Three Teas to Fight the Sniffles

With the hustle and bustle of busy holiday schedules, getting the sniffles is all but certain. Whip up one of these delicious remedies to beat the bug and have energy to chase your little whippersnappers around endless snowbanks. Each contains a key ingredient with immune-boosting and antioxidizing properties that will leave you chipper enough to take the holidays head on!

If a person has a cold, a warm drink may provide comfort. Some people believe it helps alleviate sore throat pain, reduce coughing, unblock noses, and relieve headaches. However we hate to break the news but drinking fluids with a cold do not improve or worsen symptoms. However, consuming drinks, including tea, may help thin mucus, making it easier to clear out.

Tea and other liquids can help keep a person hydrated. Staying hydrated while fighting off a cold is vital to ensure the body can adequately defend itself against the virus. Herbal Teas made from herbs and roots have been used as natural remedies to the common cold and flu in traditional medicine since the dawn of time. The teas featured here are naturally caffeine-free, with specific functions that allow the body to recover and get well.

Green versus Black tea

So why are they different? Leaves used to make black tea are allowed to age and oxidize, turning them brown or black. Green tea leaves are processed earlier when they’re still green. Hence, the name. Black tea generally has more caffeine than green tea, too — a key selection factor if you’re concerned about limiting your caffeine intake,

Three Home Brewed Teas to get Back on Track:

Ginger Spiced Tea

Ginger is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that has been shown to have soothing effects on cold symptoms. Green and black teas are also rich in antioxidants and help keep the immune system in top fighting shape.

• 3 cups filtered water
• 1 piece fresh ginger (1? inches)
• 1 (heaping) tablespoon green or black tea leaves
• ? cup whole milk
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Dash cinnamon

Peel and slice ginger into thin rounds. Bring water to a boil, add ginger, and let simmer for 10 minutes. Decrease heat, add tea leaves, and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain into a blender. Add in milk and honey and pure until well combined. Return to pot and rewarm over low heat. Serve topped with a dash of cinnamon.

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Honey Cayenne Tea

Cayenne pepper naturally does what many cold medicines try to do. It effectively breaks up mucus and helps clear your respiratory passages, giving you quicker relief from cold symptoms. It also has immune strengthening and antimicrobial properties, making it a great food to consume to help prevent a cold from even starting.

• 1 cup water
• 1 black tea bag
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Pinch cayenne pepper

Heat water on the stovetop and steep the black tea for about four minutes. Remove bag, and combine tea with the honey and cayenne in a mug.

Hot Pomegranate Cider

Pomegranates, in season during the winter months, are one of the most powerful known sources of antioxidants. Combine with apple cider and comforting spices for a tasty immune strengthening beverage.

• 3 cups apple cider
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 4 cloves

Heat all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove cloves and cinnamon sticks, and serve.

So what tea should you choose for best results? Sorry… there’s no single answer for that question. There are so many teas out there- so many varieties and tastes. Try different varieties and see what works best for you.