Tea has long been considered the perfect morning beverage, but there is now a growing consensus that adding soothing herbal tisanes to your bedtime ritual can work wonders. Here’s our pick of potions to brew before you hit the sack. By Sushmita Srivastav
CHAMOMILE TEA: For Stress
Ingredients
1 tsp dried chamomile flowers
1 tsp dried lemon balm
2 tsp dried holy basil
1 ½ cup water
A dash of honey (optional)
Procedure
Bring water to a boil. Combine all the ingredients and the hot water in a kettle. Cover the kettle and let the drink infuse for 20 minutes (covering the tea ensures that the essential volatile oils do not escape and get infused in the water). Filter the tea through a strainer, add honey, and mix. Pour yourself a hot cup. Chamomile tea is known to be a stress-buster and acts as a mild tranquillizer too.
Try This
Pure Chamomile, Teabox, INR 599 (90 gm).
LEMONGRASS GREEN TEA: For Exhaustion
Ingredients
2 tsp lemongrass (finely chopped)
1 tsp green tea
½ tsp dried eleuthero root
4 cups of water
Jaggery to taste
Procedure
Add lemongrass, eleuthero root, and jaggery to water in a pan and bring to a boil. Lower the flame and simmer till it reduces to half. Remove from flame and add the green tea leaves. Cover and allow to infuse for a few minutes. Strain and serve hot. The citrus notes of lemongrass and the bittersweet flavour of eleuthero root will relax your nerves and prep you for uninterrupted sleep.
Try This
Lemongrass Mint Green Tea, The Tea Shelf, INR 220 (30 gm).
LAVENDER TEA: For Headaches
Ingredients
1 tbsp lavender buds
3-4 rose petals (optional)
2 cups of water
A dollop of honey
Procedure
Boil water in a pan, and add the ingredients to it. Cover with lid and let the lavender buds steep for 10 minutes. Do not let it sit for too long or the tea will turn bitter. Once done, strain and pour hot. Splitting headaches and migraines can be serious sleep disrupters, and nothing cures them like a cup of lavender tisane. The lingering flavours of honey and rose not only make it tastier but also ensures you feel refreshed the next morning.
Try This
Lavender White Tea, Tea Trunk, INR 675 (50 gm).
TART CHERRY TEA: For Anxiety
Ingredients
1 cup tart cherry juice
½ cup frozen tart cherries
2 bags chamomile tea
½ tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ginger (freshly grated)
2 cups of water
Procedure
In a kettle, bring tart cherry juice, chamomile tea, and water to boil (or you can use tart cherry tea bags in a cup of hot water). Stir in turmeric and ginger. Add frozen cherries and steep for five minutes. Strain, or remove tea bags, and enjoy it warm. It soothes both, your mind and body, and puts you in the mood to curl up in your bed with a book. The cherries help ease anxiety and send you into a deep, restful slumber.
Try This
Tart Cherry & Cinnamon Tea, Twinings, INR 699 (20 tea bags).
SPICED ROOIBOS TEA: For Restlessness
Ingredients
1 tsp rooibos tea
½ tsp nutmeg
2 cardamom pods
½ tsp peppercorns
1 tsp fennel
½ tsp cloves
½ cinnamon stick
1 tsp ginger (finely grated)
1 tbsp coconut sugar
Procedure
Crush the cardamom pods, peppercorns, fennel, and cloves with a mortar and pestle. Bring water, with all the ingredients, added, to a boil. Allow simmering for 20 minutes. Strain with a tea strainer and serve immediately. This spiced elixir made of a shrub native to South Africa isn’t just delicious but also helps you sail through restless nights.
Try This
Rooibos Herbal Tea, TeaMonk, INR 750 (100 gm).
PEPPERMINT TEA: For Indigestion
Ingredients
15-20 fresh mint leaves (crushed)
2 tsp honey
A slice of lemon
1 cinnamon stick
2 cups of water
Procedure
Add water to a small pot and bring to a simmer. Add the mint leaves and cinnamon
stick, and turn off the heat. Allow the leaves to seep for at least 15 minutes, or wait a little longer for a stronger flavour. Strain and pour into a teacup. Add honey and squeeze in the lemon before serving warm. This crafty, refreshing mix will help you digest any fast food you may have eaten and lead you to happy sleep time.
Try This
Peppermint Tea, Arouse, INR 250 (50 gm).
TURMERIC HERBAL TEA: For Immunity
Ingredients
½ tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ginger (freshly grated)
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 lemon wedge
2 cups of water
Procedure
Add turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon to water, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and pour into a cup, and stir in maple syrup and lemon juice. Serve hot. A pinch of turmeric can go a long way, especially when it comes to therapeutic elixirs. This is great for boosting immunity and helps you in getting sound sleep too.
Try This
Turmeric Spiced Herbal Tea, VAHDAM TEAS, INR 199 (15 tea bags).
PASSIONFLOWER TEA: For Insomnia
Ingredients
2 tsp passionflower tea
1 ½ cup water
1 tsp valerian root
Honey to taste
Procedure
Bring water to a light bubble and add valerian root. Cover and simmer on low flame for 30 minutes, and remove from heat. Add the passionflower, cover, and allow to steep for an additional 20 minutes. Strain out the herbs, stir in honey, and serve. If racing thoughts have been keeping you up all night, sip on this floral tea. Passionflower is known to have calming effects on the mind and has proven effective in improving sleep pattern significantly.
Try This
Passion Flower Tea, Buddha Teas, INR 649 (18 tea bags).
Related: Tea Lovers, Listen Up: You Cannot Miss Trying Typhoo’s Organic Herbal Infusion!
