient ways to get your turmeric intake is tea. If I really want to go the extra mile I make my anti-flu tea – it’s one of the healthiest things to sip on.
I also wrote about turmeric here, and THIS Spiced Turmeric Herbal Tea by Young Living is my absolute fave – it is one of the only pre-packaged turmeric/ginger teas that contain black pepper (essential for nutrient absorption). Check out this video here to get your YL tea w/me.
Sportea
Last year I realized I had been living under a rock because I had never had OR heard of Sportea before! I heard about it from Lauryn Evarts, and I found out that this tea has been around for 20 years (to be honest their packaging gives it away, but let’s just call it retro, bc retro is SO back in style now), but OMFG it’s so delicious and you can feel the effects of it asap.
Sportea is a a tea you’ll want to drink chilled / iced. It’s blend of tea and vitamins is so damn good, and it contains one of my favorite herbs; ginseng. Ginseng is life, so Sportea is life. This is your go-to iced tea for energy & vitamin C. A chilled glass of this classic beverage daily will be something you look forward to each afternoon.
I’ve been drinking this mid-afternoon, after lunch or w/a snack. I have noticed that I don’t like this on an empty stomach; it’s prob becaue of the vitamins, it made me feel a little queasy when I had it first thing in the morning, but afternoon is a HUGE YES. It’s refreshing, and the ultimate remedy for a mid-day slump (without giving you a crash and you can still sleep at night) + we all know how great it is to have ample Vitamin C right now.
Check out Sportea and you’ll be obsessed.
Chai Tea
Evenings are for Chai.
One cup of Chai Tea has 3 days worth of antioxidants! I discovered this from Michael Greger MD’s Nutrition Facts website, and I wrote more about it HERE. You can find chai caffeinated or decaffeinated, just be sure to check the label. I actually prefer a calming, caffeine-free chai in the evenings.
Making your own chai tea is easy and fun too. Simply boil and simmer allll the chai spices.
8 Cups Water + 6 Black Tea Bags + 15 Whole Cloves + 15 Black Peppercorns 15 Whole Cardamom Pods + 5 Sticks Cinnamon + 2 Star Anise + 3 Whole Allspice + 4 slices of fresh Ginger. Add spices to water and bring to a boil. Turn to simmer and add tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes. Remove from stove; Add honey or erythritol and non-dairy milk in single serve mugs. (use decaf black tea bags if you plan on drinking in the evening)
Licorice Root Tea
Late night licorice.
Have you tried this before? Licorice tea is a very sweet tea, naturally. I LOVE the way it tastes because it has so much powerful flavor. Licorice root has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine, and is typically known for its antibacterial and digestive supporting properties. I enjoy it because it’s a flavorful, caffeine-free herbal drink, and it helps to coat your throat, and supports overall well-being. I like Buddha Tea’s Licorice Tea or this one from Traditional Medicinals. There are more than 300 compounds in licorice, some of which have antiviral and antibacterial properties {via}. You can read more on the medicinal properties of Licorice that have been studied in clinical trials here, along with when/if you should avoid this one (for example if you are pregnant or on birth control, you shouldn’t drink Licorice tea).
Are you ready to cozy up and make a cup of tea? I know I am. Talk later, and Happy early Thanksgiving. Xo, Ashley.
