Mushrooms are edible fungi that have tons of benefits, awesome culinary properties, and a huge fan-following from countries all over the globe! You will seldom find someone who doesn’t love mushrooms! Mushroom tea is rich in vitamin B and mineral nutrients like selenium, copper, and potassium. It is categorized as a superfood that is gaining a lot of traction since it can increase stamina and bone strength in the human body. It is also packed with antioxidants that allow a person drinking mushroom tea to give their immune system a boost with each sip! It is no news why mushroom tea is so popular these days.

What is Mushroom Tea?

The mixture obtained after infusing edible, recreational or medicinal mushroom pieces in boiling water is known as mushroom tea.

What is the history of Mushroom Tea?

Tea made from ‘Chaga’ or ‘mushroom’ has been prepared and consumed by native Russians and Scandinavians residing near the Ural Mountains, since time immemorial. In the 12th century, Tsar Valdimir Monomakh, who was the Grand Prince of Kievan Rus, popularized mushroom tea, after he started consuming this drink regularly in hopes to cure his lip cancer! The folk medicinal texts found in Northern Europe and Russia, written in the late 16th and 17th centuries, mainstreamed the healing properties of mushroom tea. In these texts, mushroom tea was hailed as an all-in-one cure to treat issues like -

• Cancer
• Gastritis
• Ulcers and
• Even tuberculosis

Again in the 1950s, a famed Russian Nobel laureate and author Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote a novel, ‘Cancer Ward’. Here he highlighted the healing properties of mushroom tea. So, it is fair to state that mushroom-infused tea has quite a rich history! 

What are the benefits of Mushroom Tea?

Benefits of mushroom tea are as follows - 

• It is jam-packed with antioxidants.
• It is capable of regulating hormones.
• It breaks down stress-hormone cortisol thus relieving stress in an individual.
• It may or may not keep cancerous cells under check – more research into this matter is necessary.
• It boosts the immune system.
• It keeps chronic inflammation under check.
• It also can regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels

Hibiscus tea didn't pave into the limelight recently. On the contrary, it has been loved for generations. The tart, the cranberry-like taste is not the only reason behind hibiscus tea’s worldwide popularity. From soothing sore throats to fighting cancer and reducing weight, hibiscus tea has a range of health benefits. Owing to this, hibiscus tea is often considered as one of the most popular herbal teas or tisanes.

Hibiscus tea or Roselle tea is prepared from the dried Roselle calyces. Roselle is a plant of the Hibiscus Sabdariffa family and is a native plant in West and East Africa. If legends are to be believed; Roselle tea is consumed in African countries like Egypt and Sudan for ages now. But its popularity is not limited to the geographical boundaries of Africa. Even in Asian countries like Thailand, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia, it’s consumed extensively. Recently, Hibiscus tea is gaining traction in the European market as well.

In some countries, the flowers of Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis (another species of hibiscus), known as China Rose or Shoeblackplant, are also used to prepare this tea. There are several accounts of hibiscus medicinal uses in Chinese Herbology. The use of hibiscus as herbal alternatives to antibiotics is also gaining popularity with time. (Reference: Hibiscus rosa-Sinensis, Wikipedia, Retrieved on 1 June 2020) No matter the variety of the hibiscus family used to prepare the drink, hibiscus tea work wonders.

Who doesn't love to sip a cup of steaming hot tea early in the morning? Everyone does! It's not the most loved and second-most consumed drink worldwide for nothing. The rich taste and warmth never fail to mesmerize its followers. But what if we told you, your favourite beverage could protect you from the COVID-19 as well?

Shocking, right? The coronavirus or COVID-19 had been one of the toughest pandemics the world has ever witnessed. This contagious virus affects the immune system and ultimately leads to death. Anyone having a weak immune system is particularly vulnerable to this virus. And the only way to be safe is to strengthen this system. This is where immunity tea can work wonders. It’s not only famous for its taste but also for its range of health benefits. The antibacterial antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties in the immunity-boosting teas help boost the system and combats this deadly virus.

Immunity-boosting teas like green tea and chamomile tea are the best tea for the immune system. This is because these are rich in antioxidants. And, antioxidants play a significant role in enhancing the strength of the immune system.  Know the best part? Adding honey to these teas further multiplies its effect. Immunity teas, also known as immunity-boosting teas, are consumed for their immunity-enhancing properties. These Teas being rich in antioxidants play a vital role in improving the body's overall capability to combat disease-causing viruses. The immunity tea is mainly varieties of green tea, white tea, chamomile tea, and Haldi tea. At present, several brands are also coming up with special blends of immunity tea. These blends of immunity tea are made by combining the tea leaves with herbs like ginseng and thyme. For instance Kashmiri Kahwa green tea consists of Penang Cloves, mighty Ginger, Almonds, Rose petals, Cassia cinnamon, black pepper, green cardamom and Assam green tea - and can greatly help with building immunity.

