Wake up and smell the TEA

Agonizing over the first post is every blogger’s dilemma, to find that topic that will capture their reader’s interest. After multiple drafts and multiple cups of morning tea to stimulate my creative thought process, I had my moment. Why not start with writing about something relevant to what most people begin their day - that morning cuppa tea boost, that hot cup that invigorates and makes you want to conquer the day.


Being Indian, I grew up with my love for chai – black tea with milk. In the recent years though, I've been more conscious about everything that I consume and how it interacts with my bodily functions. As someone with anemia, the fact that caffeine obstructs the absorption of iron from the food, forced me to look for non-caffeinated options. My world of tea has now expanded to include a lot of roots, herbs and spices - pretty much anything that can be brewed or steeped. The traditional chai has now become more of an indulgence I treat myself to now and then versus my go to morning drink.


So what are the options out there? Enough to create a brouhaha; but for simplicity, I will talk about some of the ones I really like.


My favorite is ginger tea. I love the strong flavor and "bite" that the taste has. I combine it with cumin to enhance the immune boosting benefits though the flavor is a tad diluted. Ginger improves digestion and increases absorption of food and can reduce bloating after eating too much. It also helps with respiratory problems, improves blood circulation, relieves menstrual discomfort and boosts immunity.


Turmeric Tea.There has been so much hype around turmeric especially in the west, and rightly so. It is  is being explored as a cure and a preventative medicine for a range of diseases, especially cancer. Turmeric tea made from raw organic turmeric root has a rich, soothing and sort of earthy flavor. Right there I have my boost of anti-inflammatory cup of goodness. Remember to add pepper to improve absorption; the taste becomes a lot spicier Adding cumin to this combo will give you a double dose of immunity while muting the spicy flavor.


Rooibos tea is another one that I love. It's deep red color with sweet notes and a full-bodied flavor makes it a very enticing beverage option in the morning. It is known to have 50% more antioxidants than Green Tea and is known to help with heart health and cancer prevention.


Stinging Nettle tea, is an effective remedy for pain, soothes allergies, improves the immune system, protects the heart, optimizes digestion, relieves inflammation, and heals the skin, among other benefits. It's made from dried nettle leaves and has a mild and subtle flavor. And the more you drink of it, the more you appreciate the subtle flavors in every cup.


Rest assured, no matter which one you choose, you are giving your body a boost of antioxidants and other immune-boosting benefits. Yo can't go wrong with tea.


Some of the other teas that I always have in my pantry are chamomile tea and tulsi tea. I pick and choose my potion depending on my mood or what my body is craving. For example, if I want to relax before bedtime, Chamomile is my first choice. If I have eaten out or some food has not gone down to well with my system, I choose ginger, so it really depends on your preference.


In my follow up post, I will talk about brewing/steeping the above mentioned teas, choosing ingredients and recommended options for sweetening your teas.


So what do YOU brew to warm your chilly winter mornings?


Cheers!


Choose WellThee is about making choices that enhance your Mental, Physical, Emotional and Spiritual wellness.