While winter brings its own joys (festivities, cosiness, and the potential for snow) it’s also a low time for many of us; dark, cold, and a long way away from summer’s uplifting sunshine.
We personally find that the right blend of tea can offer the perfect pick-me-up on a cold December morning, and if you find ‘your blend’, it might just support you the whole way through winter.
Tranquil turmeric + St John’s Wort
The infamous St John’s Wort features in this mix. You might’ve seen St John’s Wort mentioned in relation to its benefit on mood. There’s lots of research to support this bright plant’s support in depression, and it might well work to lighten your mood too.
Anti-inflammatory turmeric, golden calendula, and bright pomegranate also feature, as well as rosemary (a classic nerve tonic) and sea buckthorn, a bright orange berry and one of Britain's only adaptogens, helping your body to regulate stress. Tranquil turmeric is an oasis of sunshine in the darkness of winter.
Cosy, hot berries and blossoms
Do you remember hot Ribena? A classic childhood winter-warmer, carrying memories of thawing-out from venturing into the cold. We think our berries and blossoms mix is reminiscent of hot Ribena - with tart raspberries, strawberries and black-choke berries, and a more adult twist of deep, sweet beetroot.
We’ve also added apple, elderflower and rose hips for a more uplifting aroma.
Simple lemon balm for a midwinter smile
Sweet, lemony lemon balm is a mint that tastes like lemon and is well known (and studied) to uplift mood and mind.
Research shows that lemon balm might support GABA neurotransmitters -which make us feel good- and help us to regulate stress.
Lemon balm also tastes uplifting - with a soft, sweet, minty, lemon taste, lemon balm is truly a gentle balm for the soul.
Rosehips + Rose petals for the heart
Everybody knows rose - the gentle, heart-warming hips and petals. The petals have long since shed by the time winter comes around, and the hips are on their way out by the end of autumn, but dried hips and petals preserve their summer warmth and make for the gentlest berry-red tea come winter.
Rosehips are beneficial for the immune system (and fending off those winter flu’s), and they contain lots of vitamin C, and rose petals are delightfully aromatic and good for the soul.
Organic ayurvedic chai - warm sunshine in a cup
What could warm you up after a winter-gale more than a hot cinnamon and ginger chai mix? Make it organic and hand-blended and you’re onto a winter-winner.
Cinnamon has been shown to have many health benefits like supporting blood sugar control, and for some, can be a little something sweet to take the edge off of any sugar cravings.
Chai tea, often simply called "chai," originates from South Asia, where it has been a cherished part of their tradition for centuries. The word "chai" means "tea" in Hindi and many other languages, and the drink traces its roots to ancient Ayurvedic (Traditional Indian medicine) practice in India. Initially, a blend of spices like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves was brewed without tea leaves and served as a medicinal tonic.
Our organic chai blend borrows the original cinnamon, ginger, cloves and cardamom with an added twist of black peppercorns.
We think tea comes into its own in winter, especially berry and spice based blends. What’s your favourite winter tea? Let us know!