I find life more pleasant when it includes a soothing nonalcoholic drink. Being under the weather recently made me especially appreciative of drinks that offer warmth and delightful aromas. Holding one in my hand, slowly sipping became a daily ritual.
Some beverages have additional benefits:
Peppermint tea settles my stomach. I keep peppermint tea bags in the pantry whether I’m home or traveling in my RV. I enjoy it both hot and iced. I don’t know if it will work for everyone, but studies have shown peppermint relaxes tissues in animals’ digestive tracts.
Passion tea makes me sleepy. My favorite way to drink passion tea is unsweetened, mixed half-and-half with green tea and served over pellet ice. In that form, the only effect I feel is refreshed. But if I consume a significant amount straight, it makes me drowsy. That’s not surprising given its history as a sedative.
Earl Grey makes me feel sophisticated. I’m not sure how big a benefit that is, but the slight citrusy flavor of the bergamot reminds me of lemon curd and scones. And in every British TV show I watch, tea seems to solve a lot of problems. I’m a pretty good problem solver, so maybe it’s working for me too?
Ginger tea helps me feel calm and well. What I make is the simplest version of ginger tea. I place a piece of peeled ginger root and a squeeze of raw honey in a cup and pour boiling water over it. A simple stir and steep and it’s ready. The flavor is mild and pleasing. Sometimes, I pull the piece of ginger out and chew it.
Ginger is helpful for some with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) as well.
Chai tea makes me feel happy. I love the spices in chai tea! Actually, I love them when no tea is involved. One of my sons introduced me to chai milkshakes when he was in college. So good!!
Constant Comment tea reminds me of the holidays. The aroma of orange and spice is always a favorite. I prefer it hot.
Black coffee evens things out. I’m certain one of my responses to coffee is more psychological than physical. The moment I smell coffee wafting from a Starbucks window, I feel my body calm down. And yet I drink coffee every morning to get me moving.
I have no significant memories attached to coffee other than I enjoyed the smell long before I liked the taste. This makes my level of response mysterious. But I’m okay with both responses so it’s not a mystery I plan to solve.
Hot chocolate tastes like the ultimate warm hug. There’s nothing better in the winter when you’ve come in from the elements. I’ve been known to make a knock-off version by melting a snack-size milk chocolate bar in coconut milk and put marshmallow crème on top.
Cilantro tea reminds me to pay attention. Mint leaves in black tea come as no surprise, but cilantro, that’s something that says wake up and pay attention to your taste buds.
It’s common to discuss favorite Happy Hour selections, but other beverages have appeal as well. And most can be enjoyed daily without adversely affecting your health.
To quote one of James’ favorite children’s books: “‘I won’t work. I won’t work. I won’t work today!’ hissed Digger Dan.”(1), and while the day is billed as a day to honor the contributions of American workers, most of us just want to join Digger Dan and take an extra day off! By the time we reach Labor Day in the South, we’re exhausted from relentless heat and humidity. The kids are back in school along with a bazillion activities and we won’t have another break until Thanksgiving. I’m with Digger Dan too – some time off seems right!
