Herbal Teas

January is the time for diet, detox and all round dreary weather!

If overindulgence has left you feeling like last year’s leftover Christmas turkey, it is time for a little detox.

Whether you are embracing Dry January or not after the excess of Christmas many of us will be giving our livers a bit of a break. An alcohol- free spell in January should hopefully not have to be filled with fizzy, energy drinks or sweet fruit juices but with wonderful, hot, soothing steamy herbal teas.

Packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, herbal teas are a great way to get 2018 off to a healthy start. Not only do they offer a healthy alternative to regular tea and coffee, they can help with everything from detoxifying your system to boosting your energy, there is an herbal brew to suit you! Perhaps dry January doesn't have to be such a chore after all.

There is something quite calming and peaceful about making herbal teas, fill the kettle, boil the water and watching the sumptuous leaves infuse the water; a simple ritual that feels calming and hearty.

But which herbal teas should we be brewing in our cups? We think the best often combine delicate green tea with light notes of flavours such as lemongrass, peppermint and ginger.

Herbal Tea – An Enjoyable Alternative to Traditional Tea

Herbal infusions provide an enjoyable alternative to traditional teas but are not strictly teas at all. Traditional teas (black green, etc.) come from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, whereas tea infusions are called ‘tisanes’ and come from a range of different plants.

Herbal teas are naturally caffeine free and contain many nutrients that support good health and wellbeing. Herbal teas are packed with flavour usually with freshly picked whole herbs or flowers. Herbal tea can be made from either fresh or dried plants.

Producing a high-quality herbal tea takes a wealth of knowledge to get the right subtle balance of flavour and taste.

Herbal blends are created from ingredients such as lemongrass, fennel, peppermint and camomile. They are often produced to calm sooth and invigorate. These teas naturally support healthy living and wellness.

We offer a wide range of infusions for you to try here at Cup of Tea:

Herbal Infusions

TEA TASTING SELECTION HERBAL TEA £5.90

TEA TASTING SELECTION HERBAL TEA £5.90

Herbal infusions include invigorating blends to help kick start your day and soothing flavours to help you wind down.

We have a fantastic Herbal Tea Taster Selection box with a range of herbal teas to tantalise your taste buds!

This box contains 10 delicious herbal teas;

Herbal Orange
Herbal Treat
Rooibos Bourbon Vanilla
Amaretto Prickly Pear
Strawberry Cream
Rooibos Cream Orange
Rooibos Lemon
All Weather
Ginger with Herbs
Spicy Ginger

Plain Infusions

VERBENA FRENCH ROSE ROSEBUD PEPPERMINT

£2.90 for a 50g bag £4.20 for a 50g bag £2.30 for a 50g bag

Plain Infusions - Verbena, French Rose Rosebud and Pppermint

Plain infusions; plain by name but not by nature, these infusions allow you to enjoy ingredients and flavours in their natural forms.

For example, our Verbena loose leaf tea, with its distinct refreshing citrus taste and unmistakable zingy aroma will enliven your senses.

Or we have the delightful French Rose Rosebud loose leaf tea with its delicate pink buds which release a soothing, fragrant aroma and infuse into an emerald-green colour in the cup.

In need of a boost? Our classic Peppermint loose leaf tea comes with lots of refreshing menthol that will both revitalise and invigorate.

Flavoured Infusions

GINGER AND LEMON FEEL RELAXED NIGHTCAP ORGANIC

£4.90 for 100g bag £5.40 for 100g bag £4.60 for 100g bag

Flavoured Infusions - Ginger and Lemon, Feel Relaxed and Nightcap

Flavoured infusions; day or night, a flavoured herbal tea can be a treat to savour. In the morning, awaken your taste buds with the zesty flavours of our Ginger and Lemon

A delightful infusion tea to relax and help put stress and tension behind you is Feel Relaxed, a delicious flavoured herbal infusion with the subtle taste of oranges and cream.

At the end of the day, a warming cup of Nightcap loose leaf tea provides the perfect way to unwind. It has calming herbal flavours to help settle your mind for a wonderful night’s sleep!

