“There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.” – Lin Yutang

Recognised as the most widely consumed drink in the world after water, the history of tea is known to be long and complex that spreads across many cultures over the span of many years. Today as per the UN, tea production and processing aim to contribute to the reduction of extreme poverty, fighting against hunger, empowerment of women, and the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

Apart from its popularity as a soothing beverage, drinking tea also contributes to many health benefits which include being a great energy booster, a good source of antioxidants, help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, protecting bones, and improving your immune system among other things. 

If we had to go deep into the types of teas and blends with its colorful details and benefits, we may have to write a separate blog on its own because the list is endless. Green tea, black tea, earl grey, green tea, oolong, or the Indian masala chai tea, all have their distinctive taste, aroma, and purpose.

Therefore, on this International Day of Tea, let's take a close look at the goodness and uniqueness of herbal tea. While many argue that this is not technically a true tea because unlike standard teas, herbal teas are not made from the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. They are instead an infusion of a variety of dried flowers, spices, herbs, and fruits which comes in a variety of flavors and tastes. However, even though this is the case, when we think of tea in general as something that soothes or uplifts us, then herbal teas should not be any different.

Herbal tea is synonymous with William Ewart Gladstone's quote, “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited, it will calm you.” Whatever the season and whatever your mood, herbal tea blends may have the solution to all your problems!

Mostly caffeine-free featuring nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can be served warm or cold depending on the blend, one of the main health benefits of herbal teas is aiding with stress and anxiety. This works out as a healthier and natural alternative when compared to taking prescribed medications to overcome such feelings. Similarly, herbal teas can also help people with sleeping disorders or insomnia, stimulate brain function, and also help boost your immune system. Moreover, certain blends can also help quit your cold or flu sooner, due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Additionally, drinking herbal tea can also reduce body pain and soreness without any negative side effects. And, due to its high level of antioxidants, it can also help prevent or lower the likelihood of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer to an extent. Besides, without any add-ons such as sugar, it is also calorie-free like water!

This said, to get the most of herbal tea health benefits, it’s better to brew loose leaf tea rather than tea bags. While the latter usually contain dust and fannings of large-scale tea production processes, the former contains purely full leaves that are full of nutrients providing more flavor and a certain taste of freshness to the tea. 

With a background in Neuropathy and a love for tea, Melissa Khonsavang created a range of therapeutic loose leaf herbal teas to promote health, wellness, and balance where each ingredient has been carefully selected based on traditional evidence and scientific research to ensure maximum therapeutic benefit as well as great taste. All the blends are 100% organic and have been created, tried, and tested by Khonsavang herself.

With an ever-expanding range, some of the unique blends of Organics for Lily include, Knock me Out Tea which is an extra-strong blend that is great for people who have difficulty falling asleep and tend to frequently wake throughout the night. The magical ingredients include chamomile, lemonbalm, hops, valerian, passionflower, and lavender. So, knock yourself out with this one and feel relaxed and revitalized after a good night’s sleep!

Licorice, peppermint, fennel, rose petals, hibiscus, and coriander seeds. Ever thought that these ingredients when combined can get rid of chronic stress and exhaustion? The Rebalance Me Tea is a beautiful blend that balances, nourishes, and refreshes the mind. Served hot or cold, this tea is perfect for all seasons!

One of the most beneficial ancient spice turmeric which has been used for its medicinal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties is popularly consumed as tea. Its strong anti-inflammatory properties can help ease inflammation and swelling in people with arthritis helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease, contributes to cancer prevention, help maintain remission from ulcer symptoms, boosts the immune system, and lowers cholesterol. The Turmeric Tea is a warm blend of cinnamon, turmeric root, and ginger, packed full of health benefits, in particular, to reduce inflammation.

Apart from the interesting therapeutic blends, Organics for Lily also offers special gift sets for tea lovers such as the Tea Bag Gift Set, Tea Lover Gift Set, Tea Box Gift Set, or the Deluxe Tea Party Set. A delicious blend of organic tea sustainably packed to perfection that is good for the soul, mind, and body!

So, on International Tea Day, this year immerse your senses in wonderful herbal tea blends and get into a healthy routine with one cup a day!