I love tea! I love the act of brewing it, I love the company shared while sipping on it, I love the simple yet beautiful gesture of offering a guest a cuppa, I love holding a warm, full mug while breathing in the steamy, botanical aroma. Drinking tea just feels COZY. And let’s be honest, it’s just a bit more fun than drinking water.
But drinking tea doesn't just feel nice - it's also a sweet way to sneak lots of health benefits into your fragile, flesh-and-bones human body! I'm talking anti-viral properties, antioxidants galore, tea that literally fuels our vessels with protection from diabetes, cancer, aaand sore throats - to name a few. Herbs are truly amazing, and tea is just an apparatus in which to reap their bennies.
Tea Day (proper noun)(ideally in a British accent): A day to go on a bulk-herb gathering adventure with friends, followed by congregating to mix different combinations to brew, culminated by drinking a lot of tea with your pals 🐸 ☕️ 🐯 🍵 🐶 ☕️
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How to Tea Day
Make a list of herbs available via refill shops near you (Denver folks, peep the list at the bottom). Research some that catch your eye and make a whole ass Google document outlining each one and their benefits. (Or, don’t, since that’s kind of the point of this post, ‘cause friend, I did it for you!)
Print out the quick-reference guide of the herb list so you and your Tea-mates can reference while in the refill shops.
Head out to the local refill shops to buy a bunch of bulk tea!
Realize half way there that everyone forgot their quick-reference guide at home.
Exclaim in unison OH NO!, debate driving 10min back to get them, have some giggles.
Remember that you made the quick-reference guide a pdf so everyone can pull it up on their phone and all is well in the world again.
Buy some herbs!!!
Congregate and create tea mixes to test out what tastes good together and what your favorite combinations are.
Drink, sip, enjoy the tea - and company!
Please feel free to recreate Tea Day with your own twist, or simply use my super sweet list below.
Orrrrr, go completely rogue and snag any herbs you can find that you fancy. Pick by the name (I mean how cool is the word FENUGREEK??), the color, the ~vibe~, whatever. Mix, steep, experiment, have fun. There are no rules to Tea Day!
In this list I cover:
Chamomile
Hibiscus
Lemon balm
Lavender
Spearmint
Nettle leaf
Burdock root
Dandelion root
Mullein
Rosehips
Thyme
Fenugreek
Raspberry leaf
Lemon verbena
Milk thistle
Valerian root
Chamomile
Calms anxiety
Reduces physical pain
Soothes digestive system
Relieves fatigue
Promotes restful sleep
Anti-bacterial & anti-fungal
Taste: lightly sweet, floral, herbal
Known for its ability to promote high-quality snooze-time, chamomile’s benefits hardly stop there. Chamomile has been used as treatment for nervous system stressors, digestive aids, lowering fevers and even as aromatherapy (it smells gott damn delish). Topically, chilled chamomile tea can help soothe skin abrasions such as rashes, chickenpox, psoriasis, eczema, and burns. Chamomeeee, please.
Hibiscus
Strengthens immune system & fights off infections
Helps lower blood pressure & cholesterol
Great source of iron
Very fun pink color
Antioxidant rich
Taste: sweet & tart, yum surprise
Hibiscus has been used for centuries as a remedy for a ridiculous amount of health conditions. Historically, hibiscus tea was revered by the Egyptian pharaohs to be “royalty’s most important beverage” as it was known to improve health and vitality. (Why do rich people always want to live forever?) Egyptians also used hibiscus tea to lower body temperature, treat heart and nerve diseases, and as a diuretic. Who has to pee now just thinking about it? Just me? Ok anyway, in Africa, this tea was used to treat constipation, cancer, liver disease, and cold symptoms. Impressive.
Lemon balm
“Heal all” herb
Stress relieving
Promotes digestive, nerve, & muscle relaxation
Anti-viral & anti-bacterial
Taste: sweet subtle lemony mint
Nicknamed the “elixir of life,” lemon balm has extremely high levels of antioxidants. Getting a little science-y here, but lemon balm even has a sort of magical compound in it called "terpene" - this has the ability to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, hypertension, high blood pressure, muscle aches, headaches, circulatory and cognitive issues, and more! Like I said, sorta maaagical.
