Tea Time: Chill Out

*In Tea Time, Owl's Brew provides information about various teas & botanicals, and how you can incorporate these into your wellness routine**

It's been over a month for many of us (and many of you!) in Quarantine, and we don't know about you, but we're all starting to feel a little anxious. Not to mention the stress and heartache surrounding the pandemic and the unknown.

So, for this Tea Time, we asked Jennie to give us some teas & botanicals to help us chill out, relax a bit and maybe catch some zzzs.

As before, all of the teas and tisanes listed here should be easily found at your local grocery store or online (we'll link to some as well).

Peppermint

Peppermint has been used for centuries for a variety of ailments, and for general wellness.

Peppermint may help to relieve stress headaches and ease upset stomachs as well. The menthol is a natural muscle relaxant, which can be very helpful during a stressful time! Not to mention, it smells delicious. It's also caffeine free, so perfect to snuggle up with before bed.

How to Enjoy

Brew yourself up a cup. It's delicious hot or cold. There are lots of options available at the grocery store or on online. Try this one. We'd also suggest a drop of honey or a squeeze of lemon!

Lavender Flowers

Lavender is probably one of the most widely used botanicals. It's beautiful purple flowers are used in everything from skin care to soap, and it's famous for it's calming properties.

Lavender may also help improve sleep, and is caffeine free, so perfect to wind down with.

While drinking dried lavender is naturally calming, some may prefer the smell over the taste. Jennie loves a blend that's about 80% chamomile, 20% lavender, as you get the benefits of the lavender, but a little less of the potpourri taste. We love a good lavender bath to take the edge off as well.

How to Enjoy

To Drink: Lavender is often part of a blended mix, as by itself it can be overpowering. A great combination is Chamomile - Lavender - Lemon Balm, or Chamomile - Lavender -Vanilla. You also order bulk dried flowers . Those are perfect for brewing up a cuppa. You can even mix it up with a tea bag of peppermint, and a little lavender scattered in (just drain out). If you order the tea, just make sure to check the ingredients. You're looking for lavender flowers, not flavors.

For Bathtime: You can use the same dried flowers (about 3x as much as you'd use for a regular cup) and brew them in how water for about 30 minutes. You can use a french press, or just brew them in a pot and strain out the flowers with a kitchen strainer. Add the water to your bath!

Rose Petals Rose tea is made from the dried buds and petals of the flower. Similar to lavender, rose is used in a variety of products from teas to candles. Rose tea is rich in antioxidants and vitamin c, and studies have shown it may be antibacterial as well as aid in reducing stress and promoting relaxation. Another great option right before bed! It also smells amazing. There is something a little romantic about a cup of roses before bed, no?

You can also draw yourself up a rose petal bath, and grab a glass of something, and pretend you are at the spa!

How to Enjoy

To Drink: We'd suggest ordering, as it's a littler harder to find at grocery stores. This is a good option, here.

For Bathtime: You can use the same tea that you use to drink (about 3x as much as you'd use for a regular cup) and brew for about 30 minutes in hot water. We'd suggest brewing it on the stove top (you can use a kitchen strainer) or you can use a french press. Add the water to your bath! Maybe even try combining lavender and rose.

Chamomile Flowers

We included Chamomile last week, but we'd be remiss to not include it this week's theme! Chamomile is probably the best known "calming tea", and you may have been sipping on it since childhood. It's been shown to aid in reducing stress and help you fall asleep faster, which we could probably all use a little bit of these days!

How to Enjoy

To Drink: Brew yourself a cup of chamomile tea before bed (we love it with a little raw honey). You can purchase Chamomile Tea at your local store.

Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm is a relative of mint and has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. It's thought to help with sleeplessness and ease anxiety, as well as help with digestion. It's commonly used in tea form, or in balms that you apply to the skin. The smell is also thought to be calming and sometimes used in aromatherapy. Lemon Balm also has antibacterial properties (perfect during a time when we're all trying to improve immunity).

How to Enjoy

To Drink: Brew yourself a cup of Lemon Balm tea, and grab a blanket! Also, make sure to take a bit whiff while you sip! You may be able to find it in your local grocer, or order online. This is a good option here.

Passionflower Tea

Passionflower tea is made from the vine and leaves of the beautiful flower. Some studies suggest it may help with sleeplessness and anxiety by boosting the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid in your brain - the compound that lowers brain activity and may help you relax and catch those Zzzs.

How to Enjoy

To Drink: Brew yourself a cup of Passionflower tea before bed. You can order it online here. We also love it with a drop of honey.

Photo via @pinterest

*Please note, these benefits have been studied in small groups and should not be used instead of any doctor recommendations or as treatment to any ailments. You should consult a professional before drinking any teas, herbs or botanicals if you are on medication, pregnant or treating an ailment.

For any specific tea blending recipes, reach out to us at hoot@theowlsbrew.com!