Today I thought I would come with a short list of reasons to enjoy drinking tea. Because tea is always a good idea, isn’t it?

Let’s see why we want to drink tea more often.

10 Great Reasons to Drink Tea

   1. Flavour

The flavour diversity is really endless.Have you ever walked into a tea shop? I always feel almost lost amongst all that variety of options!

   2. Calming process 

The process of preparing the tea is calming

   3. Relaxing effects

Drinking tea can relax you and it can sooth a bad day feeling

   4. Healthy

It is a healthy natural drink. Each type of tea has lots of benefits for your body. You can check some of them in my previous posts:

• Chamomile tea
• Green Tea
• Nettle Tea
• Mint Tea

   5. Hydration

It keeps you hydrated during the day. Especially if it doesn’t contain caffeine, tea can help you stay hydrated.

   6. Benefits

The tea benefits are numerous and depend on each type of plants you use.

Or how you can treat your sore throat with tea.

   7. Warm

The warm feeling during the cold seasons is great. Have you ever tried to cuddle under a blanket with a warm cup of tea? The feeling is lovely!

   8. No calories

It contains zero calories. You can enjoy tea as much as you want in various flavours and it does not contain any calories! (assuming you don’t add sugar or honey or any other sweetener, of course)

   9. Smell

The smell makes you want to cuddle next to the cup. With some many varieties on hand, you can enjoy the lovely smell of any type of tea you want!

   10. Caffeine

The caffeine content of some teas can help kick-starting your mornings. It can be a great replacement for coffee!

I would love to read about more reasons for enjoying a cup of tea.

What is yours?

The post 10 Great Reasons to Drink Tea first appeared on Psarros Aroma of Nature.

They say there’s nothing a cup of tea can’t fix, and there is some truth to that. With historical roots in East Asia, people of different cultures from around the world have been drinking tea for thousands of years. Science appears to support this practice.

But what is tea, exactly? In short, tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, next to water. Tea is produced by steeping the young leaves and leaf buds of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis into boiled water. Two types of tea are commonly used—the small-leaved China plant (C. sinensis variety sinensis) and the large-leaved Assam plant (C. sinensis variety assamica).

A number of studies have shown that certain teas, such as green tea, can boost your immune system, fight off inflammation, promote cardiovascular health, and even prevent the development of certain cancers. These health benefits are associated with specific antioxidants found in tea, known as polyphenols.

What is herbal tea?

Despite the name, herbal tea is not actually “tea” as these beverages typically do not contain the leaves or leaf buds of tea plants. Herbal teas are made from tisanes, which are blends or infusions of dried fruits, flowers, spices or herbs in water. Tisanes have been shown to offer medicinal effects. Be an informed consumer—many beverages marketed as “herbal tea” with “herbal tea benefits” are nothing more than sugary juice. Is herbal tea good for you? Some herbal teas offer health-promoting properties and have been used as natural remedies for centuries.

Dieticians recommend herbal teas in moderation with medical approval as they can pose some risks to individuals with certain health conditions. Avoid herbal teas that contain added sugar and other additives. Herbal tea should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment.

Three healthy herbal teas

1. Ginger tea

Best known as a trusted nausea remedy, ginger tea has a spicy and full-bodied flavor. It contains the antioxidant gingerol, which is the main bioactive disease-fighting compound found in ancient ginger root. Ginger also contains trace amounts of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B3 and B6, iron, potassium and vitamin C.

Despite a lack of scientific research on ginger tea, there is research on ginger itself as it has been used as an herbal medicine for a variety of health problems. Ginger has been shown to boost the immune system and combat inflammation. A recent systematic review of ginger’s effects on human health supports its ability to help treat a range of ailments, such as gastrointestinal function, pain, inflammation, metabolic syndromes, and more.

Ginger may slow blood clotting, and can be potentially dangerous for people taking antiplatelet drugs like aspirin or clopidogrel (Plavix) or anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin (Coumadin), apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), or rivaroxaban (Xarelto). Also ginger can cause extra bleeding during and after surgery.

If you have a health condition or you are pregnant, consult with your doctor to determine whether drinking ginger tea is safe for you.

2. Chamomile tea

Chamomile tea is more than just a calming beverage to consume before bedtime. Chamomile is an herb taken from the flowers of the Asteraceae plant family. People around the world have been using it as natural remedy for several health conditions since ancient times. Chamomile contains a variety of bioactive phytochemicals, notably flavonoids which function as antioxidants. It also contains small amounts of minerals and vitamins, such as potassium, calcium, carotene and folate, among other nutrients.

Research studies suggest several possible chamomile benefits, including a lower risk of death from heart disease, immune system support, and possible protection against some cancers. According to a research review, chamomile tea may also help women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome. Researchers tout the tea’s anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety effects. Interestingly, studies show chamomile might even slow age-related bone loss.

If you have a history of severe allergies—especially to pollens, you should avoid chamomile as it may be cross-contaminated with pollen from other plants.

3. Hibiscus tea

Last but not least, hibiscus tea is made from the brightly colored flowers of the hibiscus plant. The most common colors of the beautiful blooms are red-orange, pink, yellow, and white. The “calyx” is the part of the hibiscus plant that protects the bloom. Dried calyces are used in hibiscus tea, offering a refreshing yet tart flavor. In addition to providing antioxidant power, hibiscus tea contains small amounts of potassium, calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals.

