The Ritual of Tea
The Ritual of Tea
The ritual of tea has become an important part of taking time each week to slow down and incorporate rest, peace, calm, and self-care into my life. Since having breast cancer and going through treatment, one of the non-negotiables for me now is taking time for myself to really enjoy small moments in life (without guilt). At least a few mornings a week, I take 30 minutes to pour a hot cup of tea, light a candle or some palo santo, and just sit in gratitude for my health and the good things in my life.
I’ll be honest: I was not always a tea fan. Growing up, we had a tradition of going to a tea place in San Francisco with some family friends, and they’d laugh at me for trying to order a soda instead of tea. I never loved the very light flavor of tea and was much more of a coffee drinker. I still love a creamy coffee (now more as a mid-morning treat), but I’ve noticed that starting my day with tea before anything else helps me to savor some slow time and get my body hydrated instead of overly caffeinated from the start.
I met Sarah (@teahuntress) last year and started sampling some of her incredible loose leaf teas, and I was amazed at how different they were from the watery, bland teabags I was used to.
There are a few reasons why I think adding these teas to your daily routine is important:
Highest Quality Ingredients: Tea Huntress teas are loose leaf and sourced from the highest quality ingredients. When you open a bag of their tea, you are immediately struck by the fragrance, beautiful dried ingredients, and the luxurious experience of steeping this beautiful and delicious tea.
Avoiding Microplastics: There are microplastics in everything these days, and I don’t think it’s good for our health to absorb plastics. A lot of teabags are made of plastic materials, and when added to boiling water, I imagine we are likely making those easier to ingest. Using loose leaf or pure tea leaves allows us to steep tea without teabags, either alone or in a stainless steel infuser.
Potential Health Benefits: There is established research around drinking tea and reducing cancer risk/recurrence risk, especially green tea: The potential beneficial effect of green tea could be related to its high amount of natural phytochemicals, which are preserved because of the absence of fermentation during the production process. Among green tea phytochemicals, polyphenols are the most represented. Several experimental studies have shown that long-term exposure to polyphenols may reduce chronic inflammation and oxidative stress and inhibit the growth, reproduction, and diffusion of cancer cells [73, 74]. These experimental studies suggest a potentially protective effect of green tea consumption.
This August, I went on a TeaHuntress retreat to Finland, and it was such a lovely week of connecting to nature, doing yoga, resting, detoxing with healthy food and lots of sauna, and learning about the ritual of tea.
One of my favorite memories was sitting on a wooden platform in the middle of the forest in a semicircle of women and having Sarah pour us cup after cup of tea in silence. The practice and attention were so calming. Now, when I’m home in my living room refilling my cup, it takes me back to that peaceful spot in the forest and reminds me to take deeper breaths before filling my mind with to-do’s for the day.
On her website, Sarah offers virtual tea classes, from a one-hour free class to a certification course where you can become a master of the tea ceremony.
You can always add a little extra flavor with honey and lemon, but I truly find these teas to have a great flavor on their own:
The pure green tea (Sky Temple) has a much more mild flavor with less bitterness than I have ever tasted in a green tea. Because this is pure dried tea leaves, you just pour hot water over about 10–15 leaves in a mug and wait a minute or two to start sipping. You can continue to pour water over the same leaves for 3–4 cups.
Another favorite is Daily Cleanse, which is a loose blend of turmeric root, ginger root, burdock root, licorice root, and lemongrass and has a really nice flavor. I drink this at the end of the day, and it always seems to help me wind down and wake up feeling light and not bloated.
Many of the TeaHuntress tea blends are made with ingredients from nature chosen specifically for their ability to improve or support things like sleep, fertility, menopause, focus, calm, comfort, and inspiration (and many more).
These tea blends are also a really thoughtful gift when chosen for a friend who may be struggling or in need of a boost.
Pair a tea blend with a simple personal steeping pot like this one. Or shop any of the beautiful mugs and teapots that make the ritual of tea feel extra luxurious. I use my Daily Steeping Pot to steep about 2 cups (it comes with a strainer inside) for my quiet morning tea time.
Once you have your tea and a favorite mug or teapot, set aside a little time to sit, sip, and enjoy a ritual that is good for your body and spirit.
Shop My Favorite Teas + Teapots
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