The Healing Benefits of Christmas Teas!
Enjoy Tea and a Christmas Movie this Holiday season.
The title says the healing benefits of Christmas teas and you’re probably
wondering what is a Christmas tea and is it any different than regular tea?
Yes, and the difference is that instead of a cup of just black or green tea,
you add some Christmas favorites to it, like candy canes (peppermint),
cranberries and ginger (gingerbread) to not enhance the flavor, but the health
benefits as well.
The recipes listed below, can be served this holiday season and throughout the
rest of the year.
The Teas:
1) Ease Aches and Pains-
If you suffer from arthritis or other aches, you may feel them more during
the colder months, and to alleviate the aches and pain, make the following tea.
Gingerbread Cookie Tea Latte!
If you only thought Starbucks was the place to get some Latte, you’re sadly mistaken.
This tea is a perfect mix of sugar and spice for a classic gingerbread taste.
And thanks to the cardamom and ginger in it, you’ll get a reduction in inflammation
and the chai tea, is rich in quercetin, a flavonoid, which eases symptoms of mild
arthritis.
Ingredients:
6 oz. of water
2 Chai tea bags
1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract
Vanilla almond milk, 4 or 5 oz.
Honey, (optional)
To make:
Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat,
then add the 2 tea bags. Steep the bags for 3 to 5 mins. and then
throw the bags out. Gently steam almond milk, then froth with a milk
frother. Pour milk in tea, then layer frothed portion on top.
2) Arthritis Healer Pt. 2-
If you’re not a fan of almond milk, you can also get pain relief from
black tea and molasses.
The tea: Gingerbread Tea!
Ingredients:
16 oz. of water
1 black tea bag
1″ piece of fresh ginger, Grated
1 cinnamon stick
pinch of nutmeg
1 tsp. of molasses
To make:
Simmer the water in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat;
stir in tea, ginger, cinnamon stick, nutmeg and molasses.
Steep 4 to 5 mins. and then strain into a large mug.
3) Soothe That Stomachache-
Ideal for adults and kids, (after eating too many rich foods) this
tea is made with peppermint and powdered cocoa.
Mint aids digestion and soothes a belly ache.
Ingredients:
8 oz. of water
1 bag of peppermint tea
1 1/2 Tbs. of cocoa powder
Sugar, to taste
candy cane
To make:
Bring water to gentle boil in small saucepan.
Remove from heat, then add the tea bag, cocoa
and sugar to taste and for a little more mint and
a festive look, add a candy cane to the tea.
Important tip: If serving to a kid, give him (or her) a smaller
cup of this and let it cool down a bit.
4) Just Say No To-
Colds!
We not only have the Co-Vid virus to worry about, don’t forget we’re still
in thick of cold and flu season, and one way to lower your odds of
getting colds is to drink more of this tea.
The tea: Spiced Cranberry Tea!
Give thanks to black tea, which improve one’s immune system
and the cranberries, contain unique antiviral properties to
ward off the common cold.
Ingredients:
6 oz. of water
1 black tea bag
3 oz. of unsweetened cranberry juice
a few fresh cranberries, ( make sure to clean them first)
1 tsp. of lemon juice (fresh)
1/4 tsp. of ground cinnamon
1 Tbs. of sugar or Stevia
To make:
Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan.
Remove from the heat, then add the cranberry and lemon
juice, and the cinnamon. Stir in the sugar (or Stevia) and finish up
by placing 3, 4 or 5 fresh cranberries on top.
Allow the cranberries to rest and then toss them out.
5) Feel More Joy-
If the shopping lists, shopping for food, cleaning, organizing,
gift-buying and wrapping and hosting Christmas parties
have got you down and you need a boost, drink this tea.
The tea: Cranberry-Orange Mood-Boosting Tea!
Made with white tea, which is rich in L-theanine, a compound that releases
your brain’s own feel-good hormones, dopamine and serotonin.
And thanks to the cranberries and oranges, you’re getting a dose of vitamin C,
which tamps down stress hormones, helping you to feel calmer and more upbeat.
Ingredients:
16 oz. of water
2 tsp. of dried cranberries
2″ long orange peel (cleaned thoroughly)
pinch grated ginger
1 bag of white tea bag
1 tsp. of white sprinkles (optional)
To make:
Boil some water in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat; stir in cranberries,
orange and ginger. Let sit for 3 to 5 mins. Strain in a large mug and top with
sprinkles, (which are more for the kids). And now that you know which hot beverages
are best for a certain ailment, here are some movies to watch while enjoying that
cup of hot tea.
The Best Holiday Movies To Watch While Drinking Tea:
* It’s a Wonderful Life
* A Christmas Story
* Miracle On 34th Street
* White Christmas
* A Christmas Carol
* Babes in Toyland
And one last tip: You can also boost the flavor of certain foods and make them
more nourishing, by adding a little tea.
The Foods-
* Baked goods like cupcakes, muffins and brownies can be enhanced by adding
some hibiscus tea to the batter (or frosting).
If thinning hair and high blood pressure are concerns, add this tea to a baked
good, veggie stir fry, pasta sauce or drink a mug or two.
* Christmas Cookies-
Make them even better by adding a smidgen of Chai tea to the batter.
Chai tea will help your cookies taste more spicy.
* Rice-
Is your brown or white rice just blah and boring? Liven it up by using
green tea as the water. Green tea adds a subtle flavor to the grains while
giving them a beautiful, soft color.
That’s it- your guide to drinking “good-for-you” and great tasting teas
this CHristmas season.
Good Luck, Good Eating and Good Health!
Sources:
* Nadia De La Vega, Tea Specialist
* Kristina Richens, Tea Expert
* RepublicOfTea.com
* Chinese Journal of Alternative Medicine
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