FeelingGoodWithSofy

Hi! Time for a new wellness article! :)😊

In this blog post, I am going to discuss about tea, some of its benefits and much more! 🙂

The story of tea

The story of tea begins in China. According to Legend, in 2737 BC, tea was discovered accidentally when leaves from a tree drifted into the boiling water of Emperor Shen Nung’s servant. Being a well-known herbalist, Shen Nung chose to taste the drink his servant had inadvertently made. The tree was a Camellia sinensis, the source of what we know as tea.

The earliest known tea cultivation and use likely began in the Yunnan province of China. The original use of tea was medicinal, but it eventually became a beloved beverage.

During the Tang Dinasty era, (618-907 AD) tea drinking becomes widespread in china and this period of time is considered the “Golden Age” of tea in this country. Moreover, Lu Yu (a writer) writes the first book dedicated to tea, called The Classic of Tea!

Global expansion

Further on, tea had a global expansion. It was firstly introduced in Japan and then in other countries. European travelers and traders encountered tea in the 16th and 17th centuries.

By the 17th century, tea had become incredibly popular in Britain, leading them to expand its cultivation to India and other areas of the world.

Some benefits of tea

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages around the world, and for good reason. Besides from its comforting warmth and different flavours, tea is packed with potential health benefits!

• Antioxidant powerhouse: tea is filled with antioxidants, particularly polyphenols. Tea polyphenols are an effective antioxidant that can help preventing and treating clinical diseases…
• Supports heart health: studies suggest that drinking tea regularly may lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Brain booster: tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation without drowsiness. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine in tea can also enhance focus, mental clarity and cognitive function!
• Immunity support: tea may help to support ones immune system. Some studies suggest that it can increase the production of immune cells and enhance their activity.

Mental wellbeing and tea

Tea can also support your mental wellbeing.

Green tea, in particular, contains L-theanine, a unique amino acid that promotes relaxation without causing sleepiness. It also helps reducing anxiety, allowing you to feel calmer and more centered.

For me, drinking tea is a very important ritual for my mental wellbeing❤️. Whenever I do not feel well, like I start to panic or my mood gets down for various reasons, the people who know me the most, or I, prepare a steaming cup of tea, which is a good way I have learned through time, to slow down and to calm myself down. If I am out, instead, I’ll make sure to find and stop by a café nearby.

Tea, a feel good ritual

I started to truly enjoy drinking tea in September 2023 after a period of serious depression. Drinking tea was one of the first things I began to enjoy and appreciate. It became a real feel good ritual that I still love, regardless if I feel down or not.

I am also a huge fan of the famous Bridgerton (book) series! 🙂 Seeing them drinking tea in the serie, encouraged me also to do the same, in this way I felt better❤️more relaxed.

I love that in many English books I have read or I am reading, several times there is written in different ways: “I’m going now to prepare for you a warm cup of tea and then we will resolve the problem…” 🙂

I’m very glad, I visited England with my family last year and one of the things I enjoyed most was taking my tea in hotels, bed and breakfasts, in small charming cafes 🙂

Tea and mindfulness

Preparing and sipping a cup of tea, is also for me a mindful ritual. I always try to be in the moment when I slowly savor a good cup of tea 🙂 It encourages me to take a break from what I am doing or to simply slow down and appreciate the present moment.

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