It was brought into Western civilization by Portuguese priests and merchants in China during the early 16th century. It is said that the first person to drink tea was the Chinese emperor Shen Nung. While sitting under a tree some leaves blew into boiling water and being an herbalist, he decided to give it a try.
Tea was first consumed daily by the wealthy, as it was thought that it would lead people to sluggishness, and since the rich did not have hard labor, they would consume it up to 4 times a day. However, what is the actual health benefits of tea?
Tea does contain a natural calming effect, which is why it has been used to help with reducing stress and makes a great before-bed beverage. It contains antioxidants that help to prevent damage to healthy cells. The antioxidants found in tea work perfectly to eliminate free radicals which can be caused by pollution and other factors found in everyday living. These free radicals are the leading cause of oxidative stress.
Other amazing benefits found by drinking 3-4 cups daily of tea are...
Help with weight management.
Reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke
Promotes healthy bones
Help keep a beautiful smile
Helps to improve blood pressure
Can help lower bad cholesterol
and these are just to name a few. Overall optimal health is found from consuming tea and some of the best to start with for beginnings are Green Tea, Peppermint Tea, Chamomile Tea, English Breakfast Tea, and Herbal Teas.
When consuming tea you want to make sure you are purchasing from a trusted provider, and organic, sustainably sourced is always best. If you aren't too sure about the earthy taste that can be found with teas, adding honey, lemon, or even a natural sweetener such as stevia, coconut sugar, or date sugar can help to bring balance to the taste buds.
Creating your own tea blends can be fun and easy. Begin by purchasing organic herbs in bulk. Bring water to a simmer (do not boil the water) add herbs and allow to infuse for a minimum of 15 minutes. The longer you all the infusion, the stronger the tea will be with great health benefits. Below are some great starter tea recipes.
Restful Tea Blend
1 part Chamomile
1 part Lavender
1/2 part Lemon Verbena
Immune Boost Tea
1 part Nettle
1/2 part echinacea
1/2 part Ginger Root
Detox Tea
1 part Dandelion
1/2 part Burdock
1/2 part Red Clove
Not into making your own tea blends, take a look are some amazing pre-blends created by a certified herbalist.
Whether you are an experienced tea drinker or just getting started, taking time out of your busy day to pause and go within can be magical. Creating a tea time ritual where you find a cozy space, maybe pull out a journal, and allow yourself to go within, can create a beautiful experience of helping to connect with the spirit, and blossom new possibilities that may not have been discovered before. No matter what life throws at you, you have the ability to manifest any life you desire, as long as you are willing to give yourself the opportunity. Tea time can not only bring you good health but also help you to stay connected to the things that truly matter in your life.
So the question is....have you tea time today?
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