Tea.

This months blog is all about tea. April the month for national tea day and national Earth day has been the inspiration behind this one.

So before we start make sure you grab a cuppa, relax and enjoy the read.

I could give you a brief summary on the history of tea, origins and everything else. but I'm not going too because that in-itself is a whole other blog post. plus it would just turn into another Jollof rice argument you can find out what I mean here. What I want to discuss is far more exciting....

The benefits of tea. apart from the obvious.... tea keeps me sane. tea breaks up my day.

Tea is big business. It is one of the most commonly consumed drinks in the world, and the industry is on the rise.

My morning cup of tea.

This cup of tea organises my day its my diary, my PA, my alarm clock. while sipping on this cup of tea i'm making mental to do lists. Being a mother, for instance:washing dishes/clothes, making lunch/dinner and finally the killer of souls ironing.. (yeah right who has time to iron) my ironing usually consists of laying the piece of clothing flat and running my hand over it yep that will do... unless we are going to the mother in laws,then I have no choice but to get the damned ironing board out. (sigh)

My afternoon cup of tea.

Ahh this is my most relaxing cup of tea, it usually coincides with nap time. It's relaxing as well as calming. (one of the benefits of tea) Researchers have found that drinking tea lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, Its also been found that drinking (about half a cup) of green tea a day correlates to a lower risk of developing depression and dementia.

I'll drink to that .... if only I could stomach green tea, yuk!

For centuries, people across the world have corroborated to the relaxing and invigorating qualities of tea. The traditional calming effects of the plant Camellia sinensis have elevated the drink, which is produced from its leaves, to a role beyond quenching thirst — it is drunk as an aid for meditation, to help soothe the nerves or simply to unwind.

interesting.. if you ever needed an excuse to drink tea, you now have one!

My evening cup of tea.

I don't have one... I mean I do but I don't drink it. (let me stop you there before you go thinking of anything too crazy).

Have you heard about the TEA FACIAL?

This is something that never crossed my mind, as I was researching the benefits of tea I came across people who have been using tea leaves as part of their skin cleansing routine. I was intrigued and wanted to find out more. I mean tea has many inwardly benefits so what's to say that it cant be used outwardly...right?... maybe

I had so many consuming questions;

Does it have the same effect as the inwardly benefits?i.e (calming, relaxing as well as soothing).

Will it make me look younger? ( A youthful appearance is a sign of health and typically considered more attractive) who doesn't want that..... 🤣

Will David Beckham finally propose to me? (a girl can dream)💭

So I went on to read some more... I found that there are a number of ways to have a tea facial.

The first one is using tea bags that have been soaked for about 10 mins and then placed under the eyes. its said that... placing brewed tea bags on the eyes for a short time period allows the tannins in the tea to treat puffy eyes and dark circles. Green tea bags can reduce swelling and tighten the skin around the eyes. ... also works on dark circles by decreasing the dilation of the blood vessels under the eyes.

The second is making a tea mask from ground loose leaf tea (e.g. black,green tea) adding honey and creating a smooth paste. This is then applied to the face and left on for 15 mins before washing off. there are a number of different teas and all have different types of benefit for instance, if your prone to eczema then jasmine tea is perfect, on the other hand ginger tea is a great anti-inflammatory and peppermint tea can slow oil production in the skin if your prone to breakouts.

Lastly you could try a tea steam facial, this involves steeping tea in a large bowl and placing your face about 12 inches away from the steam with a towel draped over your head. this method has many benefits, it soothes irritated skin and its anti-ageing properties prevent wrinkles and fine lines. A green tea steam is also a great way to detoxify your pores and keep your skin hydrated. What's more, the its herbal scent will relax and help you unwind.

Who knew little old Earl Grey had so many benefits. Let me know if you try any of the above methods and if the results have been positive, negative or nothings changed.... (your still beautiful) 🌹

So the next time you reach for your choice of tea drink some and maybe throw some on your face you might just thank me. 😉

Fifi