Tea has been used for centuries as a natural healing beverage with multiple health benefits ranging from brain boosts, digestion aid, muscular pain relief, and positive circulatory health. You can choose from black, green, white, herbal, the list goes on! The great thing about tea is that it is so versatile; you can make a refreshing iced tea during a hot summer’s day or as cosy winter warmer for the colder evenings.

As its winter right now for us, we need all the pick-me-ups we can get during these dark months and flu season. Warm yourself up from the inside out with these DIY tea recipes we have carefully selected for you. This is also a great way to make use of leftover herbs or spices you may have in your cupboards!

Fresh Mint Tea

When it comes to medicinal uses, mint is perhaps most popularly known as a remedy for digestive problems. It aids digestion like nothing else and works wonders when you are bungled up with a cold. This fresh tea recipe is made with herb instead of leaves, which means that it does not contain any caffeine so you can enjoy this before bedtime.

Ingredients:
Cup of water
15 Fresh mint leaves (peppermint or spearmint)
Sugar or honey (optional)
Lemon Slice

Method:
Bring the water to boil, remove from the heat and add the fresh mint leaves. Soak the leaves for 2-5 minutes.
Add the optional sweetener and then pout the tea into a mug.
Garnish with a slice of lemon and enjoy!

Jasmine Raspberry Tea

Did you know that raspberries contain the highest concentration of antioxidations of any fruit on earth, almost 10 times as much as tomatoes? In addition, the potassium content in raspberries also help regulating heartbeats and blood pressure. For those looking to lose weight, raspberries are low in fat and high in fibre so it will fill you up without weighting you down with extra calories!  

Ingredients:
Jasmine Green Tea teabag
1 cup of frozen raspberries
Maple syrup (optional)

Method:
Place the teabags into a teacup and fill the teacups about half full of boiling water. In the meantime, place raspberries into a small pot and about ½ cup of water, bring the water with raspberries to simmer but don’t boil.
Pour into the teacup and if you wish, you could sweeten with a bit of maple syrup. Enjoy!

Cinnamon Chai Tea

Did you know that in Hindi, the world chai translates to tea? However, the correct term for this Indian blend is ‘masala chai’ where the word masala refers to a blend of spices used in cooking. This delightful, unique, and cosy drink boosts warm spices, bitterness of tea and fluffed milk froth. This drink is high in protein with the milk, and it helps boost mental focus, as chai contains about 50mg of caffeine per cup! The use of Cinnamon also provides various health benefits including the ability to improve heart health and reduce nausea.

Ingredients:
Milk (can be almond or cow’s milk)
English Breakfast teabag
3 cracked cardamom pods
Cinnamon stick (half)
Nutmeg (a grating)
Cloves (2)
Brown Sugar (2-4 tsp)

Method:
Heat the milk in a saucepan over a very low heat. Empty the contents of the teabags into the pan.
Add the cracked cardamom pods, cinnamon stick nutmeg and cloves.
Sweeten with the sugar to taste and then leave to infuse for 10 minute, straight into a mug and enjoy!

Turmeric Latte

Why not jazz up breakfast with this golden latte? Turmeric is a bit like root ginger but bright orange, less spicy and with just a hint of bitterness. It’s extremely healthy with studies suggesting that the curcumin in turmeric has various anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Ingredients:
Almond or whichever milk you prefer (1 cup)
Turmeric Powder (2 tsp)
Cardamom (2 crushed)
Cinnamon stick (1 small piece)
Sugar or sweetener of your choice
Grind of black pepper

Method:
Put all the ingredients into a saucepan and heat on very low heat till it comes to a boil.
Simmer for 5 minutes.
Strain and then use a frother to froth the milk.
Pour into mugs and sprinkle with a little cinnamon to serve. Enjoy!