Are there any wellness benefits to strike afternoon tea ?
Upset stomach , shrewish headache , lounge cold ? Before you reach for those over - the - counter medications , why not prove an eld - one-time remedy — sipping herbal Camellia sinensis . Mint afternoon tea , in finicky , has been found to have several healing properties and has now become the subject of quite a few research discipline .
Grandma was right — peppermint tea can relieve indigestion . cool down menthol in the tea slack enteric sinew and produce bile so food is digested more quickly . Mint also reduces flatulence , bloat and belly cramps , and has been express to in effect exempt symptom of Irritable Bowel Syndrome ( IBS ) by up to 75 pct . One caveat : those with reflux disease ( GERD ) should not utilize mint teatime to treat symptoms , accord to the University of Maryland Medical Center . Mint loosen up the sphincter muscle in the gorge and can actually increase pyrosis symptom .
CC flickr photo by Ayleen Gaspar
Mint has a numbing , calming effect , make it an ideal drink to unbosom anxiety , depression or headaches . Try combining it with camomile for a double - shot of equanimity . Mint has even been found to frown blood sugar , an important consideration for anyone with type 2 diabetes . refer your doctor , though , if you take medication to insure line sugar . combine medicine with peck tea may get down blood sugar too much , causing hypoglycemia ( low blood clams ) .
judge imbibe raft tea to do by a usual low temperature . This singular herb has antimicrobic and antifungal belongings , which just might speed recovery . It also reduce mucous , make it an efficient expectorant . It soothes a sore throat and quiets coughing as well . Sweeten mint tea with honey , which has many similar benefits .
You ’ll regain mint teayou can brewin most grocery stores , although loose leaf teatime is usually impudent and of better calibre than boxed varieties , according to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health . boxed in tea go through more processing , which releases their explosive oils — and their potency . seem for loose tea brands in instinctive food stores or herbal shop . Certified herbalists often offer their own blending . Opt for organic or wildcrafted Camellia sinensis , whenever possible .
CC flickr photo by Ayleen Gaspar
Making Your Own Mint Tea
If you enjoy plenty Camellia sinensis , consider making your own for several reasons . First , mint is among the elementary herb to maturate and within one year of planting , you ’ll have more mint than you may likely apply . Additionally , many herbal tea and escaped herbs sold commercially are imported from abroad . They often sit in red-hot warehouses which can destroy nutrient calibre and flavor . The herbs may also be irradiated to prevent louse infestations or treated with other pesticides .
To make mint tea leaf , cut your mint plant life in mid - summer . Harvest the mint in the morning on a warm , dry day and cut the plant back to about half its original size of it . Young , belittled leaf make better Camellia sinensis than older leaves , which can become bitter . Gather the mint sprigs together and draw them with twine . Place the bundles in browned paper dish and fall them in a warm , dry office with good aura circulation .
When the folio are dry and crackly , plunder them from their radical . Process the leave in a food processor if you like , or will them whole . At this distributor point , you’re able to mix dried mint foliage with other herbs , such as lilac , camomile , lemon balm or nettle . Mixed - herb Camellia sinensis have a more complex flavor and may also be more nutritious than single - herb teas . Store your mint tea leaf in an airtight container , such as a glass jounce and keep it in a dry , cool pantry .
To make tea leaf from loose hatful leaves , simply add 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves to 1 cup stewing weewee . send the foliage in a Camellia sinensis nut , Camellia sinensis infuser or snatch of cheesecloth before adding them to the water . extortionate the tea no longer than 6 to 8 minutes or it will become sulfurous .
Do n’t need to waitress for dry out leaves ? you’re able to also use fresh leaves in your tea . Simply take 4 - 5 stalks of mint , vanquish them in your hand ( to release the oil ) , put them in a teapot , pour boiling water over them and steep for five minutes .
Choosing Mints for Teas
There are over 600 dissimilar motley of mint . The most vulgar type , spearmint and peppermint candy , impart a fresh , cool smell to tea . Experiment with dissimilar varieties to see a teatime you like . Apple mint leaves , for example , have a sweet gustatory sensation resemble Malus pumila . You ’ll also find orangish , grapefruit , Citrus limon or deep brown - flavor mass leaves . Buy mint from a reputable greenhouse to ensure the right variety . A few mint candy varieties , such as pennyroyal , are n’t edible and may even be toxic .
To learn more about the benefits of mint afternoon tea , visit the contact below :
Peppermintfrom the University of Maryland Medical Center
Medicinal Uses for Herbal Teasfrom the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health .
antioxidant in a pinchwrites about the high antioxidant value of muckle .
Recipes that utilise overbold mint .
Learn about brew tea correctly atGetteapot.com
When she ’s not writing about gardening , food for thought and canning , Julie Christensen enjoys spending time in her gardens , which includes perennials , veg and yield trees . She ’s write hundreds of gardening article for the Gardening Channel , Garden Guides and San Francisco Gate , as well as several e - books .
