A few weeks ago, my husband and I were hit by the literal plague (okay, fine– influenza. But there was a moment there that I was certain it was the end for me. #dramaqueen). After the first week or so of having no taste for tea (who am I?!), I finally started to feel well enough again to crave my favorite, comforting hot treat. A fresh stash of tea samples arrived at my front door, with this one sitting tantalizingly right on top. My husband loves chamomile when he’s sick, and I love a tea with a fun twist, so I knew this one would be perfect to cure our sick day blues.
Wise Ape’s teas hit the sweet spot of what I love in a good herbal (or traditional tea) blend– interesting, health-supportive herbs, but not at the expense of great flavor. Too often, herbal teas can fall into the all-the-same category– this one certainly did not. Packed with great, sleep-supportive herbs like valerian root, chamomile and skullcap, this blend still boasted deliciously creamy, dreamy orange flavors that felt like heaven on my sick-y throat. The perfect cup to wind down with (and clear those lingering flu-y sinuses) while still feeling like a little treat, this one was a total hit for both my coffee-loving hubs and myself.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Wise Ape Tea Co.
Description
A dreamy blend of chamomile flowers with subtle hints of orange and cream, combined with adaptogenic super-herbs to support your nightly zen. This relaxing elixir is designed to calm the mind, ease the body, and help you sink into a restorative night’s sleep.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Fennel Licorice from Hampsted Tea and Coffee. . . .
Fennel and licorice go hand-in-hand in my opinion. The fennel bulb has very licorice-like notes among its green herbal flavors, complementing the black-jellybean anise flavor we recognize as licorice. This blend from Hampstead Tea & Coffee also adds a touch of peppermint to provide a more dynamic flavor profile.
In order for me to drink tea all day long, I need naturally caffeine-free herbal teas to balance out the menu. I love popular herbal tea flavors like ginger and mint, but I am always on the lookout for more unusual herbal teas to add to my cupboard. Fennel and Licorice certainly qualifies as a less traditional herbal blend to keep in the rotation.
Beyond the flavors, these herbs offer some healing effects. Fennel helps with digestion and is said to promote feelings of comfort and relaxation. Licorice root works as a natural sweetener, helping you cut down on the sugar, as well as serving as a sore-throat soother if you are coming down with a cold, or if you need to prepare yourself to perform an opera.
If ginger teas are too spicy and mint teas too much like menthol, try this Fennel and Licorice blend to invite a new set of herbs into your teacup.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Hampstead Tea & Coffee
Description:
Keeping harmony within you is important to help balance the demands of a busy and impactful life. Fennel and Anise seeds in with selected Liquorice root and Peppermint leaves will keep you focused and posed for action.
Fennel is an excellent digestive and breath freshener, valued for its comforting and balancing effects. Our unique infusion blends fennel seeds, liquorice root and peppermint leaves to help regulate the digestive system.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Benefits Lemon and Echinacea from Bigelow Tea . . . .
This week, my Health points were hit with a triple whammy: day-after sore muscles from kickboxing, monthlies, and I caught the cold going around, waaaaaaaaaah. Needless to say I busted out my favorite treatments – acetaminophen, zinc and herbal tea lol.
Ordinarily I prefer loose leaf teas, but I do like that this is Bigelow Benefits – lemon echinacea is bagged for convenience on the go. Also, if the herbs are broken up, they’ll release their goodness (or placebo effect) to me faster… right?!?! The brew tasted like a Chord of flavor, Lemongrass provides the main note, then sweet mallow and finally a hint of herbaceousness from the echinacea (which lessens the severity/duration of colds).
Also included: a bit of fennel for tummy relief, Sage as a decongestant, Elderflower for crunchy mom powers, and lemon balm for mental ease. This is still drinkable medicine when brewed with my other go-to tea bag for colds, traditional medicinals “throat coat”.
I’d recommend for cold season and in travel bags, Bring on the wellness!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Bigelow Teas
Looking to Stay Well every day! Authentic Echinacea and crisp lemon with a smooth relaxing herbal end note. All of us know how important it is to put good things in our bodies to help us stay strong. That desire was the inspiration for the Bigelow Benefits line, everyday teas that fuel your body with good for you ingredients. But of course, flavor is everything to the Bigelow family, so we designed this line to taste fabulous and help support your well-being. We believe our Benefits teas, as part of your everyday routine, can help you define the life you want to live! Caffeine free.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Happy Tummy from Allegro Tea
After a big dinner or a stressful day, I tend to reach for an herbal tea to help me and my stomach relax. Recently, I tried Happy Tummy from AllegroTea.
From the scent of the dry leaf, I would have guessed that this was a pure-mint blend. The leaves were fragrant with icy cold peppermint, strongly reminding me of the mint flavor in classic candy canes.
I brewed this tea hot, which allowed the cinnamon and ginger to warm up the mint. With powerhouse ingredients like ginger and mint, this blend could have easily become overpowering. Instead, the spices and herbs occupy a delicate balance: not too spicy, and not too menthol-like.
Having this balance of herbal sweetness, warm spiciness, and cool mint makes drinking this tea a very pleasant sensation. I know its ingredients are designed to help calm a stomach ache, but they feel both soothing and invigorating in my throat and chest as well. I’ll have to stockpile some of this blend for the inevitable sick day to help me feel better.
A clean and simple herbal blend, that can help turn around just about any ailment. Warm you up, cool you down, settle your stomach, and make you smile.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Allegro Coffee and Tea
Description:
Organic peppermint, ginger, cinnamon, restorative dandelion root and spearmint have been calming tummies for centuries. We’ve blended them in just the right harmonious proportions in our Happy Tummy to gently soothe and balance your digestive system and calm your state of being.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Marshmallow Root from Celebration Herbals. . . .
I think all of us have flavors that just call to us when we see them in teas. Some love vanilla. Others might prefer chocolate. Some lean towards fruit, while others love the malt of a plain black tea. For me, and for many others, marshmallow is one of those flavors. If you are anything like me than you see it and you just gotta have it.
In some cases, especially when tea makers are trying to remain vegetarian/vegan friendly, marshmallow root is what is used. It doesn’t necessarily taste like marshmallow but it tends to give teas that marshmallow fluffiness that is oh so delightful and when combined with other components, it can help sell the marshmallow element.
This tea, steeped for 4.5-5 minutes in 200F degree water, is definitely fluffy. Soft and fluffy. Flavorwise, it is smooth and a touch vegetal but also sweet. In theory, marshmallow root has a few health benefits so it is no surprise that the herbal nature of this tea comes off a bit medicinal tasting as well. Moreover, I get the slightest bit of corn and straw, similar to what you might taste in a white tea.
Overall, it is pretty calming tea but definitely not what you are looking for when you think marshmallow flavoring.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Celebration Herbals
Description
Marshmallow’s genus “Althaea” is derived from the Greek word atho, meaning “to cure.” This herb has been used for centuries. It was advocated by Hippocrates for its virtues, and it has long been used as a food in times of famine.
Native to Europe, Marshmallow grows in wet soils. Its roots are harvested in the autumn.
Marshmallow has many uses and a good reference book is helpful. It is commonly used as a tea, poultice, syrup, ointment, gargle, capsule or wash.
With this bulk package you can create a vast array of home remedies including tinctures, capsules, poultices, salves and, of course, herbal tea.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
