There’s always time for tea, right?
I know I’ve mentioned this a few times but have never I really delved into my love (addiction, obsession) with tea, and so as the next in my Healthy Reboot series I wanted to share a little with you about how I integrate tea into my day, and how it makes me feel not only better physically but also mentally too!
From day one, tea has had a soothing effect on me – clearly my Sri Lankan Father and English/Irish mother came together to create the perfect, tea loving storm. These days it’s not just a drink but a ritual, and I have to say, without sounding like a Dilmah ad, it makes me feel really great. And it’s simple! I love that ‘wellness’ doesn’t need to be an expensive trip to a spa but more about taking a moment to check in with how you’re feeling and make yourself a cup of something steaming and hot. It costs practically nothing, other than time that, let’s face it, you should give yourself.
We put together the image below to share with you how I use tea in my daily life, both in my daily routines and also as soothing remedies. I’m not a doctor and I can only say anecdotally that they make me personally feel better, but even if you’re dubious of the potential health benefits of certain teas, there’s just something about taking a moment out of your day to a cup – getting up from your computer or taking a moment in the morning on your bed or the sofa. It’s like tea is a mini form of meditation… Leave your phone out of the process and you’re totally kicking goals in the brain department.
Tea on the daily
You can see from the diagram that tea breaks are milestones throughout my day, helping me to not only feel better but to have a mental and stretch break. I start my day with turmeric tea or some sort of black tea – chai if I have time but otherwise English Breakfast with milk. This first tea I really try to take the time to enjoy, without distractions or work. Then I have green tea around mid morning (roasted rice aka ‘Genmaicha’ is my current fave) and another black tea if I feel tired after lunch. Before bed I have a soothing camomile which tops off a day of tea! From my cupboard that is overloaded with teas I will often experiment with adding in others, but these daily ones are my always and if I miss them because I can usually tell form my mood!
Soothing Teas
Other than daily, I’m really into teas when I’m feeling less than 100%… I love ginger tea and drink it whenever I feel a bit off in the tummy, and also find lemon and honey helps to soothe a sore throat. Chai is my favourite when I’m feeling a cold come on, and peppermint helps me to digest after a big meal. I know there are lots of other soothing teas but these are just the ones I use personally!
Recipes
Most of the teas that I’ve listed you will be able to buy, but a few of them you need to make. These are my personal recipes!
Chai Tea
Ingredients A few cardamom seeds, 3 cloves, 4 peppercorns, 1 cinnamon stick, fresh ginger, 2 cups of milk, 2 cups of water, 2 bags of black tea, honey.
How to Put all the ingredients except the milk and honey into the pan. Bring to the boil. Add the milk and boil for a few more minutes. Put the honey in your cups and strain the mixture in. Stir and enjoy.
Ginger Tea
Ingredients Handful of fresh ginger, 4 cups of water, honey.
How to Peel and cut your ginger into slices. Put the water and ginger in a saucepan. Boil for a few minutes. Put the honey in your cups and pour the mixture in. Stir and enjoy. Ps if it’s too strong add some extra hot water.
Lemon & Honey Tea
Ingredients Half a lemon, water, honey.
How to Cut your lemon into slices and add to a cup. Boil the water in a kettle and pour into the cup. Add honey to taste and enjoy!
Turmeric Tea
Ingredients A teaspoon of Tumeric, 4 cups of water, honey.
How to Bring the water to a boil. Add the ground turmeric and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the tea through a fine sieve into a cup; add honey and/or lemon to taste. Ps is also like to add half a cup of coconut milk if I want it to be creamier.
I’d love to hear if you have any teas that you’re into and if you feel that tea can be therapy! Or do you have another daily therapy you rely on? 🙂
Illustration by Natalie Ong.
Like this tea guide? Pin it on Pinterest!
I am a huge lover of ginger tea myself, especially when I don’t feel well! It does however sound nice to drink more tea (especially if they have such nice effects), maybe I’ll replace a few coffees with tea in the future!