AYURVEDIC TEAS

GOLDEN MILK KEEP ON GOING ORGANIC LIGHT MY FLAME ORGANIC

£6.30 for 100g bag £6.90 for 100g bag £6.90 for 100g bag

Find your inner balance with a variety of Ayurveda infusions that will bring a harmonious balance to your character.

Ayurveda is based on a holistic understanding of the relationship between the body, mind and soul.

The three main principles (Doshas) are responsible for the control of all the processes and functions in the body.

The main factors of Ayurveda teachings are Vata, Pitta and Kapha and are responsible for all positive and negative changes in the body.

To be healthy you have all your Doshas in balance.
With your Vata in balance you feel energetic, happy and creative
With your Pitta in balance this creates charisma, energy, strong metabolism and a clear mind
With your Kapha in balance this enables a good immune system, patience and physical stability.

We have a delightful new Ayurvedic tea for you to try, Golden Milk. This is a flavoured blend of black tea and Curkuma (similar to turmeric) with a creamy taste.

Curkuma contains plenty of antioxidants; it has a yellow root which is said to prevent infection. It is a popular ingredient in India and Sri Lanka for curries and other recipes but is also a key ingredient for the drink ‘Golden Milk.’ This is a traditional Ayurveda drink containing curkuma, ginger, hot milk, pepper and honey.

We also have 2 classic Ayurveda teas; Keep on Going Organic and Light my Flame Organic. Keep on Going Organic is an herbal bLend to give you a boost when you need it most. This tea is caffeine free and blends herbs and oriental spices designed to enhance your stamina. Light my Flame Organic is a blend of warm spices and natural herbs to tantalise your taste buds. Also a caffeine free tea it has flavours of spicy ginger, fruity lemon and refreshing mint.

Herbal Teas Recipes

Tea has become embedded in the British way of life, from the humble tea break to the sumptuous afternoon tea.

We believe tea can be used in many ways to enjoy all the delicious flavours and aromas.

Tea can be used in cooking and baking to make so many wonderful recipes. Here we have some delicious recipes using loose leaf herbal teas.

Firstly, our Sweet Potato Coconut soup recipe using one of our delicious herbal loose leaf teas, High Tea Co Ginger Breeze.

An easy, healthy and delicious soup, a major comfort food!

High Tea Co Ginger Breeze - £5.80 for a 100g bag

High Tea Co Ginger breeze loose leaf tea

Sweet Potato Coconut Soup

Ingredients

4 tablespoons High Tea Ginger Breeze loose leaf tea

1 onion, diced

1 stick of celery, diced

2 garlic cloves, chopped finely

3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

1 teaspoon thyme leaves

1 can (400ml) coconut milk

1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce

Croutons to garnish

Salt and pepper to season

Method

Boil some water and pour over your Ginger Breeze loose leaf tea and brew for 6 minutes. Strain and discard the tea leaves and set aside the brewed tea.
Heat some oil in a large saucepan and add the onions and celery and cook over a medium heat until soft, stirring occasionally. Then add 2 chopped finely garlic gloves and sauté for another few minutes.
Stir in the diced sweet potato and some salt.
Then pour in your brewed ginger breeze loose leaf tea and coconut milk and bring it all to the boil. Turn the heat down to a simmer and stir in the sweet chilli sauce and thyme leaves and simmer for 20 minutes or until the sweet potato is soft.
Puree the soup until smooth using a blender.
Sprinkle croutons on the top to garnish!
Serve in warm bowls and enjoy!

Golden Milk Drink

This is a traditional Ayurveda drink. Golden Milk is based on the traditional Ayurvedic recipe that has been savoured for centuries and used to support the mind and body in a number of ways.

What’s in Golden Milk? The star ingredient of golden milk is turmeric. This warm yellow beverage takes its colour from turmeric, which is combined with other traditional Ayurvedic herbs like black pepper, cardamom and vanilla.

Golden milk is a superb drink, especially in the colder months when you want something soothing, warming and comforting.

Ingredients

8 teaspoons of Ronnefeldt Golden Milk loose leaf tea

0.5l milk

0.5l boiling hot water

Honey to taste

Method