Hibiscus tea offers antiviral and cardiovascular benefits, mainly due to the antioxidant “anthocyanins.” This herbal tea has been shown to be effective against some strains of bird flu. A study showed hibiscus tea may help lower blood pressure. A meta-analysis of studies on the topic echo these benefits. Another interesting cardiovascular benefit of this herbal tea is its ability to help decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. A research review showed that consuming hibiscus tea or extract decreases bad LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Avoid drinking hibiscus tea if you take the diuretic medication hydrochlorothiazide because the two may negatively interact. Hibiscus tea may also interfere with a the effects of aspirin, and health professionals recommend they be taken 3–4 hours apart. Check with your physician to verify what is best for you.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/the-health-benefits-of-3-herbal-teas

The post The health benefits of herbal teas first appeared on Psarros Aroma of Nature.

If you are thinking of trying tea or want to cut down on your coffee consumption in favor of something a little less jittery, this article will explain the 5 main reasons for consuming this ancient beverage.

Our own list is based on the 5 most common reasons Zest Tea drinkers give us for choosing our high caffeine drinks.

1 – Drinking Tea is Delicious!

Tea leaves are incredibly versatile and ‘drinking tea’ doesn’t just refer to one kind of tea. From green tea to oolong tea to white tea, there are plenty of flavors to explore.

One of the main reasons we find that people switch from coffee to tea is for the greater choice of flavor. If you want that rich intense flavor that you can add sugar and dairy to, then black tea is a great choice. But you can also find blends that combine tea with other flavors – like our energy tea – or unusual tea types like yerba mate and herbal tea.

Don’t be put off if you’ve disliked tea in the past – you just haven’t found the right tea type for your tastes yet!

2 – Energy Boost

Tea types made from the same plant – the Camellia sinensis plant, which originates in China – are a source of caffeine. The leaves harvested from tea bushes to create traditional tea types, like regular green tea or black tea, naturally contain plant compounds including numerous amino acids, antioxidants, and caffeine of course. As a general rule, herbal tea is caffeine free with the exception of yerba mate.

If you need an energy boost, then regular tea is a decent option for an afternoon tea or evening tea to keep you awake. This is because most teas generally contain a small amount of caffeine – up to 50mg for standard black tea. In comparison, an 8oz cup of drip coffee can contain over 90mg.

At Zest, our tea range provides a bigger energy boost. If you want to maintain your high caffeine consumption but kick your coffee addiction, then try one of our hot teas or ready to drink teas. There’s up to 150mg of caffeine per serving!

However, the caffeine in our tea will have a different effect on your energy levels and concentration compared to coffee. Which leads us onto L-Theanine.

3 – Calm Focus

L-Theanine is an amino acid that’s found naturally in tea. There are many health benefits associated with this amino acid and others found in tea leaves, however it’s the calming properties of L-Theanine that make drinking tea all the more popular.

While coffee provides a big hit of energy that has you bouncing off the ceiling, drinking tea is gentler whether you opt for white tea, oolong tea, or any of our black or green teas. This is due to L-Theanine slowing the onset of caffeine’s energy boost. It can also reduce stress, improve creativity, and enhance focus.

This is why tea is better for your well-being and daily routine.

Many people associate tea with calmness and health, especially green tea, however L-Theanine is found in most tea types from the Camellia sinensis plant – even black tea. In our ready to drink iced teas, there’s up to 100mg of L-Theanine per serving.

4 – Health Benefits of Tea

Our article exploring the history of tea delved into how our ancestors discovered and used this beverage for their health. But these aren’t just myths. Modern research has uncovered several links between regular tea consumption and a lower risk of heart attack, improved heart health, a stronger immune system, and even the treatment of some cardiovascular and degenerative diseases.

• Caffeine is known to stimulate the nervous system, however green tea can also impact cognition and brain function to reduce anxiety and stress,
• Other studies have found that consuming 2 cups of unsweetened tea per day provides a level of antioxidants and flavanoids that decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke,
• Regularly consuming tea has a positive impact on your blood pressure despite containing caffeine. This applies to both black and green tea.

Herbal teas have varying health benefits too – learn about these in our comprehensive guide to herbal tea types.

5 – It’s Better Than Coffee

Tea consumption in American households is steadily growing even though many people still love coffee. While 58% of people drink coffee to wake up in the morning, only 23% of people brew and consume tea daily.

We think that should change. Tea is flavorful, versatile, easy to make, and provides a much smoother energy boost. As a result, you’ll enhance your productivity and sharpen your mind to attention. It’s perfect for when you have a late night study session planned, a hard workout to get through, or just another Monday in the office.

Furthermore, with Zest Tea, your brewed or ready to drink iced tea can contain just as much (or more) caffeine than a cup of coffee.

To discover which tea beverage is best to replace your morning cup of coffee, read our article Best Tea to Replace Coffee.

High Caffeine Teas

To create our high caffeine tea which contains up to 3x the caffeine of regular tea, we combine high quality tea leaves with additional tea extract. This enables us to naturally boost the levels of caffeine and L-theanine while retaining that delicious tea flavor.

We are also proud to use natural, non-GMO ingredients to blend tasty flavors, for both our hot tea range and iced tea cans.

That’s another great thing about tea – it’s available in so many different formats.

If you don’t have time to slowly brew our pyramid teabags or loose leaf in hot water, then our ready to drink iced teas will be better suited to your routine. They’re low to no sugar, free of artificial sweeteners, vegan, and keto-friendly too.

The post Why Do People Drink Tea? 5 Main Reasons first appeared on Psarros Aroma of Nature.