This is how to pick the perfect tea for your every mood
Humans have been steeping leaves in one way or another for nearly 500,000 years. With such a long history, it’s really no surprise that the tea has become such an important part of our cultures and traditions.
While China is the largest consumer of tea, here in the UK we are one of the biggest drinkers. Apparently, around 80% of British people drink the brewed beverage and, on average, we consume around 165 million cups daily. That amounts to 60.2 billion cups a year!
While many people drink tea for the flavour (and that happy jolt of caffeine, of course) tea can also have a powerful effect on our mood. Why else would we offer it to people who are having a bad day, feeling a bit ill, or to those who have experienced a bit of a shock?
But tea is not only used to comfort and soothe. In fact, you can use it to help you through a whole range of different situations! So without further ado, here’s the perfect tea to pick according to your mood.
For When You Want to Feel Happier…
If you’re feeling a little down, a cup of herbal tea wouldn’t necessarily be the beverage you reach for. But it can actually serve as the perfect pick me up.
Any type of tea can act as a happiness inducer but, in particular, ones with certain scents can give you that extra boost you need. In particular, fruit teas that are made with orange or lemon can really lift the spirits as the scent of citrus has been proven in studies to help improve mood. Plus, it’s healthier than a bag of chocolate!
Fun fact! In 2007, researchers in Taiwan found that banana peel contains ingredients that increase serotonin levels and boost your happiness. Banana skin tea is popular around the world for this very reason! It is easily made by boiling the skin in water for 15 mins and drinking it as it cools down.
For When You Hit the Afternoon Slump…
When mid-afternoon at work rolls around it can be difficult to keep your eyes from closing. Now’s the time when a humble cup of tea steps in to save you for napping at your desk! Most teas contain some form of caffeine, however, green tea is one of the best for boosting energy without giving you a post-caffeine slump. Where herbal tea is concerned, a great one for sleepiness is Guayusa. This tea, grown in the Amazon, apparently has the power to give you more energy than a cup of coffee!
Want a completely caffeine-free alternative? Mint tea can give you the stimulation you need.
For That Stressful Moment…
When life is fraying your nerves, taking a moment out to sip on a comforting cup of tea can really help calm you down.
There are a number of different teas that are said to help reduce stress levels and encourage balance so you can live a happier and more healthy life. Ashwagandha, for example, is a well-known anxiety reducing herb and a popular tea to drink during a busy day at work because, unlike other calming teas, it doesn’t make you feel sleepy.
Another excellent daytime herbal tea is passionflower. This herb is thought to help improve the brain’s levels of the neurotransmitter GABA, which works to calm brain activity down.
Fun fact! You are far less likely to get the dreaded caffeine crash when you drink tea as opposed to other caffeinated beverages. Why? The antioxidants in tea are thought to slow down caffeine absorption, which allows a gentler increase of caffeine in your system and keeps you alert for longer.
For a More Restful Night…
Many of us are prone to struggling to sleep at night. As you lay in bed with thoughts endlessly streaming through your brain, it can be hard to switch off. A bedtime ritual can really help here, and part of that ritual can include a tea that calms you down and gets you ready for bed.
The most well-known tea for promoting sleep is chamomile. Chamomile is thought to relax the mind and calm the senses; reducing stress and anxiety. Studies have found that chamomile’s sleep-inducing effect could be down to a flavonoid called apidenin, which has been shown to relax the body.
Some teas blended for sleep combine chamomile with other relaxing herbs such as lavender and Valerian root, which will ease you into unwinding so you can get a peaceful night’s sleep.
For When You Need to Focus…
When you’ve got a busy day ahead, you need to make sure your brain is in gear. Of course, any tea that contains caffeine will give you some help, but there are some that may encourage you to focus more than others. Green and black tea are generally considered the best bet.
Green tea is chock full of polyphenols, which are believed to support brain cells in regulating learning and potentially even memory. Similarly, black tea includes L-theanine, which has been shown to help you concentrate better on mental and physical tasks, especially when combined with caffeine.
For More Balance on a Daily Basis…
Emotional balance is a really important part of our overall health and one that we all need to focus on more. Whether you find yourself waking up on the wrong side of the bed just a bit too often, or you feel like you are struggling to control your emotions, herbal tea can help to level things out.
Saffron tea is said to help encourage serotonin levels in the brain, helping you feel more at ease and resulting in fewer mood swings. The golden spice, aka Tumeric, helps with serotonin too, but it is thought that it can also influence dopamine levels, giving you even more of those good feelings and the more balanced emotions we all desire.