Keep Calm & Steep On
It’s time to take a breather and celebrate International Day of Calm! This day is all about promoting mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation techniques, so you can say "see ya" to stress and "hello" to bliss.
Tea, my friends, is your ticket to tranquility. Yup, you heard me right. Certain ingredients in tea can help you reduce stress and anxiety, sleep better, and feel more relaxed than ever before. So, whether you prefer a classic cup of green tea or a spicy ginger brew, brew up a cup and let calmness consume you.
There's no better time to slow down and take a moment for ourselves with a cup of tea. I've rounded up my five fave calming teas that help me find inner peace and relaxation.
As Ladylike As I Wanna Be
Wherever I am, I like to make sure I’m always in a 20 metre radius of a bag of this loose-leaf blend of green and black tea for my personal sanity.
The nutty flavour of toasted brown rice is comforting, and the luxurious and delicate aroma of rose petals can have a calming effect by triggering the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain.
Green and Black tea, which come from camellia sinensis (a.k.a. the tea plant) also contains L-Theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and reduces stress. Studies have shown that L-Theanine can increase the production of alpha brain waves, which are associated with relaxation, creativity, and a state of wakeful relaxation.
Also, it just makes me feel like I’m indulging in something decadent, which is soothing in of itself - even if it is a placebo effect, I’ll take it!
Sticking to My Morning Mantra
This velvety smooth Pai Mu Tan white tea from China is known to promote a sense of calmness, helping to ease anxiety and reduce stress levels.
This tea is made from the classic white tea shoots and buds sourced from the mountainous regions of Fujian, China. These tea leaves are harvested at their freshest and then carefully processed to retain their delicate flavors and aromas. The result is a light, buttery flavor with a hint of peonies that is sure to soothe your senses and help you unwind.
What makes Pai Mu Tan white tea such a perfect choice for calmness is its high concentration of good ol’ L-Theanine, that is known to help regulate mood, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation. The combination of L-Theanine and low caffeine content in this tea makes it an excellent choice for those seeking a sacred pause in their day.
Self-Care Saved the Queen
Cuz you a damn queen and deserve some time for self-care! This tea is an eff-you to all the energy vampires in your day. Steeped in Ayurvedic tradition, this specific blend of cumin, coriander and fennel has been used for centuries.
And while it is my go-to for an apres-dinner digestif, it can also help inspire relaxation through each of the spice’s properties.
Cumin, coriander, and fennel are commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine to help with digestion and promote overall wellness. They contain essential oils and antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties, which can help reduce stress and anxiety by calming the nervous system. Additionally, the earthy aroma of these herbs can have a soothing effect by making you feel more grounded.
Sometimes I Make Good Choices
The name of this tea is all about the choices I make…some definitely questionable, but this tea makes it easy for me to enjoy. I love green teas, and a jasmine green is close to perfection - but I ran into the issue of not being able to drink green tea in the evening because of the caffeine’s impact on my sleep. So I was determined to make better choices and introduce a decaf green tea into my shop!
The second I open the tea tin, I immediately surrender to the soothing smell of jasmine. The scent of jasmine is believed to stimulate the production of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine, which are responsible for regulating mood and promoting feelings of calm and relaxation. Its sweet and delicate aroma can also provide a sense of comfort and tranquility, helping to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
And that green tea contains our oh-so-favourite amino acid L-Theanine, that promotes relaxation and reduces stress.
You Know How I Need to Unwind
I named this tea after my Sunday night ritual of needing to be home by 7 p.m. in order to unwind properly, get a good night’s sleep and start my week off right (also it’s a Seinfeld reference - Elaine and I both appreciate an evening to decompress).
This blend of peppermint, rosehip, spearmint, ginger, rooibos, hibiscus, rose, calendula, and osmanthus petals creates the ultimate chillaxation experience. Each ingredient provides unique calming and relaxing properties:
Peppermint and spearmint have been used for centuries to aid digestion and calm the mind. Its menthol content has a cooling effect on the body, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.
Ginger has a warming effect on the body and contains compounds such as gingerols and shogaols, which have anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce stress levels in the body. When we are stressed, our bodies release cortisol, a hormone that can cause inflammation and lead to various health issues. The anti-inflammatory properties in ginger can help to reduce inflammation and reduce the negative effects of cortisol.
Hibiscus, calendula, rooibos and rosehip are rich in antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation in the body and promote a sense of calmness.
Rose and osmanthus petals also have anti-inflammatory properties, but the scent alone has a calming effect. When we inhale the aroma of these flowers, the scent molecules interact with the olfactory system in our brains, which is closely linked to the limbic system, the part of the brain responsible for regulating emotions and stress response. This interaction can trigger the release of endorphins and other feel-good chemicals in the brain, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety levels.
Serenity Beyond Steeping
Well you know I love tea THE MOST, but beyond the teapot here’s a few of my other favourite things that help keep me calm:
Meditation (check out the aptly named Calm app I use *almost* daily #workingonit),
Getting out and physically connecting with the land I live on by going on a walk, hike or digging my toes into the sand (no matter how cold the sand is!)
Listening to broadway musical playlists in an excessively bubbly bubble bath
Sharing all my big feelings with my therapist or besties over a cup of tea
Getting snuggles from a snub-nosed dog or following this doggie’s Insta account
Wishing you peace and calmness today and every day - don’t forget to take that magic tea moment for yourself - you f*cking deserve it!
References:
L-Theanine: The Effects of L-Theanine (Suntheanine®) on Objective Sleep Quality in Boys with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6073449/
Green and black tea: Psychological effects of dietary components of tea: caffeine and L-theanine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6836118/
Peppermint and spearmint: The effects of peppermint on exercise performance: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103722/
Ginger: Ginger and its health benefits: Review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665023/
Rooibos: Rooibos: A South African Herbal Tea with Antioxidant Properties: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4137549/
Hibiscus: The cardioprotective effects of hibiscus tea (Review): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420195/
Calendula: Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, free-radical-scavenging, and antimicrobial activities of hibiscus sabdariffa L. and cale...: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3789413/