Who doesn't crave a slim and toned body? Well, everyone does! And for that, it’s essential to lose every inch of unwanted fat. This is where slimming teas can help! Slimming teas or weight-loss teas are special types of teas that can help curb obesity. The use of slimming tea in dieters has risen significantly in the last few years. From celebs to influencers, all are joining the bandwagon. Teas like green tea and black tea help curb the growth of excess fat and fight diseases like cancer when consumed daily.

Obesity is one of the most common problems worldwide. Not only does it look odd, but it also exposes the body to a range of diseases. And so, it’s essential to seek ways to lose unwanted fats. Belly-bloating is a common issue. According to studies, belly-bloating is a result of improper digestion. Consuming fatty foods regularly is a common cause of belly-bloating. No matter what the reason is, it is uncomfortable and unpleasant. Not only does it make the stomach look swollen, but it also results in physical discomfort.

From working out to switching junk food with healthier alternatives, everyone is doing their best to lose weight and bloating. After all, no one likes to be seen in bad shape. Tea has always been loved not only for its taste but also for the benefits. There is a variety of slimming teas that help reduce weight and tackle the problem of bloating. Green tea, black tea, Puerh tea, Oolong tea are some of the best slimming teas that help lose belly fat. However, experts advise not to depend on tea solely for curbing obesity, as slimming teas only act as a stimulus to the weight loss program. Also, it’s essential to judge the consumption procedure of slimming teas. For example, if adding sugar or milk to the tea keeps the calorie content intact. No matter how much slimming teas you consume, you won’t notice any significant change.

Matcha Tea is a type of Green Tea produced by following a specific set of procedures. It’s shaded before the harvest by shading the shrubs from sunlight. As a result, the growth rate becomes slower, and the level of chlorophyll in the leaves increase. This is the reason why Matcha green tea powder has a darker green colour than regular green tea. For Matcha Tea, only the smaller and top buds are hand-plucked instead of the whole plant. The plucked leaves are left to dry and after that deveined and destemmed. Then, it’s slowly grounded with stone to ensure the leaves don’t lose its aroma due to the fiction produced from the grinding. The result is a talcum like powder of emerald green colour. This is why Matcha Green Tea is so exquisite.

Going forward, the Matcha Tea green tea powder is packed in tight containers to avoid any kind of oxidation, resulting in the colour's browning. Not only is the exquisite Matcha Tea prepared differently, but the method of its consumption is also different. Unlike other teas, where the tea leaves are steeped while brewing, the Matcha green tea powder is directly mixed with the water or milk. Many also like to whisk the tea in a zig-zag motion with a bamboo whisk. The result is a frothy green drink.

Owing to its magical prowess in treating a wide array of ailments, best tea tree oils are gaining its foothold in all parts of the world. Starting from cosmetics and medicines to household products, it’s now an essential component in a range of daily necessities. Best of all, the tea tree oil price is quite affordable. It can cost you somewhere between Rs 200 (USD 2.5) to Rs. 600 (USD 7.5) per ounce.

The tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is a type of essential oil that is derived by steaming the leaves of the Australian tea tree. It’s a key ingredient in various cosmetics and medicinal products because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The tea tree essential oil is famous for its antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Due to these qualities, it's regarded as an excellent alternative to antibiotics in treating wounds and infections.

Though the tea tree oil is used extensively for medicinal purposes, there are specific guidelines to be followed. In general, the oil is used topically. And, it is advised to be used in a diluted form, as 100% tea tree oil may cause skin irritation issues like dry skin, rashes, and red skin. Ensure to mix tea tree oil for skin or hair with a carrier oil before applying. You can use oils like coconut, jasmine, olive, and almond.

Red raspberry leaf or garden raspberry leaf is a herbal tea or tisane. It is a native plant of Northern parts of Asia and Europe that is packed with a plethora of healthy nutrients. The red raspberry leaf tea is widely known for its endless benefits. It has been used for centuries as a herbal tonic. The caffeine-free drink with a fruity taste is now a popular choice among tea lovers all over the world. Additionally, raspberry tea has a plethora of medicinal benefits.

An expecting woman should start drinking raspberry tea from around 32 weeks of pregnancy. Initially, one can limit to 1 cup daily and gradually increase to 2 or 3 cups a day, until delivery. raspberry leaf tea increases the estrogen levels. It is because of this reason; experts advise drinking raspberry leaf tea during menopause.

Red raspberry leaf tea has been useful in balancing the female hormones due to the high content of antioxidants. Additionally, it helps in relaxing the blood vessels.

Kombucha Tea, also known as Tea Mushroom or Manchurian Mushroom (as the culture is referred to) is a slightly sweet, acidic beverage made from an infusion of black or green tea leaves with sugar and a combination of bacteria & yeast known as “Tea Fungus” or SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria & Yeast). It’s fizzy, sweet-and-sour, and tastes like sparkling apple cider. 

Kombucha tea is a sweet, fizzy drink made of yeast, sugar, and fermented tea. Green Tea Kombucha uses fermented Green Tea leaves and has a more fruity taste. Kombucha tea is microbicidal and a natural source of probiotics. Kombucha tea helps to alleviate depression, boost metabolism, inhibit cancer and treats diarrhoea.