5 Warming Winter Teas - Health Benefits of Tea at Christmas
For many of us, Christmas is all about festive treats! Mince pies with shortcrust pastry, mulled wine, hot chocolate, roasts upon roasts, chocolates and sweets, gingerbread houses and much much more!
Unfortunately, the downside is that it’s not the healthiest time of year as a result. Many of the festive flavours which we enjoy at this time of year are not very good for us, and can have us entering the new year feeling not feeling our best.
At The Tea Makers of London, we believe that there is a way to enjoy the iconic flavours of the Yuletide season and enjoy some health benefits along the way. We’ve gathered a range of our top winter warmers, and we want to show that just because something tastes good, doesn’t mean it has to be bad for you.
Christmas tea
Our iconic seasonal tea truly is perfect for this time of year. Blending classic Christmas flavours, with chunks of dried orange and apple, cinnamon, peppercorns, cardamom and cloves with a premium Sri Lankan Black Tea base, one sip will transport you to a cozy sofa in front of a roaring fire.
Inspired by the Christmas tea of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, whose popularity grew in large part due to the temperance movement, this tea still makes an excellent alcohol-free alternative to mulled wine today:
|
Mulled Wine |
Christmas Tea |
|
High Calorie (roughly 160 calories per 175ml in red wine) |
Low calorie (pure black tea has 0 calories) |
|
Unsuitable for children and those who don’t drink |
Alcohol-free, making it suitable for all* and a great option for those throwing Christmas parties to offer guests who are driving |
|
Undesirable side effects (impaired cognitive function, headaches and hangovers) |
No hangover the next day! |
|
Alcohol can be bad for general health |
Black tea is rich in health benefits, most notably L-Theanine, a relaxing chemical. |
*Christmas Tea contains caffeine
Assam Chocolate Spice
Enjoyed by children and adults alike, chocolate is one of the mainstays of the Christmas season, and we don’t see that changing any time soon!
Unfortunately, hot chocolate is not a desperately healthy drink. Whether made at home or enjoyed at a Christmas market, hot chocolate powder is typically high in sugar and other artificial flavours, and this is not aided by the addition of cream and marshmallows.
Luckily, our Assam Chocolate Spice offers the same delicious chocolate flavour, but with more health benefits and none of the guilt, making it a great low-calorie alternative!
- Our Assam Chocolate Spice has fewer calories than hot chocolate because it is a blend of premium Assam black tea leaves, cocoa pieces and other festive spices, rather than a creamy, sugary beverage.
- Our Assam Chocolate Spice contains no added sugar (although those with a sweeter tooth can of course add some), compared to sickly sweet hot chocolate powders
- Both chocolate and tea are rich in antioxidants- by combining raw cocoa nibs and high-quality Assam, enjoy a brew bursting with health benefits
- Chocolate tea may be easier on the stomach for some people compared to the richer, creamier texture of hot chocolate, which can be heavy and may cause discomfort for some individuals. Assam Chocolate Spice can be enjoyed with or without milk for the same delectable chocolate flavour.
Peppermint Leaves
Mint is one of the most distinctive winter flavours- its invigorating flavour complements the cozy and festive atmosphere of Christmas celebrations.
While mint is commonly enjoyed in candy canes and peppermint sweets, one of the most natural ways to enjoy this flavour is in Peppermint tea.
Peppermint tea has been popular for centuries to aid digestion, which is definitely a boon around Christmas.
Naturally sweet without the need for sweeteners, our Peppermint Leaves are just the pure leaf. It’s caffeine- free, making it a great choice to relax and unwind on a winter evening.
If you enjoy mint but are looking for something with a caffeinated kick, our Menthos Gunpowder blends pure peppermint leaves with Chinese Gunpowder green tea. Inspired by the tea traditions of northern Africa, this is a delightful winter tea to enjoy this season.
Masala Chai
Come winter, cafes across the country offer their seasonal spiced lattes, which are often full of an unhealthy amount of sugar, artificial flavourings, syrups, cream and toppings.
For those who looking for a rich, creamy brew through the winter months, but are concerned about their health, we recommend turning to authentic chai this Christmas.
Originating from Indian, Chai typically blends Assam black tea with ayurvedic spices such as ginger, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon for an authentic, flavoursome drink, which we think is better than a sugary latte any time of year.
- Natural Flavours and quality ingredients
Chai gets its flavour from natural, authentic ingredients rather than syrups. Both our Masala Chai and our middle-Eastern inspired Karak Chai use traditional spices, blended in with quality Assam black tea to provide an intense brew.
- Cultural Heritage
Chai originates from India but has spread throughout the world and become a key part of the cultural heritage of many countries, with a range of variations and takes on the brew. Our Authentic Masala Chai is inspired by the spicy, invigorating Indian classic, while our Classic Karak Chai embraces the rich indulgence of chai found in the gulf.
- Health Benefits
By combining black tea with ayurvedic herbs, chai tea reaps many health benefits. Ginger has been used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation and sickness, black tea is full of antioxidants and by opting for healthier alternatives for high-sugar drinks, can aid with weight loss.
- Customise your brew
When brewing at home, you can control the amount of sugar and sweeteners you put into your tea and customise it with milk or dairy-free milks, so you know exactly what has gone into your drink.
Turmeric Spice
When we think about Christmas, it invokes images of family, togetherness, party and reuniting with loved ones. However, the unfortunate truth of winter is that it’s a time of year when coughs and colds are commonplace.
No one wants their Christmas to be ruined by sickness, and so it’s a good time of year to be extra health conscious.We have harnessed the health benefits of turmeric, a natural root and combined them with delicious seasonal spices to make our Turmeric Spice tea, which is filled to the brim with goodness.
Turmeric is a root which has burst onto the scenes in recent years in the West, but which has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine.
The primary health benefit in turmeric is from curcumin, which has been linked to lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation and boosting the immune system.
