Tea For The Soul

Just like most Brits I cannot function throughout the day without sipping at least three cups of tea (and that's just to get me started in the morning). My tea addiction started with an innocent cup of Breakfast tea when I was a child and from then on in my foray into tea has manifested itself into a full on addiction.

Fast forward a few years and my tea of choice is now a simple mild green tea which helps to wake me up in the mornings and provide me with the tiniest hit of caffeine for when I need an afternoon pick-up. I’ve sampled many different brands of green tea but I have always remained loyal to my Clipper Green Tea. It’s Fair Trade and it provides the perfect mild concoction to ease away any mild stresses. But what about the days when good old green tea won’t cut it?

I’ve have scoured the globe (quite literally) to bring my favourite teas and the qualities they posses. The first on my list is the Organic Rooibos Red Bush Tea. A charming red coloured sweet tea which carries the benefit of not only being organic but also caffeine-free as well as aiding a restful sleep. The taste is mild and sweet and similar to strawberry tea. Whittards do an amazing version of Rooibos tea (found here) with added vanilla which tastes divine. Similar in flavour to the Rooibos tea are two loose leaf teas that I picked up on a trip to New York for under $3 each. I picked up one cherry flavored black tea and one Vanilla flavoured from Pearl River Mart in Soho. They both come in adorable kitschy tins and are a nice alternative to green tea. The only downside to these teas is that the store doesn’t ship to the UK, however I found similar versions in Harrods food hall. 

Next up is the Pukka Three Mint Organic Tea. This is probably my favourite tea to sip when I am feeling unwell. Its well know that mint aids digestion and is an all-round miracle working for stomach upsets and this tea contain a huge dolloping of Peppermint, Spearmint and Fieldmint. Combined together this tea is like a hug in mug. Its sooths bloated and upset stomachs whilst giving you the added benefit of fresh breath.

Another tea in which I use for its ailment properties is Ginger Tea. But let me warn you this is not for the faint hearted. I use ginger tea when I am suffering from a ‘monthy’ stomach ache when even my hot water bottle won’t do its usual job. Ginger tea really helps ease uncomfortable, bloated stomachs in no time. I even add a sachet of Ginger tea into my bath along with bicarbonate soda and Epsom salts for a detoxifying soak. The flavour however is downright awful.

If a good night’s sleep is what you’re after then the Clipper Snore and Peace is the perfect concoction to have you heading towards the land of nod in no time. This organic beauty is infused with sleep inducing ingredients such as Lavender, camomile and Lemon Balm. I have to admit that although I’m not all that sold on the flavour, this tea really does helped to sooth me into slumber at bedtime.

For those  who like to sip their brews in a tranquil and social setting and also are Manchester based, The Art of Tea in Didsbury is my favourite tea destination to  sip away the hours. The small cosy cafe also has a second-hand book shop toward the back of the store which makes a nice little hideaways for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the city cente chains.

So there you have it, the perfect tea guide for even the most novice tea drinker.