The Unexpected Wellness Boosts You Can Get from Drinking Herbal Tea

The cooler months are all about taking the time to curl up with your favourite hot drink and enjoy the slower pace of life. Although this isn’t always possible at work during a busy day, taking a short break to make yourself a refreshing herbal tea can go a long way.

Whether you are looking to cut down on caffeine or after a new ritual to help you relax and recharge, herbal teas are a great option to have at the office or in the kitchen cupboards at home. Alongside being a perfect winter ritual, sitting down with a cup of herbal tea can actually offer many health benefits you may not have considered before.

This is the topic we’re going to explore in today’s blog. So whether you’re wondering about the herbal tea benefits or simply wanting to explore options that are lower in caffeine, we’re here to help you elevate your hot drink ritual.

What Counts as Herbal Tea?

Go to any tea aisle in the supermarket, and it can be overwhelming. Amongst decaf tea, green tea and everything else, there are herbal teas. If you want to get technical about, herbal teas are known as tisanes, the term for any caffeine-free beverage typically made by infusing herbs, flowers, roots, or spices.

The reason they aren’t true teas is that they don’t come from a tea plant, but to keep it simple, they are referred to as herbal teas, rather than tisanes. Try sticking “herbal tisanes” on the supermarket shelves, and you’ll have a confusing amount of shoppers not knowing what they are looking for.

That being said, some popular examples of herbal teas include:

• Chamomile
• Peppermint
• Rooibos
• Ginger
• Hibiscus

In recent years, tea companies have been producing herbal tea blends that promise better digestion, sleep and even weight loss. But are these claims actually true?

Herbal Tea Potential Health Benefits

Although there are a lot of ambitious claims about herbal teas that promise detox and weight loss properties, in reality, herbal teas are best enjoyed to support your overall health and lifestyle.

Many people choose to switch to herbal teas if they are trying to cut back on caffeine or ease off fizzy drinks. That being said, there are some health benefits of drinking herbal teas, which can include:

• Supporting relaxation and better sleep - chamomile tea is known for its lightly sedative properties, helping you get a better night's sleep.
• Supporting digestion and gut comfort - ginger and peppermint tea are known to aid digestion after a heavy meal.
• Can provide antioxidant protection - herbal teas supply polyphenols and other compounds that fight free radicals, reduce oxidative stress and support the immune system.
• Helps you stay hydrated - in the cooler months, it can be hard to drink water. Incorporating herbal teas can help you stay warm and hydrated.
• Helps to regulate your caffeine intake - even switching just one of your caffeine heavy drinks for a herbal tea can work towards reducing your intake.

Overall, herbal teas can help support a healthy lifestyle, but may not be the only changes you need to make to notice a difference.

How to Choose the Right Herbal Tea

If you want to see if herbal teas have any health benefits, the best way to do this is to give some a go yourself. First of all, you’ll want to match your needs to the proposed benefits of each blend. For example, if you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, try chamomile. If your digestion is playing up, give ginger or peppermint tea a whirl. After a while, you’ll get to know what works best for you and your health.

Herbal teas come in an array of different formats to fit in with your tea making rituals. We stock a wide range of herbal teas in tea bags, but you can find loose-leaf versions in the supermarkets. Some of our most popular brands for herbal teas include Twinings, Teapigs and Clipper, who all offer a premium tea drinking experience and make their blends with sustainability in mind and top ingredients.

So whether you’re looking for a hot drink that will support your health goals, or a substitute for coffee, herbal teas are a great option for those who are looking to make smaller changes in the new year.

Why not explore our range of Detox Drinks to kickstart your January health kick? Choose from hot drinks, flavoured water and convenient cans for on the go enjoyment.