I'm not here to tell you to stop drinking tea. I love tea, and I think it's a great way to get your herbs in. Water is a universal solvent, and a powerful one when everything is done correctly.
What I am here to do is tell you to stop using those little, paper tea bags. There are multiple reasons for this...
1. There isn't enough plant material in the tea bags to actually effect anything. If you're looking for healing properties in your tea, you're not going to find it in those little bags. There just isn't enough plant material in them.
2. Who knows the quality of those herbs?! What color are they actually? Color and smell can tell us a lot about the potency of the dry herbs. When the herbs are dried and processed into those little bags, a lot of the volatile oils that contain the sought after properties are lost.
3. Stop drinking out of plastic. For so many reasons. I won't go deep here. But suffice it to say, plastic is not good for you or the environment.
4. Water temperature! This one is important, especially if you're using delicate herbs like chamomile or lavender (I'm looking at you, Sleepytime Tea). Water that's too hot will make your tea bitter and increase astringency. Basically, it'll taste bad. Use cooler water for delicate flowers and berries or a shorter brew time, and hotter water/longer brew for heartier herbs and roots.
There are so many little nuances, and that is the point of this post. There isn't necessarily right and wrong, but if you are looking to get more than a tasty beverage out of your tea bag, there is a better way to approach this. There is an art to it, it should be a little ritual. A quiet time to take a moment of rest and peace, and give thanks for the wonder that is your body and this life.
So there you have it! Four reasons to ditch those little paper tea bags and brew your own herbal tea at home with fresh herbs. Not only will your tea taste better, but you'll also be doing yourself a favor by avoiding plastic and getting more of the balancing and healing properties from the plants themselves!
Love to drink tea? Check out our blended teas here.
Yes, it is THAT raspberry, the same raspberry that you pick the fruit from. The part that is used in teas are those lush, fuzzy looking leaves. If you are fortunate enough to live near raspberry bushes, go out and pick some of the new leaves in the springtime before the berries form.
Raspberry is notoriously known for its ability to pucker the tissues tight, making sure that everything inside is tight and toned. It is also highly prized for its ability to nourish the blood with its vitamins and minerals.
Raspberry is said to help in the way that training for a long distance marathon does. It helps the uterus stay strong and tight as it stretches and grows. When the big day comes, the contractions will not fatigue the uterus, the muscles will be prepared to go the distance. Pairing Raspberry with a soothing and slightly mucilaginous herb like Oatstraw will keep you from getting too dry (astringent herbs may dry you out if you are drinking it regularly).
