Whilst wafting through the gardens with a cup of beautifully ornate floral tea in hand is certainly my kind of activity, enjoying a cup of floral tea offers so more than a Jane Auesten-esque moment. It’s a way to nourish, nurture and coax a sense of inner calm.
Flowers are also loaded with various health benefits. Beyond providing you with your daily dose of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, there are floral teas that can help aid in sleep, stress release, body detox, oral health and skin improvement. What more could you want? I’ve selected a few of my favourite flower brews to inspire your springtime floral obsessions and boost your overall health.
Boost your brain function with Butterfly Pea flower tea
Floral tea is known to help boost mental clarity. If you struggled with anxiety, concentration, brain fog or insomnia, pouring yourself a cup of butterfly pea flower tea (yes, it sounds magical) will help combat these symptoms through boosting your antioxidant and mineral intake. The tea contains a compound called acetylcholine, which is memory enhancing, promotes brain function, improves focus and provokes calmness and concentration.
A warm, honeyed cup of chamomile to help you sleep
Many floral teas contain flower tisanes that are naturally caffeine free, which makes drinking floral tea an excellent pre-sleep activity. There are various flowers that help calm the nervous system and get you feeling relaxed, like lavender, rose or blue lotus. My absolute favourite will always be a warm cup of chamomile with a spoon full of honey. Chamomile has been proven to provoke relaxation through properties found in its flavonoids.
Rose petal tea for healthy skin
Besides the heavenly aroma that comes from a cup of rose petal tea, rosewater has shown fantastic results in fighting off premature signs of ageing, like fine lines and wrinkles. I learned from Kate Moss that incorporating rose water directly into your skincare routine after using a cleanser, is a great way to combat signs of anti-ageing. Rose petal tea also helps to stimulate hair growth and a healthy scalp, with vitamins A, B3, C and E.
Hibiscus to boost your body’s overall health
Researchers have discovered a range of amazing health benefits from drinking hibiscus tea. It lowers blood pressure, fights off bad bacteria and even aids in weight loss. The flower itself has a tart flavour, similar to cranberries. Hibiscus tea can be enjoyed hot or cold, I like to whip up a little iced tea and top it with a sprig of mint. This makes a fabulously refreshing spring/summer drink.
Get that oral health with jasmine (green) tea
Jasmine contains an abundance of catechins found in green tea, which have been proven to boost overall health. Studies have also shown that using green-tea based oral products, like mouthwash, has a similar affect to antiseptic mouthwash. Jasmine also cuts through oral bacteria which may reduce bad breath.
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