Tea Please
I started drinking tea after I realized I sadly couldn’t drink coffee anymore. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVED a good cup of coffee, lattes, cafe con leche, all of it! But unfortunately, it gave me terrible heartburn and I would often get facial breakouts. So sad, but the silver lining is that I discovered tea! I’ve tried so many teas over time and I now have a few favorites! The cool thing about tea is that you can steep it for as long or as little as you’d like. Shorter amount of time: less strong. Longer amount of time: stronger. I love tea because it can be so relaxing. In colder months it’s a nice, cozy warm drink. Sometimes in summer I’ll add ice to have the refreshing flavor without overheating!
Here are some flavors that I love:
Green tea provides a nice burst of caffeine in the morning. I love the mild yet slightly nutty flavor. It’s also been known to boost your metabolism. While it’s not a magic weight loss wand (NOTHING IS), a little boost doesn’t hurt. Sometimes I add a teaspoon full of honey for a bit of sweetness. My favorite is honey! Green tea has about 30-50 mg of caffeine per 8 oz serving.
Pu-erh tea. While I adore this tea, it’s not the prettiest and can look a little intimidating. But I really enjoy the earthy taste! It’s not quite as rich as a black tea but it’s definitely stronger than most varieties. If you’re a beer drinker like me, I would compare it to the richness of a brown ale, but not quite as heavy as a stout. Pu-erh tea is great for digestion and even metabolism. I don’t drink it every day, maybe a few times per week. Sometimes I’ll have it if I drank a lot over the weekend and want to feel refreshed and get my digestion going. It’s got about 40-80 mg of caffeine per 8oz serving.
Rooibos tea is a red caffeine-free herbal tea that has a nutty yet fruity flavor. It has a beautiful color when steeped, reminds me of fruit punch! It’s a good source of antioxidants, zinc, and iron. Great for the cold winter months! I like this tea in the afternoon when I’m in the mood for a tasty and comforting drink but don’t want to be kept up late from caffeine.
Chamomile tea is a comforting classic. It’s the perfect drink before bedtime! It has a delicate, sweet, and flowery flavor. Even if you’re not about to go to sleep, try it when you’re having a stressful or anxious day. It can really soothe your mind and calm your nerves. I like it plain. Sometimes I’ll have it with a little honey if I’m craving some extra sweetness. Zero grams of caffeine! Don’t worry about it keeping you up at night.
Now heat up some water and get steeping! Let me know which flavors are your favorite! Do you have any favorites not mentioned here? I would love to hear about them!