As I sit here writing this it is 30 degrees celsius…with the humidex it’s 35 degrees. Can we just pause and be grateful for this for one minute. October sets in this weekend and I am going to do my best to appreciate the heat despite the fact that my butt is stuck to my chair and I won’t be able to sleep in my non air conditioned house tonight. Soon enough it will be freezing and I will be dreaming of this warm weather. So for those of you that are questioning the weather… I assure you, fall is coming. The cozy sweaters, crisp fresh air, the changing of leaves and a warm cup of tea. Sigh…
Tea, not only is an autumn must, but something I encourage you to make yourself. If you have an apothecary of dried herbs started fantastic! If not, now is the time to start. You don’t have to grow your own and dry it (although this is pretty cheap). You can buy organic bulk herbs at health food stores or online.
Why would I bother to make my own tea you ask? Well for one, if your tea is not organic you are looking at pesticides, herbicides and fungicides in your nice warm cuppa. The herbs are likely not washed before they are dried. Sound scary? There’s more- if it has added “natural or artificial flavour” then you are looking at something you don’t want to steep and drink. These flavours could be anything- even the natural ones. If you have ever heard of castoreum you will agree with me. It is a natural flavouring that comes from the secretions from a beavers’ anal gland. I KID YOU NOT. Go ahead. Google it. That is why using your own home grown herbs or from a reputable source is so good. Teas don’t need flavourings to make them taste great and this simple recipe will show you why.
This zen tea, my friends, is beautiful. It calms, nourishes and heals. I like to steep it for a little bit longer to really let the flavours infuse. It contains chamomile, lemon balm, cinnamon and rosehips.
Chamomile. These flowers are so light and calming. Chamomile is known to help relax and is excellent for anxiety or before bedtime. It is anti-inflammatory and can be used internally and topically as well as soothing the digestive system.
Lemon Balm. Also called Melissa, this herb is the best. Mostly because It’s lemony and I love lemon. It is great for digestion, especially when combined with chamomile is also known for stress and tension release.
Rosehips. High in vitamin C these beauties add a little bit of tanginess to the mix. The high vitamin C content means they are helpful for the adrenals and they also have anti-inflammatory properties. Hurrah!
Ceylon Cinnamon. This cinnamon is delicious. Ceylon is a little sweeter than the more common cinnamon (Cassia) but both cinnamon varieties have been studied for blood sugar regulation. If you can find Ceylon it is totally worth it!
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PrintDIY Zen Tea
This easy to make tea is calming, nourishing and perfect for fall! Make a large batch to keep on hand throughout the winter.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: brewing
- Cuisine: paleo, vegan
Ingredients
¼ cup Chamomile flowers
¼ cup lemon balm
⅛ cup rosehips
1 Ceylon Cinnamon Stick, chopped finely
Instructions
- Mix all dry ingredients in a mason jar and shake shake shake!
- To make tea, steep 1-2 tbsp in hot water until desired potency (I usually steep around 10 minutes). Add your favourite honey!
Keywords: tea, calm tea, chamomile
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