Lavender
Anti-inflammatory & anti-viral
Relieves headaches, anxiety, stomach disturbances
Minimizes cold/flu & fever symptoms
Promotes restful sleep
Taste: flowery, purple, pretty
Use lavender equally liberally topically as well as internally. (What a somehow-grammatically-correct sentence!) Lavender is not only fabulous tea, it can be eaten (in salads, grain bowls, drinks, etc) and used in aromatherapy. The essential oil of lavender soothes and relieves skin from pain or discomfort from abrasions - rashes, burns, even allergic outbreaks. This isn't backed by research, but smelling lavender puts you in a 10x chiller mood than whatever your mood was pre-lavender-sniffs.
Spearmint
Soothes digestive ailments
Relieves headaches, sinus congestion, fatigue, & sore throats
Minimizes stress & anxiety
Packed with vitamins, minerals, & antioxidants
Improves metabolism & blood circulation
Taste: sweet, mild, chillest mint of them all
Not just a classic flavor for toothpaste and chewing gum, spearmint is first and foremost a herbaceous plant action-packed with benefits! Drinking spearmint tea helps open up your sinuses so you can stop being a rotten mouth breather while you're sick. The aroma of spearmint alone alleviates physical stress and cold symptoms. After sipping on spearmint, headaches or troubled stomachs are as good as gone. Gosh what a gift.
Nettle leaf
Rich in chlorophyll and minerals
Anti-inflammatory
Supports the endocrine system
Boosts liver & heart health
Prevents headaches, sore throats, sinus infections, and fatigue
Taste: bright green, slightly peppery, herbaceous
Grown abundantly in the wild, nettle can be found as weeds in garden beds, meadows, and empty lots alike. Full of iron, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A, E, D, C, and K - it’s so strong it can neutralize toxic antigens in the body. Nettle is particularly beneficial for your endocrine system and helps regulate the hormones created and released by the glands that control nearly all the processes in your body - metabolism, growth and development, emotions, mood, sexual function and even sleep. 1,000 points to Nettle Longbottom!
Burdock root
Anti-tumor, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory
Stops cancer cells from growing
Purifies blood, detoxes the body
Stimulates metabolism
Strengthens hair & nails
Painkiller
Taste: earthy, sweet, nutty
Used sometimes a a coffee alternative, burdock root has a deep, rich flavor that you can tell comes straight from the Earth (literally, rooted in it). I have to admit it can smell faintly like dirt before brewing.. but burdock root makes up for its poor hygiene by being an absolute all-star miracle plant - it treats chronic disease like cancer and diabetes, acts as a natural diuretic, and is a great overall health-promoting tea.
Dandelion root
Anti-cancer
Protects the liver, kidney, & heart
Improves our gut flora
Anti-depressant
Balances metabolism (natural diuretic)
Soothes digestive qualities (appetite, constipation, etc)
Prevents diabetes & cardiovascular diseases
Taste: almost like an herbal, nutty coffee or deep black tea
Yes, the same dandelions that we spray with pesticides because they are deemed lowly weeds, what an absolute travesty! As it turns out, those little yellow puffs that we scorn scattered across our yards have incredible healing powers. The benefits highlighted at the base of the plant, the dandelion root was made for healing. It protects the liver and kidneys, boosts our digestive system, and even prevents diabetes, cancer, and other cardiovascular diseases. Another great coffee alternative.
Mullein
Anti-bacterial & anti-viral
Eases muscle & joint pain
Reduces cramps & digestive issues
Treats insomnia and anxiety
Taste: wildflowers, honey
Mullein is a perfect plant for calming the f**k down. It is literally stress relieving. It removes mucus from the body, fights bacteria and viruses, and generally relieves any physical pain we might be experiencing. If you’re feeling out of whack or restless in this tumultuous world we live in, mullein tea might be a lovely remedy.
Rosehips
Prevents and treats infections
Reduces inflammation
Aids women’s reproductive health
Purifies and nourishes the flood & lymphatic system
Prevents stress related illnesses
Vitamin C, E, & K
Taste: floral, tart-like
Just like Shakira, these hips don’t lie. Specifically from the rugosa rose plant, rosehips are the healing fruit of the flower and grow abundantly in the wild and in home gardens alike. Packed with vitamins, rosehips help you stay healthy by strengthening the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive system. Plus I just love the name - rosehips! The hips of the rose! Empowering and feminine, don't you think?
