Herbal Teas
There's an old proverb that a daily cup of tea keeps the doctor away. Herbal teas are the simplest, most soothing habit there is — naturally caffeine-free, warming, and each one gently good for something. Keep a few kinds on hand and rotate them.
The everyday soothers
Chamomile — the classic before-bed cup, calming and mild. Peppermint — bright and cooling, a friend to digestion after a meal. Ginger — warming, and long used to settle the stomach and ease nausea. Fennel — gentle and faintly sweet, traditionally taken for bloating. Lemon balm and tulsi (holy basil) — softly calming when the day has been a lot.
For colour and variety
Rooibos — a red South African herb, naturally sweet, rich in antioxidants, and caffeine-free. Hibiscus — tart, ruby-red, lovely iced. Roasted dandelion — earthy and coffee-like, a nice caffeine-free cup in the evening.
Making the most of them
Steep covered to keep the aromatic oils in, and give herbal teas a good 5 to 7 minutes — longer than black tea — to draw out their flavor. And they count toward your day's hydration, too.
Build a small tea shelf: one to wind down (chamomile), one for digestion (ginger or peppermint), and one just for pleasure (rooibos or hibiscus). A cup becomes a lovely pause in the day.