Let’s spill the tea on tea. Tea has many holistic and herbal benefits, and oftentimes can be the simple solution we all need, especially during this time of year. The frosty winter months can have us all in a funk. Flu season is out to get us, school work piles up, snow days set us back, and for some, mental health can be at its lowest. During this disorientation, it’s important to find ways to persevere. Some ways could be what you least expect, such as a nice cup of tea.
To help find that perseverance, here’s a list of tea and their specialized benefits for when you are feeling down in the dumps.
For starters, elderberry tea has proven to help the body fight off viral infections such as a common cold or flu. According to Healthline, elderberry tea has antiviral and antimicrobial properties which shorten the duration of the flu. Traditional Medicinals, Immune Zoom® Elderberry Echinacea Tea is available in most grocery stores or their online shop at https://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/. To make homemade elderberry tea, start by combining 2 tablespoons of dehydrated elderberries with ¼ teaspoon rosemary and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon. Add the dry ingredients to a pot of boiling water, about 2 cups, and let simmer for 15 minutes. The tea should be between red and violet in color and smell tart. Strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer so that only the liquid is left. Dispose of the left over elderberries and enjoy!
For the days that you are feeling stressed out or blue, green tea matcha is supposed to give you a boost of energy and uplifts spirits. Healthline also says that drinking green tea may benefit things like mood and cognitive function as a result of the caffeine and L-theanine in the tea. Also from https://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/ is their Green Tea Matcha. For homemade green tea matcha, start by sifting ¼ teaspoon of matcha finely. Note that when purchasing matcha, it’s shelf life is only 2 months so unlike other herbs or spices, it needs to be used quickly. Next add about ¼ of a cup of water to the bowl and whisk the matcha and water together. This can be done with a wooden bamboo whisk specifically for matcha or a normal baking whisk. Rather than whisking in a circular motion, whisk side to side. This will make the tea foam at the end. Now add ¾ of steamed milk and use honey to sweeten as needed. This recipe is slightly different from what would be brewed from the tea at traditional medicinals but the benefits are still the same.
Finally, for relaxation in such a stressful time, Chamomile tea is a must have. According to Healthline, chamomile tea has apigenin which is an antioxidant that promotes sleepiness. This is perfect for the days when you need a little extra help unwinding from stress. Thankfully, https://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/ also has a chamomile tea option. If you want to make it yourself at home, you’ll need dehydrated chamomile flowers/petals which can be bought at most grocery stores. Put about 1 tablespoon of the flowers/petals in a bowl. Pour 1 cup of hot water (steamed or boil) over the flowers. Cover with a lid or tin foil r for 15 minutes to allow the tea to steep. Strain the tea into a mug, use honey as desired to sweeten.
Whether you are sick, stressed, or in need of relaxation, hopefully with these recipes, the gloomy cold won’t have as much as an effect.
