Rituals give us strength. Rituals create the quality of life we choose to build for ourselves.
What works for me might not work for you. But I’m also a firm believer in the idea: Success leaves clues.
I remember tucking myself into our couch, my young daughter by my side. We’d snuggle together, wrapped in a blanket, basking in the heat of a nearby roaring fire. We’d be engrossed in a book, sharing the rich stories together. We’d each have our hands wrapped around a mug of tea, truly savoring our time together.
It’s a ritual we still frequent today. We might sit on separate couches, but the ritual remains. And now, we often finish our books and dive into deep, meaningful conversations.
Books shape our lives.
So, too, does tea.
So much so that a few years ago, we both chuckled when we bought each other the “same” gift - a subscription to a tea service. Every month, we’d rip open our boxes and dive into exciting tea samples from around the world.
Because tea isn’t just tea.
Fixing tea for yourself is meditative, mindful. It lets you be in the present.
Drinking tea isn’t something you rush through. When done right, it gives you a chance to savor, not hurry. To feel your inner calm. To enjoy the gorgeous serenity of being in the moment.
We discovered that all those years ago, just my daughter and I, snuggled up on the couch with a book and a mug of tea.
So, how do I choose what tea to consume?
A perfect cup of tea starts with the proper tea.
I’ve changed a lot over the years in terms of defining what that means.
Once upon a time, I assumed everything we put in or on our bodies was safe. Oh, was that a long time ago.
Then I fell down the rabbit hole. It’s a very longgggg rabbit hole.
I once had a woman ask me, “I don’t even know where to begin. There’s so much I don’t know. When I make one change, I discover five more things behind it. It’s overwhelming …”
Indeed.
I’m a tea drinker. Love it. I only consume two drinks each day - water and tea. Iced tea. Hot tea. Doesn’t matter, I love it.
There was a time when tea was tea - I didn’t question the source.
But plant-based means you move through a deep learning curve, always questioning, always upgrading.
Several years ago, I started questioning tea bags. I’ve read articles on how they’re made.
So, I’ve purchased an infuser, and frequently buy loose leaf. But tea bags are convenient, and I haven’t given them up completely.
Organic? Yep. I try to find it wherever I can. I always do a deep dive before I trust a company. I have my favorites from my local area.
Then I read:
Aluminum. In tea. ☹️
As @trufoods says:
The study and other sites state that the amount of Aluminum in a cup of tea is insignificant. But what is the toxic load if you consume several cups daily for years? Is any amount of Aluminum in the diet safe?
Did you know aluminum is a dangerous toxin linked to harming health? It can be ingested, absorbed through the skin, or inhaled. Aluminum occurs naturally in many foods, but it’s also present in drinking water and many pharmaceuticals.
How much is enough? We just don’t know. Nobody’s tested any of this.
So, it’s time to look for a better solution.
The problem with tea …
It’s not just aluminum. Tea is full of pesticides. Do a quick search, and you’ll find references to many companies talking about problems with tea and high pesticide levels.
Tea is grown in regions all over the world. While pesticide use is a growing concern, so too is the industry's use of contaminants. Heavy metals, fluoride, pesticides - you don’t know how the tea is sourced unless you do your research. If you go to your favorite big box store and choose based on price, it’s a game of roulette at best.
In addition to contaminants, tea brands have their own way of producing the little tea bags you take home from the store. Do they have artificial ingredients? Natural flavors? GMOs?
It’s not just the tea leaves that can be a problem.
While tea bags have traditionally been made from paper, some companies are upgrading their production to nylon and polyethylene terephthalate.
One published report found that brewing a single plastic tea bag can release 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics into a single cup of tea. Microwaving can further amplify the problem.
How to find tea you can trust
Is it a problem? Yes. But I still want my tea! ☕️ So, it’s time to search for a viable solution.
This is an ongoing task. But the good news is that once you have a brand you love, it’s easier to ensure they remain true to their brand. Just be aware that if they sell to a bigger brand, that can be an indicator that the larger brand will eventually cut corners to ramp up production and cut costs.
This is my process.
Read the ingredient label
Avoid any tea with “extra” ingredients. Look for natural flavors, added flavors, soy lecithin, maltodextrin, corn starch - all are potential genetically modified ingredients.
Buy only organic and non-GMO certified
You do it with your food, and it’s required for tea as well. Look for organic and non-GMO certified brands of tea wherever you shop. Buying tea with these certifications is your best way to reduce the risk of synthetic chemicals and pesticides ending up in your tea. And if you’re like me and have several cups a day, that can really add up over time.
Do your research
It doesn’t take much research to give your heart a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Google the brands you’re considering. Take a look at the search results - is there anything in the news? Visit their websites - peruse their about us and mission statements. Are they a Certified B Corporation? Are they certified organic? Do they test for heavy metals? How do they package their tea? Do they conduct third-party testing? Do they talk about how they source? Tea companies are aware of the problems - they will talk about their actions if they are doing things the right way.
Travel with your own tea
If you’re going away for a long weekend or simply heading out for the day, there’s nothing wrong with asking for a cup of hot water and using your own tea bag. Again, it’s all about moderation.
Opt for loose leaf
Use loose leaf at home when you can easily use an infuser. If you’ve done your research well, you’ll also have a selection of tea bags you can carry with you as well.
Brands I’m using
Pique Tea
What if you could find a tea company that triple-checks its teas for heavy metals, pesticides, and toxic mold? You can find it with Pique Tea. I’m especially fond of white and green, but knowing any of them are carefully screened means you can pick and choose to determine which are your favorite.
Stash Tea
I use local - which ticks off so many boxes for me. I found Stash locally, and used to shop at a pop-up store a few miles from my house. That shuttered these last few years, but they still sell online and through various stores. I have purchased both their organic loose leaf and tea bags - I love jasmine green tea.
Mountain Rose Herbs
Thanks to @trufoods, I’m trying Mountain Rose Herbs, which, after a little searching, I found out are also just outside my local community. I’m excited about trying them because they offer organic teas, and so much more.
Design my own
There’s a small tea shop just down the street from my house. As they were putting the finishing touches on the shop, a gardener came in and added plants everywhere, all over the patio. It’s a beautiful place to sit, inside and out. I fell in love when we visited a few weeks after it opened. After ordering tea, the owner stepped onto the pation and cut a handful of fresh herbs and flowers from her garden. She popped them into an infuser - tea! I’m growing a lot in my garden, and have hopes of adding some of my own clippings to my teas. Maybe I’ll try these … or these.
Little changes …
I’m all about awareness. I make the best choice given the situation.
I’ve never considered aluminum in my tea before; you can bet I’ll be watching for more information on what this means.
But for me, tea is a mindful routine. I love to sip tea and read a book on cold winter mornings. (Or read a book and sip iced tea on a hot summer day. Again, not a bad time to ever drink tea.) 😋
Ask question. Stay informed. And make the best decision.
Then start all over again.
It’s what works for me.
What’s your tea of choice? Have any ideas? I’d love to hear from you.
Lori
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