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Thats so great to hear, I am into coffee now and again but tea is my constant 🙂
I love tea and sometimes I think I drink to much of it. I love to make a 1litre of mint tea and just drink it during the afternoon while I write in the computer! Other favorites are gotu kola for light legs and chamomile to calm me down at night. I am trying to like a mix of ginger and honey for my circulation problems tea but ginger irritates my tongue, even with the sweetness of honey blah
Thats SUCH a good idea. I actually recently did that with ginger and loved it!
Hey Geneva! I am, too, a great lover of tea, and thus enjoyed this post to the fullest! That image you put together is so cute, not to mention informative.
My favourite tea quality is black tea, as I love how it gives me a major energy boost.
Sending love from Scandinavia! xx
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Totally! I agree about black tea! I rely on it so much 🙂
I LOVE TEA. I’ve recently been drinking ‘vanilla roobois’ and it’s the best $4.90 I’ve probably ever spent. My friend recommended it to me, because we’re both chai lovers, and this tea tastes like chai, except sweeter. 10/10 WOULD RECOMMEND.
mads xx
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Free cheetos if you check it out! Jks. Got ya.
Thanks so much for that, I actually love roobois, it’s so great before bed because it has no caffeine. Thanks so much for the recommendation, what brand do you get? x
tea lover here as well! love how you make them yourself, need to get into that more. I buy my tea mixes in bulk locally, you do taste a difference in quality!
Yes I agree, Chai is never very good bought from a store because I think the spices need to be fresh. Other teas you can often get away with.
Huge fan of tea. Switch from coffee about a year and a half ago. Love Double Bergamot Earl Grey by Stash, chamomile, moringa and tulsi, mint, a calm stomach ginger peach one from Bigelow, chai, Pukka night time (has valerian which I love), matcha green… I could go on and on. I mostly prefer the spice/herbal teas as opposed to the fruit teas, too sweet.
Oh I have to try that Pukka tea asap. My dad is an acupuncturist chinese medicine doctor and homeopath and we always used to take a tiny bit of valerian if I couldn’t sleep. Thanks for the tip!
This post just revived my love for tea! Time to whip out my tea set again 🙂
Diana | http://thechicdiary.com/blog/6/29/2017-palm-springs-style-thatpinkdoor-moon-river-lemon-print-romper
That sounds sooooo good!
OMG I LOVE THIS POST. I’m a huge fan of tea.
xx, Jamileth | www. tropicalavenue.com
Me too me too x
Wait, I love this post so much!!! Definitely going to get back into my love for teas! xx
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You must, it’s such a nice daily ritual.
Tea is so good! I especially like matcha tea and fruity teas in the summmer! In cold months I like to add a little liquor to my teas, like spiced rum =o) but only in the evenings of course!
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Oh thats a really cool idea too! Spiced rum is so good.
I adore this! I’m SO in love with tea! It’s been such a fixture in my life. I’ve been trying to make my own chai but the chai masala that i bought at the indian grocery wasn’t my favorite so i’m looking forward to trying yours!! <3
I couldn’t agree more, I have never bought a good chai from a store, I think sadly it always has to be done in a pan – something about boiling the milk a little?
I can absolutely see that. The milk becomes part of it rather than a separate thing you mix in. I’ll let you know how my experiments go 🙂
I have been drinking peppermint tea for my tummy all my life till around… a year ago? my GP told me it actually works the opposite and makes digestion worse? It seems like I hit placebo hard till then!
Oh wow! That is big news to me.
Absolutely love this post, and the illustration that goes with it. Tea is a real ritual for me too, have you read Ruby Tandoh’s piece on tea, I think you’d really like it
– Natalie
http://www.workovereasy.com
No I haven’t but thank you so much, I will definitely put that on my list. x
I love tea, this just inspired me to make tea
http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
Hahaha so happy to hear that
YES GIRL! I’m a major tea addict too and I love the picture you made! Pinning it right now!
