March’s Teas
Some of our members on the west coast may already be feeling like spring is near – it’s lighter in the mornings, birds are chirping, the sun is out! Some other members…not so much. Our hearts go out to you and we feel confident that whether you are rejoicing the weather or trying to shovel your way out the door, this month’s Tea Box will make your life a little sweeter. Our featured black tea this month is Tiesta’s Passion Berry Jolt. This fruity black is sweet and strong, one of our top-rated black teas from the Tea-Off, and incredible hot or iced (again, our apologies, east-coasters).
Our green tea is Tea Desire’s Strawberry Champagne. Doesn’t that sound delish? Open your bag and give it a whiff as soon as it arrives. You will understand how difficult it was here at Tea Sparrow Headquarters for us to smell this tea as it was being packed without drinking it! (Well, ok, maybe we had a few cups. ☺) This month’s herbal is Herbal Republic’s Camillo Organic, a bright and hearty floral chamomile blend that will surprise you. Finally, some of you may already know Aromatica’s Freedom Tea, one of our members’ absolute favourite rooibos blends with multiple renditions of lemon and some vanilla. Yum! This tea was rated as our number one rooibos tea at our Tea-Off festival!
Herbal Republic’s Camillo Organic
Description: Winning the hearts of chamomile and non-chamomile drinkers a-like. This herbal infusion is the perfect balance between earthiness and citrus zest.
Ingredients: Citrus Peels*, rosehip*, chamomile flowers*, blossoms*, lemongrass*, nana-mint*, & hibiscus*. *Organic
Health Benefits: Chamomile throughout the ages has been regarded as a medicinal cure-all. It was considered a universal remedy by the ancient Egyptians, and the Romans and Greeks used chamomile flowers as a compress to apply to wounds to speed healing. It’s no wonder that modern medicine has been able to find so many additional health benefits to this flower as a tea. Here are but a few: chamomile tea boosts the immune system and fight infections associated with colds. It also helps relieve muscle spasms and menstrual cramps, relaxes the nerves, soothes the stomach, reduces inflammation, improves liver function, helps relieve back pain and rheumatism and is most well-known as a sleep aid.
Darcy, “Sweet, tart, earthy delicious. Definitely a regular for my tea cupboard!”
Tea Desire’s Strawberry-Champagne
Description: Sweet and seductive aromatic fruit flavour with a breeze of champagne!
Ingredients: Sencha green tea, carrot pieces, pineapple pieces (pineapple, sugar), strawberries, cornflowers, sunflowers, natural flavour.
Health Benefits: By now, the health benefits of green tea have been well-established. Here are just a few of the reasons we love it so much: it’s been shown to fight cancer and heart disease, lower cholesterol, prevent diabetes and stroke and to fight infection. It’s tough to beat that!
Zeta, “The Strawberry tropical smell while brewing is great, but the taste is so sophisticated.”
Aromatica’s Freedom Tea
Description: Intense lemon taste in a caffeine free, high antioxidant base. What could be better? Only one thing: proceeds from this tea are donated to International Justice Mission Canada to fight human trafficking internationally.
Ingredients: Green rooibos, red rooibos, lemon myrtle, lemon verbena, and lemongrass, with just a hint of vanilla.
Health Benefits: This incredibly flavoured caffeine-free tea is growing quickly in popularity but did you know that it also contains high amounts of antioxidants? Although the antioxidants found in rooibos tea are different from those in green tea, they are still known to fight off free radicals in the body. Rooibos tea is also known to fight off cardiovascular disease, liver disease and lower blood pressure.
Michael, “Nice variety of lemon used. Very relaxing yet invigorating blend. Make a great ice tea as well.”
Tiesta Tea’s Passion Berry Jolt
Description: It may look hefty, but this tea is light on its feet and has grabbed raspberry for a dance partner. If you need the energy of a black tea but want that fruity flavour, cut in and give this a whirl.
Ingredients: Black tea, marigolds, cornflowers, raspberry and passion fruit flavouring.
Health Benefits: Most people don’t realize black tea comes with many of the similar health benefits as green tea, including reduced risk of stroke and heart disease, among many others. As well, black tea is said to increase energy, aid in digestive health and to promote healthy skin and hair. Black tea’s tannins are also great immunity-boosters.
Michael, “Light and refreshing, but still packs a punch. Awesome!”