Warming Teas For Digestive Bliss
Many people know me as a tea connoisseur – because I am one! Teas have the power to hydrate, nourish, and stoke our digestive fires. Tea is more than just a bag in hot water – its benefits and uses are extraordinary!
The overconsumption of food, of which we’re all guilty from time to time, can unsettle the stomach and make us feel bloated. Herbal teas (and spices) are a great way to both prepare your gut for a big meal and also calm your stomach by aiding in digestion. We need the heat, especially in the colder months, to help us break down our food before, after, and even during our meals.
Enjoy these simple and mindful tea recipes. Prepare one for the holidays, after a big meal, or anytime you know you’ll need a healing cup of tea. Cheers!
Ginger Tea
Ginger is great for cutting through heavy holiday foods and restoring balance to sluggish digestion (stomach ache, bloating, nausea, gas). Ginger restores mental alertness, focus, and immunity after a cold. You can add a ginger tea bag to your boiling water or steep 3-5 slices of fresh ginger root in your hot water, which I personally love doing. The juices from the ginger will make your tea stronger-tasting and more powerful – that’s what I aim for!
Hibiscus Tea
The hibiscus flower is sweet, tart in flavor, and gentle on the belly. Your tea will also assume a very gorgeous red hue. Hibiscus is a cooling tea, so if you feel overheated (hot flashes or inflammation) then this tea is great. Hibiscus can also improve your skin complexion and menstrual cramps. It’s rich in vitamin C, so it’s great for boosting immunity.
Tulsi (Holy Basil) Tea
Tulsi tea is an Ayurvedic favorite. It reduces headaches and fevers, fights off colds, breaks up lung congestion, soothes the nerves, and helps with digestion. Tulsi is warming, supports healthy emotions, and enhances mental clarity. However, you should avoid this tea if dealing with hot flashes or skin rashes. Even though this tea is not caffeinated, coffee lovers are drinking tulsi tea as an alternative because it enhances energy and memory (circulation to the brain) without the physical and mental irritation.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is known for its calming effects. Drinking a cup before bedtime will release stress and support a good night's sleep. This tea soothes the nerves, relaxes the belly, and supports digestion for all body types. It’s best to drink chamomile tea in the late afternoon or early evening.
Cumin-Coriander-Fennel (CCF) Tea
The combination of these seeds is an Ayurvedic classic for healthy digestion. When steeped in hot water, these aromatic seeds produce a nutty-flavored tea that’s excellent at any time of day. This tea is known to reduce gas and bloating and to boost digestive strength. CCF also supports urinary tract health. When I’m on my seasonal cleanses, CCF tea is useful in my detoxification process – everyone can benefit from this tea. You can purchase the seeds yourself at a health food store or go to BanyanBotanicals.org to get it prepared. I have made this tea from scratch using just the three ingredients in the title!
4 cups water
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp coriander (or cardamom) seeds
1 tbsp fennel seeds
- Heat water in pot/store in thermos
- Sip throughout the day and in between meals for digestive support
- Optional: add honey or monk fruit to sweeten
Digestive Lassi
This traditional Ayurvedic tea is meant to be drunk at the end of a meal.
Recipe
1 cup plain yogurt – I use dairy-free
1/2 tsp finely minced or grated fresh ginger
1/4 tsp ground cumin or coriander (coriander is sweeter)
1/2 cup warm water
- In a blender, combine ginger, cumin, and water – blend until creamy
- Pour in a glass and sip slowly at room temperature
Genia’s Spoon Me Tips
I love to use raw honey, but you should wait to add the honey when the water is not overly hot – the excessive heat will reduce the efficacy of the enzymes in honey. You can also sweeten your teas with maple syrup, stevia, monk fruit, or milk, or enjoy as is!
“Chew your drink, and drink your food” – Mahatma Gandhi
A quote that I try to live by, “chew your drink” implies that we should drink slowly, since our body can properly absorb the water, and “drink your food” obviously reminds us all not to eat too quickly. Wise words, indeed.
There are so many more teas out there, and one of my favorites after dinner is peppermint. Peppermint tea is known to relieve an upset stomach by causing the muscles to relax – and it tastes great, too!
Lots of love in a cup of tea,
Genia