Not a Tea Person? Maybe You Should Be.

If you’re anything like me, maybe you’ve considered yourself a devoted coffee drinker for years and never gotten into the whole “tea scene”. Maybe you have always considered tea something that only little old ladies and the British consume on the regular. Maybe, you’ve only been subject to the generic black teas and weren’t a fan of the taste. 

Some people have the notion that you can’t be both a coffee drinker and a tea drinker. Well they’re wrong! Trust me, I still cherish my daily morning coffee (even if sometimes I try to swap for decaf), but afternoon and evening tea? That’s where it’s at.

I’ve been converted into a true tea believer (tealiever??). Let me tell you why.

There is an endless possibility of tea blends based on the sheer selection of herbs, roots, flowers and plants that can be dried and used for this purpose. It’s so easy to choose your own adventure based on your health needs and goals and your flavour preferences.

All of these plants have different benefits for our bodies and various ailments, whether it be physical or mental. It’s honestly pretty mind-boggling that steeping some of these things we see growing all around us can have such an impact on our health and minds.

Take dandelion for example. I LOVE DANDELION. Forget what you were led to believe about this being nothing but a pesky, invasive weed in your garden or yard. Dandelion root and dandelion leaves can be dried, and are actually one of my ultimate favourite liver detoxifying and liver health promoting herbs to use in a tea blend. The flavour is mild, not overpowering and can be combined with many other tasty and floral plants. Some people use it as a coffee substitute (think the brand Dandy Blend). It can help soothe the digestive tract and help with bloating!

Not just a weed folks! A lover of your liver.

Speaking of detoxifying teas, I truly believe that trying to rid the body of the daily toxins that we ingest (with or without our knowledge) is an important task. Here are some more herbs to add to your regimen- ideally daily, but at least a few times a week, to help you feel detoxed and refreshed. Burdock root, green tea, fennel seeds, ginger, turmeric, holy basil, liquorice root and senna leaves.

The gut-brain connection is a real thing! Keep your gut happy.

Drinking a tea blend for the gut during or after a heavy meal can work wonders for digestion, which I have struggled with off and on for years personally. Some great herbs for this include ginger root (you can find dried ginger root but I prefer to buy a fresh root and add it to my tea mug), peppermint, turmeric, cinnamon, chamomile, lemon balm, marshmallow leaf or root, clove and fennel. So much variety and options for a flavourful blend. Lately I’ve been adding cinnamon and clove to most of my tea blends because they’re not only beneficial to you, but give your tea a nice spiced chai flavour, which is great for chilly fall weather.

Want better, more moisturized skin? Who doesn’t? 

There’s even tea for that! 

Calendula is known for its wound and skin healing benefits, but sipped in a tea it can also help with issues like psoriasis/eczema and has antioxidants and may have anti-fungal and antimicrobial purposes. Butterfly pea flowers  give your tea a tasty floral note, AND turn it bright blue which looks fancy and fun. It has antioxidants that aid in healthy hair and skin, and can help aid in weight loss and blood sugar control! Rooibos tea has lots of zinc and alpha hydroxy which both aid in healthier skin. Green tea is super high in antioxidants. Chamomile not only has calming benefits for the mind, but calming benefits for the skin and body! Nettle leaf (which is another one of my personal favourites) is higher in minerals than many herbs and can help nourish the skin. Of course you can try all of these herbs separately, but I would recommend putting them together in a blend. Add some ginger root with these herbs for an extra boost as it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

I could go on and on about the various herbs and their uses and my love of tea all day long, but I will leave this post short and sweet. 

Don’t be intimidated by tea. You can start by purchasing a steeper and a few of the herbs that you feel would benefit you the most for your own personal issues or needs and then work your way up to a vast collection like mine if you choose. 

If you want further guidance or advice about your new introduction and adventures through the world of tea, don’t hesitate to reach out and book a 1:1 session with me through the contact page!