Until about three years ago I never drank tea. Ever.

Yet now I can't keep away from the stuff…the herbal varieties that is... still don't like the regular stuf! ;-) Typically I have my litre of lemon water in the morning (ok, I know that's not really a 'tea' then I fill the rest of my day with plain water and either mint or sometimes ginger tea. Mint blends are my absolute favourite. How times change hey!

In September Pukka Herbs released some new tea flavours, and I asked if I could review them for my blog since I'm such a huge fan of their teas… "Three Mint' is my daily go to blend when I don't brew loose peppermint tea leaves.

I was sent a little selection and here they are:

Out of them all I think I enjoyed the detox tea most, though womankind and chamomile, vanilla and honey (I appreciate not truly vegan) are perfect for a hint of sweetness to satisfy a craving. I will be totally honest though and say I still most love the mint blend...for me I think I simply prefer the refreshing teas in comparison with the sweet or fruity teas, pooh I have just spied one named 'Refresh' on ther website.... I have never seen this available in the shops and now I really want to try it!!

I've actually been in meaning to write a longer tea inspired post for sometime as I feel the benefits of tea go way beyond what is actually in your mug, and now felt like the perfect opportunity. Ironically since Three Mint is my favourite blend I actually ran out a couple of days before I tool these photos so you can't see that variety in the shots, ha ha.

A tea for everyone!

So many of my coaching clients seek to make that transition away from fruit juices and fizzy drinks yet are discouraged by the idea of drinking copious amounts of plain water. Herbal teas to the rescue! There are so many flavours and varieties, I challenge anyone to not find a few they absolutely love! Please don't give up when you've tried a couple and are convinced... try a fruity one, a sweeter one, and a refreshing one and see what best suits you.

Also remember what I said at the beginning of this post? Until a few years ago I absolutely hated all teas (hot chocolate was my hot beverage of choice!!), yet when I transition to a plant-based lifestyle my taste buds changed over the following months and I began to like things that are used to hate. As you start cleaning up your diet and reducing refined foods and sugars your tastebuds adapt to a new level of sweetness and you'll also find that you truly appreciate the tastes of food in a totally new way. Seriously herbal tea could well become your new best friend.

A few benefits of tea:

So, why should you drink tea. Can it actually do anything for your health?

1. Faster metabolism - white, green and black teas can help boost you in this department. I choose green tea with a squeeze of lemon (A great start to your morning).

2. Better digestion - mint tea, fennel tea, ginger tea... and many more all help to assist digestion and reduce bloating, I love all of these flavours, perfect after dinner

3. Brighter, healthier skin- Tea contains antioxidants, which act as free radical scavengers; these can help prevent aging spots and maintain your skin's bright, youthful glow. Personally I think being well hydrated with herbal teas (non caffeinated) which are much more interesting than plain water is the best boost for skin health

4. Better blood sugar regulation - By lowering the stress hormone cortisol, tea helps to improve blood sugar regulation. I also think mindfulness of eta drinking also plays a role (more on that in a moment)

5. Weight control - In addition to the metabolic benefits, many people find drinking tea helps curb their appetite and reduce mindless snacking between meals, thus making it easier to manage their weight. I also suggests to clients that when a craving strikes, have a mug of teas and then see how you feel- sometimes that simple distraction is enough to takeaway the need.

Mindfullness:

The act of tea drinking goes way beyond the actual contents of your mug, it's an entire mind-body experience in itself. Holding a large, warm, heavy mug full of hot tea creates a little cocoon of mindfulness. It slows your breathing, hydrates and nourishes your soul.

Every morning as I sip my lemon water in the early hours upon waking and every evening as I have my last mint tea of the night I try and take five minutes to simply be at one with my tea (I'm by no means perfect and it doesn't always happen but it's what I aim for!) I enjoy feeling the steam hit my face as I bring the mug up to my mouth and simply enjoy the heat and the flavour whilst paying attention to the stillness of the moment... ok this might have gone a bit hippyish but for someone who struggles to meditate, to relax, to take time out… for me this is an experience I can really get on board with and I encourage everyone to simply take five minutes time out for tea whenever they can and to really embrace the experience.

If you like you can even have a special mug, mine is the dotty one in the photo it's a big chunky mug that takes nearly 500ml of tea...no tiny cups for me!!

For me, mindfulness truly is the most important part of my tea drinking rituals, whether it be tea bags, looseleaf, fresh lemon juice or mint leaves, sitting in a coffee shop drinking tea, out on the hills drinking tea from a flask on a cold winters day… There is always time for tea!