Thyme
Kills bacteria and viruses
Stimulates memory
Prevents nightmares & melancholy
Eases headaches and muscle tension
Soothes cough, fights fevers & infections
Purifies digestive tract
Taste: herby, green
It’s more than just a great herb for seasoning potatoes (although that will almost always take the cake for best use). Thyme is a rich source of essential vitamins like A, E, C, K, B-complex and folate. It’s also one of the best sources of calcium, iron, manganese, selenium, and potassium that you can get. Move over bananas! Drink thyme tea at first signs of cold or illness. Or after! This mighty little herb can help you recover from fatigue after falling ill.
Fenugreek
Soothes stomach
Rich in nutrients (vitamins A, C, thiamin, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, and selenium)
Relieves lower back pain and reduces inflammation throughout body
Beneficial for treating acid reflux, heartburn, allergies, indigestion, & constipation
Protects from colon cancer & heart attacks
Lowers cholesterol
Taste: maple syrup
Fun fact: I once bought fenugreek seed capsules because of the allergy-prevention benefits and the bottle came solely advertising the benefits for breastfeeding mothers (as it also helps boosts milk production). My housemates were confused.. but alas, both the seeds and leaves of fenugreek have a myriad of benefits! Fenugreek has been used for thousands of years to soothe aches and ailments. It is rich in nutrients, and can even treat diabetes by helping control our blood sugar levels. What a diverse plant!
Raspberry leaf
Antioxidant rich
Treats sore throats, cold sores, canker sores, colds, & fevers
Relieves PMS symptoms and cramps
Great source of vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, & bioflavonoids
Taste: black tea
The leaf of everyone’s favorite fruit (or perhaps just mine, but objectively raspberries are top tier) is more than meets the eye! Used for centuries as a “reproductive tonic” due to its ability to support both women’s and men’s reproductive health, raspberry leaf is great for menstrual symptoms and a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals. The leaf can even be used topically for skin conditions (burns, cuts, rashes, eczema, psoriasis). We love a multi-use tea!
Lemon verbena
Digestive health
Regulates metabolism
Anti-fungal
Relaxes nerves & muscles
Calms the mind, eases anxiety & depression
Provides relief from respiratory issues (cough, flu, asthma, etc)
Taste: bright, lemony
Mmmm lemons. How incredible that this mighty citrus flavor has made its way into so many leafy plants. Lemon verbena is a great tea for your tummy. It’s a digestive health staple, regulating metabolism and keeping your stomach comfy. Like other mint-family herbs, lemon verbena is phenomenal for mental and physical stress relief. Also, saying "le-mon ver-be- na" is pretty fun.
These last two I researched and then figured out they might not be the best for teas.. but they are still incredible herbs! Worth noting and hence kept here, just at the very bottom and in a shameful tea-less grey color.
Milk thistle
Aids liver function
Prevents cancer
Lowers cholesterol & blood glucose levels
Anti-inflammatory, anti-viral
Strengthens digestive tract
Taste: oily, bitter
An absolutely incredible tea for cleansing and healing your liver. Milk thistle restores and protects the liver from chemicals, environmental toxins, and alcohol. Great for recreational boozers and sober-health-seekers alike. However, as it turns out, milk thistle does not steep well, and therefore is not A1 for making tea. Some good options would be to eat fresh grounds or take a quality capsule (I chose the latter).
Valerian root
Sedative
Calm, relaxing
Helps insomnia, headaches, nervousness/anxiety
Soothes digestive system
Promotes overall heart health
Should not operate heavy machinery or drive while taking
Taste: stinky feet, apparently
After some research, it sounds like valerian root is best taken via capsules or extract. I don’t really fancy smelly tea? Likely better to buy this one via a ‘sleepytime’ tea mix, or if you mask it up with lots of other herbs, it might be aiiiight.
Denver Zero Waste Stores
Apothecary Tinctura | Cherry Creek *
JOY FILL | West Highlands
The Conscious Merchant | Downtown
ZERO Market | Edgewater Public Market *
ZERO Market | Stanley Marketplace (Aurora) *
NOOCH Vegan Market | South Broadway
*sells bulk herbs