With the last days of summer already here (in some parts of the world), many are looking to soak up as much relaxation as possible before returning to the hustle of regular schedules.
To get the most out of these last couple of weeks, The Tea & Herbal Association of Canada suggests adding one to two cups of tea or herbal tea to your routine, as a way to assist with relaxation.
Tea Can Help You 'Chill'
A recent systematic review by the Tea Advisory Panel, focused on tea consumption in relation to psychological stress, found that there is growing evidence that consuming as little as one to two cups daily of tea or herbal tea could help with sleep and alleviate the feelings of stress and anxiety by facilitating relaxation (see footnote).
According to the findings, various types of tea and herbal tea can reduce stress and improve sleep and relaxation. While notable calming properties are associated with herbal tea infusions, there is also evidence for teas from the Camellia sinensis plant (white, green, oolong, black), and studies show that there are positive effects with just one to two cups daily.
How Does Tea Promote Relaxation?
Tea is a plant (Camellia sinensis) and a natural source of compounds like polyphenols, L-theanine, theaflavins, thearubigins and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Research has shown that these types of compounds, particularly L-theanine and GABA, directly impact the brain and activate pathways to reduce stress and induce calmness.
When prepared, tea has less caffeine than coffee and herbal teas have no caffeine.
For people that are affected by caffeine consumption later in the day, consuming tea or herbal tea is a good choice, so that you’re not too alert from the effects of caffeine when it is time to go to sleep.
How Do You Choose the Right Tea?
When it comes to changing your habits or adding new ones, it’s important to find the things that work for you. After all, if you are told to consume something that you don't like the taste of to help improve a condition, how likely are you to keep that thing in your daily routine?
With that in mind, the Tea & Herbal Association of Canada recommends trying a variety of teas and herbal teas to find what you like the taste of.Here are some suggestions based on tastes you might like:
- Black Tea – bold and slightly sweet.
- Green Tea – Chinese green tea tastes grassy and nutty, while Japanese is oceanic and sweet.
- Oolong Tea – can range in flavor from fragrant and floral to smooth and toasty.
- Mint Tea – refreshing and sweet and will make your mouth feel cool.
- Hibiscus Tea – tart and fruity and reminiscent of cranberries.
- Chamomile Tea – mild and light with both a flowery and earthy taste.
These are just a few of the thousands of different teas and herbal teas that are readily available at the grocery store or from specialty tea retailers. Once you have found a tea(s) that you like, make a goal of drinking one to two cups daily.
Founded in 1954, The Tea & Herbal Association of Canada is the leading authority and industry voice on all things tea in Canada, and the organization represents members from bush to cup. The association provides proactive leadership in the areas of advocacy, generic promotion, education, and information in order to ensure the long-term viability of the tea industry. It also offer a Tea Sommelier Certification program in Canada and is dedicated to increasing awareness of quality tea and its health benefits to Canadians.
Visit Tea.ca to learn more about The Tea & Herbal Association of Canada.
Footnote: Ellis, J, Bond, T, Derbyshire, E (2023). Tea and Herbal Infusions, Psychological Stress, Anxiety & Sleep Health: A Systematic Review of Human Trials & Mechanistic Studies. https://sciforschenonline.org/journals/nutrition-food/NFTOA182.php
Don’t Miss the Weekly World Tea News eNewsletter! Get your free subscription, if you’re not already subscribed, by clicking here.
Plan to Attend or Participate in World Tea Expo, March 18-20, 2024
To learn about other key developments, trends, issues, hot topics and products within the global tea community, plan to attend World Tea Expo, March 18-20, 2024 in Las Vegas, co-located with Bar & Restaurant Expo. Visit WorldTeaExpo.com.
To book your sponsorship or exhibit space at the World Tea Conference + Expo, or to enquire about advertising and sponsorship opportunities at World Tea News, contact:
Ellainy Karaboitis-Christopoulos
Business Development Manager, Questex
Phone: +1-212-895-8493
Email: [email protected]
Also, be sure to stay connected with World Tea Expo on social media for details and insights about the event. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.