Anyone for a cuppa? That might be a British expression, but more and more Americans are discovering the benefits of a daily cup of tea. Now, in addition to the medicinal properties, soothing stress-reduction properties are being promoted as another of the benefits of regular tea drinking.
A daily cup of tea is being seen as not only helping to prevent heart disease and strokes, but also as an aid in meditation and relaxation. A hot cup of tea warms you deep inside with its aromatic soothing fragrance, promoters of herbal tea say.
The medicinal properties are well substantiated. Drinking a hot cup of tea every other day might benefit your heart, according to a recent study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The researchers found that those who drank more tea had a 20% less chance of suffering a heart attack or similar problems. They also had a 22% lower risk of dying from heart disease.
Other findings in scientific studies note that: Tea has less caffeine than coffee; tea contains antioxidants; tea may prevent bone loss; tea boosts the immune system; tea contains no calories; and drinking tea can be an alternative to water as it also provides hydration.
Now tea’s benefit in reducing stress and anxiety is touted by a new entrant to the market. Paula Shaw of Bel Air, Maryland, recently launched Cured Leaves Tea Company, which offers teas grown in Africa as an additional layer of mindfulness and wellness for yoga, fitness, and meditation. A certified Breath Master and yoga instructor, Shaw is a mindfulness coach and a practicing herbalist.
Pandemic created opportunity
As the pandemic caused growing anxiety and stress among more and more Americans, Shaw realized that this could be an opportunity to expand her business. She saw a need to use the soothing properties of tea as a mission to bring wellness and health to everyone.
At a time when many are feeling anxious and isolated, we need ways to find the oneness and stillness within ourselves without losing our sense of contact with others, Shaw explains.
Promoting unity
Her company is dedicated to making people aware of global issues and promoting community and unity through acts of love, Shaw says. Her start-up venture is more than a tea company. It is a movement to establish a healthier way of being and living for everyone, she adds.
Linked up with African farmers
Shaw first began linking up with African blenders and tea farmers in early 2020. She decided to import her tea from Africa because, she says, the land on the continent provides resources and rich soil. These teas provide a long list of exotic and one-of-a-kind flavors that promise to provide tea drinkers with a special experience in every cup, she adds.
Each tea type has a story of its own, she explains. From them she has developed a range of special blends of tea, herbal infusions, and functional teas. In addition, her teas are carefully blended for an ultimate experience in tea drinking.
As well as selling special teas, Cured Leaves Tea Company offers breath work, yoga, and tea workshops both online as well as in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area. The company also supports communities in those countries in which the herbs and teas are harvested.
Among the products being produced by Cured Leaves Tea Company are:
• East African Currant—a blend of Kenyan purple and black teas that are hand-rolled.
• White Hibiscus Passion—hibiscus, white tea, and natural peach flavoring. Hibiscus tea is also said to lower fat levels and blood pressure as well as improve liver health and prevent kidney stones from forming.
• Green Mint Magic—peppermint and green tea. Peppermint tea also contains menthol which can help to soothe an upset stomach as well as offer relief from migraines and tension headaches.
Cured Leaves Tea is a woman-owned, black-owned and veteran-owned company.
