ActiveBody E DI T E D BY K AT E M A X I M
Time for tea Herbalist Jo George from Life Rituals explains the benefits of a daily cuppa
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HATEVER HAPPENED TO tea? What was once the UK’s national drink has ade ay for its ca einated counterpart a sur ey by Monin showed that 61% of British people prefer co ee to tea, a eraging o er per year on their ca eine fi ut hile co ee culture is certainly booming, there is a quiet revolution in the (boiling) waters. Shops blending their own unique loose teas are cropping up all o er the , o ering their expertise to those searching for an alternati e to the at hite hat’s here co e in ha e been an acupuncturist and herbalist for o er years and a long ti e ad ocate of plants and their benefits to our health and ellbeing started my Life Rituals Organic Tea Blends in akha t o years ago and spend a lot of ti e and e ort sourcing the finest organic tea lea es, herbs, o ers and botanicals from across the globe; an endeavour which helps to support a number of independent growers. ea is an age old drink surrounded by rituals and legacies and spans the globe t is thought to have originated in China as a edicinal drink, then tea lea es ere infused without the addition of other leaves or herbs, as a concentrated, stimulating drink ecords of tea drinking in the date back to the s and our lo e of the ‘nation’s favourite brew’ has grown from
there. Traditionally, loose leaf tea is prepared by pouring hot water over tea leaves and allowing them to infuse; di erent blends ay take any here fro one to fi e inutes to bre n so e countries the ritual of tea aking is al ost as i portant as the drink itself he tea ceremonies in Japan are of huge cultural alue, ranked as one of the three classical arts of refine ent along ith incense appreciation and o er arrange ent n our increasingly fast paced li es the routine of preparing a loose leaf tea can help signal to our brain that it’s time to start slowing down in preparation for sleep. What’s more, a lot of herbal teas are naturally ca eine free, and a great any ore boast significant health benefits that can ork on our bodies o ernight er the last t o years ’ e been developing a range of wellness, organic, loose leaf teas. Each blend of the eight teas created ha e specific health benefits in mind, are 100% organic and created from recipes ’ e de eloped ith re arkable a ours Our most popular herbal blend by far is Life Rituals Bedtime Ritual Organic Tea. alerian, one of the central earthy a ours in this blend has a sedati e e ect hich helps to slow the mind for those prone to anxiety and worry. Another main ingredient
and central a our is cha o ile hich has been used as a natural sleep aid for centuries he other key ingredients, passion o er and linden, ha e been celebrated by any tea drinkers o er the years for their ability to soothe stress and feelings of anxiety. And not forgetting peppermint which helps the digestive system and promotes calm. ’ e also de eloped a blend to relie e poor digestion with dandelion, fennel and ginger to ease bloating and improve the absorption of nutrients from our food. Another blend fortifies and protects the body by boosting the i une syste ith anti iral e ects Sencha green tea, tulsi and lemongrass in our energising blend stimulates the brain, whilst white tea, rose petals, orange peel, linden o ers and le ongrass help to recharge and rebalance the body and mind if you’re feeling out of sorts. There are so many botanicals, leaves, herbs and o ers e can dra on hich significantly help to i pro e health, and we’re happy to advise on which blend is best for each individual, or health concern. Why miss the opportunity to add herbal medicine to water (hot or cold) on a daily basis, day or night o, put the kettle on and relax … it’s time for a cup of tea. www.liferituals.co.uk 01572 868579
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