We had a brief cold snap and now all I can think about is fall. It is my favorite season. Not because pumpkin spice comes back on the scene but simply because it is cozy. It is a time to braise and laze and curl up with books and of course a warm cup of tea. One of my favorite things. It is ritualistic and luckily very good for you, unlike tequila shots.. The options are endless too. Green, black caffeinated, sedative, floral, herbal, bitter, spicy, soothing.. You can choose your own adventure in the land of tea. Whether you need to go to sleep, get energized, poop, clear up your skin, Balance your hormones, focus, get aroused, cure a sugar craving, you name it! Tea has all the moves and it is a MVP in my sobriety tool kit. So here are a few of my all time favorites.
Peppermint: Helps relieve an upset stomach, lowers stress, boosts your immune system, freshens your breath and it can help you lose weight. It also makes a pretty decent AF Mojito. Just make a simple syrup with loose leaf mint tea, strain, add lime, a little club soda and some fresh mint leaves (if you got ‘em) then pour over ice and.. huzzah! Fresh AF.
Raspberry Leaf: I always have one tea on hand that has Raspberry leaves in the mix because it is awesome for your lady parts. It eases cramps, regulates the hormones, balances out your mood and clears the complexion. I used to drink wine during my period, which exacerbated all of these issues. Raspberry tea is much more comforting/beneficial. It’s far cheaper too and I don’t have to take anything down to the recycle bin. Currently my favorite blend is the Flower Power tea we make at work. It has Red Raspberry Leaf, nettles, hibiscus, calendula, vitex berries, linden flowers and chamomile. A++
Tulsi: Ah Holy Basil.. A base for so many incredible teas. This adaptogen is revered as “The Queen of Herbs” in India and has been used for over 5,000 years. One thing it is great at is supporting your bodies natural detoxification process. Highly necessary in early recovery. It has many other super powers such as relieving stress, preventing respiratory disorders, regulating blood sugar and maintaining oral health but detoxification is what brought it into my life. My current tulsi tea obsession is Organic India’s Tulsi Cinnamon Rose. To die for.
Licorice: This stuff is pretty amazing. I know it is one of those things that people either love or loathe but if you fall into the latter category allow me to make a case for Licorice. It is well known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. All good things. It is considered to be an aphrodisiac in Chinese medicine, turns out the aroma is particularly arousing to women, just saying. It also supports your adrenal glands which can get burnt out by chronic stress. Something my life was made of when I was drinking. Raise your hand if you drank to manage your stress and anxiety.. yeah, me too. I didn’t know any of this when I started drinking this tea. I came to love it simply because it is sweet and it helped satisfy my candy cravings in early sobriety. After studying up it made all the sense in the world that I would fall in love. Currently I am drinking a Peppermint and Licorice blend by Pukka and the Herb Bar’s Adrenal Support Tea that has Nettles, Oatstraw, Rosehips, Borage, Licorice, Wild yam, Schisandra, red clover and stevia.
Passion Flower: This total oddball beauty grows all over my neighborhood and it’s interesting to me that while the flower looks so vibrant and exciting it’s effects are calmative. It reduces the activity in our central nervous system. If you need to relax, get some sleep or need a little pain relief this is the stuff. When my mind is keeping me from a full nights sleep I drink this sedative tea from work. It knocks me out!
Heads up, this is no sales pitch. I did recommend some teas from the herb shop I work in but I don’t make any money from the sales of anything off the site. Cross my heart. I am just sharing things that bring me joy and help me stay grounded, happy and well rested. Because that is what I want for all of you! Do you have a favorite tea? Let me know in the comments. I am always looking to try something new!
Day 233: Kimchi fried quinoa with avocado and cilantro. I was going to make quinoa kimchi cakes but I was running out of time this morning. Another day!