Before there were PSLs — like, long before — there was tea. And if you thought a splash of milk was the most exciting thing to happen to the steeped drink in the last century, allow me to be the first to tell you about the powered up, nutrition packed, and delicious versions of tea that are currently taking the wellness world by storm.
Raechel Kelley Valles is a certified tea sommelier and the passionate founder behind Siply, a functional tea company offering high-grade loose leaf, matcha and butter tea. With a mission to encourage healthy mindful practices through their delicious products, I knew Raechel was the person to turn to as we prepare for a season of cold weather, warm drinks, and over indulgence. She joins us today to share just a little bit about the benefits of drinking tea, some tasty ways to spice it up, and one amazing recipe that’ll keep you powering through the holidays.
From Raechel: Though tea has less caffeine than coffee, it brings a lot of other important compounds to the table, like theanine, an amino acid is said to calm the mind.
Studies suggest that the theanine and caffeine combo in tea may actually improve cognitive abilities. This very same compound cocktail is the reason we don’t get caffeine jitters or spikes from tea.
Traditional butter tea is found in the mountains of Nepal, India and Tibet. It’s a rich, creamy beverage typically served to folks braving the harsh elements of the Himalayas. Today, people across the globe are blending grassfed butter into their teas and coffees to kick start their fat burning metabolism and enhance cognitive function. Given my focus on health, we’ve tweaked the traditional recipe by substituting grassfed ghee instead of butter, and blending in organic coconut oil to create this Cocoa Caramel Butter Tea. The recipe calls for quite a few ingredients, so if you’re looking for an even simpler way to spice up your tea, we recommend beginning by adding one of the 5 following ingredients to your brew.
image credit: Urban Outfitters
Ghee is clarified butter, meaning it has no lactose or casein, the milk sugars and proteins that typically trigger a dairy allergy. Grassfed ghee contains higher amounts of CLA, Vitamin K and omega-3 fatty acids than its grain-fed counterpart, and is a delicious substitute for creamer, not to mention a powerful brain food and anti-inflammatory.
Coconut oil contains mcts (medium-chain triglycerides), an anti-inflammatory form of saturated fat that is easily digested and converted to energy. Recent studies suggest that coconut oil improves memory, energy levels and digestion. Lauric acid is also naturally found in coconut oil and is said to support immunity due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Siply’s Tea Butter combines grass-fed ghee with organic coconut oil, giving you the best of both.
image credit: Alice Gao for Kinfolk Magazine
3. Pink Salt
Pink Salt adds in essential minerals, like magnesium and potassium, and helps bring out the subtleties of tea’s dynamic flavor profile. Product suggestion – Add a dash to every Siply tea!
4. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is packed with antioxidants and is said to be one of the best natural foods for stabilizing blood sugar. Add to your tea to counteract the sugar found in honey or just to spice things up! Cinnamon pairs especially well with our Scottish Caramel, or try our Turmeric Spice, which contains a fantastic blend of chai spices, including cinnamon.
Collagen is an essential building block for life. This protein is found in your muscle, skin, tendons, digestive system — pretty much everywhere. As we age, our collagen production slows, which is why we get wrinkles and joint pain. By regularly adding a grassfed source of collagen to your tea, you can improve the condition of your skin, hair, joints and gut. Don’t worry, you’ll hardly taste it and your body will thank you. Add some to our Dark Brew if you’re going for a pick-me-up, or to Alma Rose if you’re looking for a nourishing caffeine free cuppa.
Siply serves customers online at sipsiply.com and at two Austin Farmers’ Markets: SFC Downtown on Saturdays, and F2M Mueller on Sundays.
