You can never underestimate the power of taking care of yourself and extending that care to others. Even the littlest moments of care in your day-to-day make a difference; it can be as simple as a cup of tea. Tea has enjoyed a long history of popularity and is even considered a national drink from England to China. It is no surprise that the ritual of tea-drinking can also play a long-term role in your mental well-being.

The History of Tea

Almost five thousand years ago, Lord Shen Nong, the legendary Chinese founder of agriculture, is said to have first discovered tea. Legend has it that he ate all sorts of plants to discover which were poisonous or healing. After he ate 72 poisonous plants in a day and began dying, he ate green leaves from a nearby bush and the green leaf juice, now known as tea, cured him of all the poison. Ever since then, camellia sinesis or the tea plant has cemented its role in history and our diet.

China grew to greatly treasure tea as a panacea, and it even spread to Japan. Pressed tea bricks were used as currency at one point in time as well. In the 17th century, European traders began bringing tea over from China, spreading it around the world during its colonial era. King Charles’ consort Catherine of Braganza is credited with popularizing the drink in Europe.

Tea was of major importance in trading between Britain and the U.S., especially after the Boston Tea Party and American Revolution. However, its popularity has only continued to grow over time. Tea plants are native to Asia, and along with the hard work of tea-leaf pickers, the production of it has become much more mechanized. A variety of methods in treatment of these precious tea leaves after cultivation explains the multitude of teas that we all can enjoy today!

Tea & Your Mental Health

Drinking tea is often associated with calming, soothing effects. People who are sensitive to coffee’s high caffeine content and feel too jittery or anxious from it often choose tea as their alternative. In fact, stress-related hormones like cortisol can be counteracted with tea. These benefits come from antioxidants and amino acids like l-theanine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Research is still ongoing, but there are some studies supporting tea’s ability to reduce the risk of developing depression or dementia. These powerful antioxidants will also help your blood pressure and fight off free radicals, keeping you healthy physically and mentally.

If you still need a boost of energy to get through your day, green tea and black tea contain caffeine as well, while still boasting those relaxing compounds which your regular energy drink does not.

In addition to the science behind tea, the ritual aspect of tea-drinking should not be underestimated. Taking a small bit of time out of a busy day to unwind and focus can be made all the more special with a hot (or cold) cup of tea. If you have trouble falling asleep too, getting into the habit of drinking herbal tea might put you in just the right mood for a restful night.

Satisfy Your Cuiriosi-tea!

The world is filled with so many beautiful plants that we can appreciate in sight and taste, and with such a wide array of existing teas, you will find the teas that suit your taste best. If you’ve been looking for new ones to promote your mental well-being, check out this list of teas that are worth a sip or two.

Matcha & Green Tea

Green tea and matcha are both packed with tons of antioxidants. You don’t have to be worried about feeling tired, since they contain a good amount of caffeine. The EGCG and L-theanine we talked about earlier can be found in these teas, too!

There is one difference between matcha and regular green tea; matcha is made of ground-up green tea leaves and vigorously stirred with hot water as a powder. That’s why you’ll get more caffeine out of a cup of matcha, as it is the more concentrated drink.

Black Tea

If green tea isn’t giving you a big enough boost in energy, you can try its big brother, black tea. Black tea is made from the same plant as green tea, but its oxidation process is what gives it that extra amount of caffeine. It really comes down to a matter of preference in taste for you! In the morning, black tea will still give you that stress-relief balanced with better focus to get you started on a busy day.

Lavender Tea

Just the smell of lavender alone can put your mind at ease. It’s been used to treat depression and anxiety as an essential oil and extract, and studies from Germany found it to be as effective as other pharmaceuticals for anxiety and depression without the downside of drowsy side effects. Stabilising the mood and promoting sleep are only some of the benefits of lavender tea. Unless it is mixed with green or black tea though, you won’t get any caffeine.

Hopefully it tastes as amazing as it smells.

Ginseng Tea

Ginseng tea comes from Korea and uses the root of the ginseng plant. It has a more bitter taste with a touch of sweetness and has been compared to carrots. Not only will it boost your mood, but it's also known to help your immune system and cognitive function. Mental fatigue and stress go hand-in-hand, and burnout can really take a toll. Every now and then, it’s good to remind yourself that you’re doing just enough and thank your body for all it's hard work with rest and kindness; ginseng tea is here to help with that.

Chamomile Tea

We all know sleep is incredibly valuable for our mental well-being, but it can be elusive for all too many of us. Insomnia is unfortunately a compounding issue for those with mental health issues. People turn to meditation, sleeping pills, light therapy, etc. to fix the issue. If you are looking for the right type of tea to put you to sleep though, look no further than chamomile tea. It’s an herbal tea and made of dried chamomile flowers, which means no caffeine. One study also shows that it can help manage menstrual pains. The only people who should avoid this tea are those with allergies to chamomile and pollen along with infants and young children.

After a long day, wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy sip some chamomile and catch some ZZZ’s?

Blooming Flower Tea

This might be the prettiest tea on our list. If you’re looking for a gift this holiday season or you just want to treat yourself, the blooming flower tea is definitely a contender. Starting as a little compact sphere, when you plop it in hot water, it blooms and reveals a beautiful flower! Here’s a short video of what it looks like in action. Sometimes, what catches the eye can give your day some extra color and joy. To be able to taste it too is just another level of goodness.

6 Teas to Boost Your Mood