Warm up this winter: Boost your tea with healthful add‑ins
A day without tea? At this time of year, that’s quite rare. We're drinking even more of it now, as tea is famous for its warming properties. While lemon is the most common addition, it's worth exploring other additions that might offer more health benefits.
2:34 PM EST, November 7, 2024
Black tea is one of the most popular beverages, and for good reason—it is definitely worth drinking. It's rich in antioxidants, such as flavonoids, which can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Consistent tea consumption can help lower levels of bad cholesterol, and it also contains caffeine, which aids in increasing concentration. However, during this season, we're particularly interested in tea's ability to quickly warm us up.
Tea with lemon?
Lemon is the most frequent addition to our tea. A citrus-flavored drink tastes great on cold days, and we often turn to it for its vitamin C content. Occasionally, there are reports about the potential harm of drinking tea with lemon, but doctors refute these claims. Such a drink is certainly not hazardous to your health. Just remember, it doesn't have many nutritional values. Always make sure to thoroughly scald and wash the lemon, and it's best to peel it as well.
Citrus fruits are sprayed with fungicidal and preservative substances, which may be harmful to us. Lemon isn't the only addition to tea. It's worth varying them, as many other additions are more beneficial than this fruit. There's also nothing stopping you from combining them creatively. This will give the brew unique properties and taste.
The best tea additions
Honey. Honey is a natural antibiotic that contains valuable bioactive bactericidal and fungicidal ingredients. It has anti-inflammatory and soothing effects, positively affects mucous membranes, and helps combat coughs. It also has a beneficial effect on the circulatory and digestive systems. Warm tea with honey calms and soothes nerves, making it easier to fall asleep. Such a drink strengthens immunity. It's crucial to add honey when the tea has cooled down to preserve its properties.
Ginger. You probably have powdered ginger in your kitchen cabinet, but at this time of year, it's better to use fresh ginger. Its health properties are stronger. It contains substances with potent anti-inflammatory properties, supporting the immune and digestive systems. It also has pain-relieving effects, which can be significant when an infection occurs. Just a small amount of grated ginger is enough to enhance your brewed tea.
Quince. These fruits are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. They have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Tea with quince has a positive impact on immunity. Quince juices are often used for tea, but they usually contain a lot of sugar. It's better to use quince like lemon. Just cut a small piece of the fruit and add it to the drink. You can also sprinkle a slice of quince with sugar, let it sit for 15 minutes to release the juice, and then add it to your tea.
Spices: cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom. These spices have antibacterial and antiviral effects. Cloves can additionally soothe a sore throat, cinnamon aids digestion, and both turmeric and cardamom have antiviral properties.
