During a long and cold winter, the need to drink a mug of hot tea occurs literally every few hours: at work, at a party, after a walk. But even this versatile drink gets boring very quickly. You can diversify the taste of tea and add elements useful for the body to it by adding a small amount of flowers and leaves of jasmine, mint, rose hips or dried fruit pieces to the tea leaves. And it is better to brew a tea that consists entirely of a flower or fruit composition that does not contain tonic substances that the leaves of the tea tree have.
Earl Gray tea of the English aristocracy consists of a traditional black brew, to which rind or essential oil is added bergamot… This orchard tree is bred by crossing an orange and a lemon. The yellowish bergamot fruit, shaped like a pear, is what gives Earl Gray its exquisite taste. Tea with the essential oil of this fruit is useful for the body, as it contains vitamin C, in addition, it increases attention, stimulates the work of the cerebral cortex, and strengthens the immune system. Bergamot essential oil has a relaxing effect, relieves fatigue and stress, promotes the production of endopherins – substances that increase overall tone and improve mood. In cosmetology, bergamot is used to improve skin elasticity – it cleanses, tightens pores and stimulates the disappearance of age spots.
Jasmine tea… The original way to add jasmine flowers to tea comes from the Chinese province of Changzhou, where the most exquisite varieties of this drink are still produced. In addition to the pleasant aroma that soothes the nervous system, jasmine tea has a beneficial effect on the liver, cleanses the kidneys, and promotes the digestion of fatty foods. Jasmine tea is served without lemon and honey, otherwise you can kill its delicate taste.
Thyme or, as it is also called, thyme is a versatile plant that is added to tea, kvass, as a seasoning for meat dishes. Thyme essential oil is used to treat lung infections. The two most important properties of thyme – disinfectant and analgesic – were widely used among the nomadic peoples of the southern Russian steppes, and are currently used in medicine. It helps to improve well-being with radiculitis and muscle back pain, bronchitis, tracheitis, toothaches. Thyme tea is contraindicated for pregnant women, people with liver and kidney diseases.
Chamomile tea drink more for beneficial properties than for the sake of aroma and taste. Chamomile soothes stomach pains, normalizes the activity of the digestive system as a whole, has antiseptic properties, therefore it is recommended to drink it for inflammation of the mouth and throat, bleeding of the gums. According to the latest research, chamomile tea has been shown to improve the health of people with diabetes. In order to soften the smell of essential oils, which may seem unpleasant, chamomile is added to regular teas or to St. John’s wort infusion. You can simply put a few strawberries or raspberries in the drink.
Hypericum tea and pleasant and healthy to the taste, goes well with other herbal and floral drinks: mint, strawberry, thyme. St. John’s wort has a relaxing effect, improves capillary blood circulation, and promotes high spirits. It contains one of the strongest and safest natural antidepressants, hypericin. Regular consumption of St. John’s wort tea reduces dependence on weather changes and pressure drops in people with weak vessels, prevents the development of mastopathy. St. John’s wort tea is undesirable for pregnant women and people with kidney disease.
Lime tea – one of the best natural remedies for colds, while it has a wonderful taste and aroma. This drink can be drunk with honey, sugar and lemon, adding to regular black or green tea. Linden is very useful for the hair, it improves the structure of the hair follicles and helps to straighten and restore the scales that cover the hair along the entire length, so a mask for the scalp can be made from dry linden leaves and flowers. Linden tea is used as a medicine against the flu and colds, to improve overall well-being and to stimulate the immune system. It is undesirable to drink this drink just before going to bed or walking.
Mint or oregano tea popular all over the world, but back in the XIX century it was considered the property of only English cuisine. Peppermint is a part of medicines, seasonings, sauces, additives to alcoholic beverages. Mint leaves are very original in combination with various types of delicate cheeses. Menthol contained in this plant has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system, therefore it is recommended for people engaged in vocal exercises, as well as for diseases of the throat and bronchitis. One of the most important properties of mint is to have a relaxing effect on spasms of the vessels of the coronary system of the heart and smooth muscles, therefore menthol is part of validol and valocordin. It should be remembered that mint stimulates the digestive system, so mint tea increases appetite, and excessive consumption of a strong infusion can cause heart pain.