Sharni xo
A Girl & Grey
Thanks so much Sharni, you and me both!
I love tea as well!! I loved this graphic, how perfect! Sometimes this is kind of how my day pans out. As I type this (mid-morning) I am sipping my green tea. This one is the buddha tears from T2. I love them!
xx Jenelle
http://www.inspiringwit.com
Hahaha I am sitting at work writing back o this and I am having my green tea too hahahahaha. I haven’t tried Buddha tears but I totally will. Thanks for the tip!
Thank you for this post! I really love and enjoy drinking tea as well! Not really common here in my country but i really love tea! 😀
xoxo, rae
http://www.raellarina.net/
Oh thats so interesting! So tea isn’t big in the Philippines? What do you guys drink instead?
omg, my love for tea is undeniable! Really enjoy drinking it! Also, nice writing and love the pics you took. <3
http://www.pastelfreakgirl.blogspot.com/
Thanks very much honey I am so happy you enjoyed it.
My husband and I drink a lot of tea (he grew up in London with tea time every afternoon at boarding school). At some point we started calling any tea one of us made for the other “lovey tea” because it was made with love. It’s so silly, but it’s true – you feel loved when someone makes a tea and brings it to you.
I haven’t tried turmeric tea, but I think I’d probably really like it for the anti-inflammatory benefits. I’ll give it a shot! When I had a stomach ache as a kid my father would give me sage tea and it worked to settle my stomach every time. A little Middle-Eastern trick I suppose!
http://www.shessobright.com
Ooooo sage tea, I love the sound of that I will need to try it. Just sage and hot water or is there a special recipe? And I absolutely love the sound of the ritual you have with your husband, I agree completely, when Ben makes me tea it’s all sorts of heart eyes!
Just sage and hot water! So simple but it always settled my stomach!
Yes, I am a tea drinker since my teenage years. I am retired now but tea is still my goto beverage. English breakfast,
earl Grey and Lady Grey, Roobios, Ginger, Sleepy Time and Sleepytime extra. You name it and I have tried it, Those I listed are my favorites. Chai not so much. Green and White tea once in a while.
OMG you have the best teas! It’s like once you pop you literally cant stop right? Its great when you find a really good one. 🙂
I’ve always been more of a coffee girl, but as I grew up, I’ve slowly developed an appreciation for tea <3 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing such informational diagrams about all of the benefits of tea!
XO, Elizabeth
http://clothestoyouuu.com/
Thanks so much love I am so glad you like the post! This is such a huge part of my daily rituals and I’m so happy to share it with you guys.
Ah, yes, I Love tea. My favorite is chamomile sweetened with a dash of honey, can’t beat it, and it helps with cramps and stomach aches too!
Thanks so much for that, I am always on the lookout for teas that help with period pain because I get the worst! I have been having this Moon tea that is supposed to help from Yogi teas, not sure it does but it takes really yummy! 🙂
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Ginger tea is one of my favorite, honey and lemon as well. Haven’t tried the turmeric one but heard the benefits of it. Will try it!! You made me want to go home and make tea for myself with a good book. Although, it’s hot now in Central Asia and any hot drink is a no no, but the the tea can also be so refreshing. I come from a country where the tea is the number one drink and people drink it in buckets!! Thanks for sharing Geneva!!
I’m so pinning this, I love tea but usually just go for plain ol Ceylon or peppermint. Chai sounds delicious.
Ohhh my goodness I LOVE TEA!!! Thank you so much for this
Follow my crafts at http://www.facebook.com/craftednz love and light Nat from NZ
Oh I absolutely love tea! I’ve been getting tea at Starbucks lately instead of my usual white mocha. I also take time for afternoon tea and always in a pretty teacup😊
I can only have decaf… is there any of these tea’s you mention like that?