Close your eyes, inhale and let the rich spicy, sweet and invigorating aroma of autumn herbal teas envelop body and spirit; in fact, when the first cold weather arrives, they help defend us from seasonal evils, which we can face, comforting and warming the heart.
In addition to being a pleasant habit to warm up the body when the rains and the first colds arrive, autumn herbal teas are also very useful in supporting the immune system against colds. For this reason, among the ingredients, spices cannot be missing, used for thousands of years by traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine , with antibacterial and invigorating properties.
Even fruit blends or infusions, such as forest fruit tea, for example, allow us to savor the first cold ones with the aftertaste of summer, as they are mainly composed of berries (strawberries, blueberries, rose hips), harvested in full of their balsamic time and dried to perfection, to preserve all the antioxidant properties of summer fruit. In fact, freshly picked, they are rich in vitamins A, vit. B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C and minerals, precious for our body, especially potassium. Fruit infusions welcome us into our homes during this period, precisely because they help us deal with the changes of season , strengthening us and improving our defensive system.
Finally , some exotic teas rich in mineral salts make us travel to distant lands with their delicious taste , seductive aroma and multiple virtues . Among these we remember the red tea , beneficial, extremely versatile and warm , like the sun of the distant lands from which it comes: rooibos tea sweetly accompanies the cool autumn afternoons, spreading perfumed notes in the air, hints of distant journeys. And bancha tea , rich in antioxidants, iron, calcium and vit. A, excellent blood alkalizer (it regulates the pH), isdiuretic , hypoglycaemic and depurative . Furthermore, these teas, being practically theine-free, can also be used by children or by those who cannot take stimulant substances.
The use of spices in autumn herbal teas
One of the most famous infusions when it comes to spices is yogi tea, a perfect blend of black pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. This classic recipe draws on a wondrous mythology, thousands of years old, and is deeply rooted in the ancient traditions and spiritual practices of the Orient. The spices used in the classic blend are:
- Ginger : its stimulating action has been known for years in oriental medicine, Chinese in particular, which uses it to combat tiredness, stress and seasonal ailments, being a true natural antibiotic . And that’s not all: a ginger tea can also help reduce dysfunctions related to male impotence, as it promotes blood circulation. As if that were not enough, this root contains particular antioxidant enzymes and substances such as gingerol and shogaol which promote digestion, are effective remedies against nausea and stimulate the body’s reaction, in convalescence and asthenia .
- Cinnamon, properties : it is a powerful natural antioxidant, it stimulates blood circulation and helps fight cholesterol . Thanks to the presence of the essential oil , it has antibacterial properties (exploited in Ancient Egypt for the embalming of the deceased), antiseptic , stimulant and digestive . Cinnamon stimulates the immune system and is a good natural remedy for colds, flu, diarrhea, flatulence and dyspepsia due to the antimicrobial and astringent action. In Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine it is used for cold-related ailments, as it has a warming effect, and against menstrual pain.
- Cardamom: An excellent cure for urinary system disorders , coughs and hemorrhoids. Traditional Chinese medicine uses it for stomach pain and dysentery . A cardamom-based infusion is a real panacea against colds and immediately clears the airways while fighting the tiredness that typically accompanies flu states.
- Cloves : they stimulate blood circulation, help overcome exhaustion, headaches and memory loss, are digestive , toning and, it would seem, also powerful aphrodisiacs . Sienese doctors of the 16th century wrote that cloves, cooked in a cup of milk, stimulate the ” forces of Venus ” and that they “benefit the defects of the stomach, liver, heart and head” and “corroborate coitus”. Another virtue of this precious spice is that it is a natural antioxidant : it fights the action of free radicals, keeping the body young.
- Black pepper : piperine , the alkaloid contained in pepper, makes the spice stimulating , tonic and stomachic and, by promoting the secretion of gastric juices, facilitates the digestive process and facilitates the absorption of nutrients , drawing the maximum benefit from the ingested food. Black pepper also has antiseptic , expectorant and even aphrodisiac properties . This spice would also be invaluable for fighting depression, it seems that piperine stimulates the production of endorphins in the brain and acts as a natural antidepressant .