We’ve all had those days, where as soon as you walk in the door you’re just beyond exhausted and can do no more. Trust me when I say that those days are zero fun, and it feels like all forms of energy have been zapped from your body. When I was in college, I definitely experienced these days, especially around finals time, which is coming up for those of us who’re still in school. I may not be in school anymore, but that doesn’t mean that I still don’t have those stressful days where I just want to yank all of my hair out. One of the things that help me to unwind, and let go of all of those worries is drinking tea. I know it may be a bit cliché, but if you drink the right tea at the end of a long and tiresome day, it’ll help you to calm your mind, and get your bearings back. These seven calming teas will not only have you exhaling in relaxation, but will also have you loving every sip you take.
Thanks to my cousin, Yogi tea has become one of my all-time favorite tea brands over the past four years or so. They have so many wonderful flavors that make for strong-tasting teas. One of my absolute favorites is the Honey Lavender Stress Relief. This calming tea has notes of lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, sage, peppermint, spearmint in a Rooibos (red) tea. Rooibos teas are ideal in promoting relaxation, especially if you drink a cup right before bed. I normally do indulge in a cup or two before I hit the hay on those stressful days, and let me tell you, sleep comes much easier due to my mind being calmed and not running amok with a flurry of anxieties. I highly recommend this calming tea to those who enjoy a tea that’s a bit on the sweeter side.
Tazo is another tea brand that is a favorite of mine. I’m specifically drawn to their herbal teas, particularly their Calm Chamomile. Chamomile is one herb that has been associated with relaxation for centuries, and also used as a medicine to treat several different health issues. The notes in this calming tea are chamomile, hibiscus, rose petals, spearmint, blackberry and licorice root. Normally, I’m not a huge fan of licorice root, as it reminds me of the taste of black licorice, but it works for this tea in balancing out the floral flavors in a pleasing blend. Calm Chamomile is definitely one of my go-to teas when I’m feeling something a bit more floral before bed. You’ll soon be leaving the madness of the day behind you.
Being a born and raised Colorado native, Celestial Seasonings was a big part of my life growing up. It’s a well-known tea brand across the U.S. that started right here in Boulder, Colorado. Naturally, they have many of my favorite childhood calming teas, and as I got older, Tension Tamer became my replacement for Sleepytime tea. I love this tea because it contains Eleuthero which is an ancient herb used to handle stress, and boy does this herb sure deliver! Tension Tamer also has notes of peppermint, chamomile, cinnamon, tilia and ginger which make for a wonderfully balanced tea. I reserve this particular tea for my most trying days, where I can come home knowing that this delicious tea is just waiting for me in my pantry ready to calm my nerves. This calming tea is a lovely blend of spice and soothing herbs.
There’s just something about loose leaf tea that tastes so much better than the teas that come in filtered bags. Don’t get me wrong, I still love teas that come that way, but they just don’t taste as fresh as loose tea leaves do. Before Teavana got bought out by Starbucks, it used to be one of my favorite tea shops to frequent as they had so many amazing flavors to choose from. But I’ve grudgingly had to move on to other loose leaf tea brands, and fortunately stumbled across the English Tea Store. One of the teas that help me in winding down after an irksome day is their Calming De-Stress Wellness tea. Notes of lemongrass, sage, rosemary and tangerine come together beautifully in this lovely green tea. I always let this one steep for longer because I enjoy the stronger aromas in this calming tea. You’ll forget the hardships of your day in no time.
Here is another Yogi tea that I recommend to help ease stress after an exasperating day. Relaxed Mind does exactly as it says on the box. I know it sounds silly, but this tea has helped me through some of my most anxious days. The notes that are used in this calming tea are helichrysum, skullcap, sage, nettle, blackberry and lavender. Helichrysum is an herb that was traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments including, allergies, wound healing, skin inflammation and colds. The helichrysum in Relaxed Mind is used because it also has sedative properties. Skullcap is another ancient herb used to aid in treating stress, anxiety and insomnia. It’s also said to possibly help in protecting against Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and depression. I honestly don’t know how I would’ve gotten through those hellish days without this calming tea. Relaxed Mind is both earthy and floral in a delectable blend.
Before I knew any better, I always associated Lipton tea as being a sun tea only, boy was I wrong. After scouring the tea section in my grocery store a bit better as I got older, I discovered that Lipton has many other flavors of tea. One of the ones that caught my attention was Stress Therapy, and that greatly appealed to my college senior self. At that time, I was always on the prowl for anything touting stress relief. This calming tea was a total gold mine for me, and soon became one of my favorites. The notes in this tea are cinnamon, lavender and chamomile, and though they are basic, they work quite well together. One of the perks that drew me to this particular tea is that you can also enjoy it iced, which makes it ideal for summertime. Hats off to Stress Therapy for getting me through my final year of higher education.
The Tea Spot is another Colorado brand based out of Louisville that I completely cherish. Though not nearly as old as Celestial Seasonings, The Tea Spot has become a well-established and respected tea brand since its opening in 2004. One of my favorite and most flavorful teas that they sell is Meditative Mind. This calming tea has notes of rosebuds and jasmine pearls blended together in a delicious white peony tea. The floral aroma of this tea is simply to die for, and works amazingly for those days that are just a bit on the annoying side of things. I turn to this tea usually after a busy day out with family, or a day spent in crowds of irritable shoppers. It would always be my go-to after working holidays in retail; which for those of us who have suffered through those exhausting times, know exactly what I mean. Meditative Mind will soon become one of your floral favorites!
When you go to SMU, you’ll know specific people, places, or signs that only Southern Methodist students know. You’ll definitely know what…
If you’re a student at Northeastern University, you know you’re at a great university. However, it can be challenging, especially…
College is not only about studying. It’s also about gaining experience in all sorts of things. It’s about developing friendships…
Men's fashion has exploded recently, becoming more popular and trendy than ever. It might be thanks to all the Instagram…
It's 2017 and climate change is an especially hot topic this year. Being a college student, I constantly ask myself…
So you’re all moved in to your dorm, you’ve hugged your mom and dad goodbye, and now you’re officially at…
