Leaf & Kettle

Just in case you needed another reason to love green tea... "A compound found in green tea may trigger a cycle that kills oral cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone, according to Penn State food scientists"

If Jena isn't trying on new fall scarves or jumping on fallen and crunchy leaves, she is drinking these teas:

As seasons change, so do our cravings. We asked team member Kyrie what teas will be warming her cup as temperatures begin to cool down. Stop by the shop and ask her to make you a taste of her fall favorites!

Flu season is upon us, but how do you arm yourself against catching a bug this year? With kids back in school and the weather finally cooling off, the conditions are perfect for catching and succumbing to any of the number of germs being passed around. Luckily, tea is here to help you stay healthy and happy all winter long. Here are our three favorite cold and flu fighting infusions.

  Green tea

Often touted for its high antioxidant content, Green Tea can also help to relieve symptoms of the cold and flu. The tea plant, Camelia sinensis, naturally produces antimicrobial and anti viral compounds to protect itself from invading pathogens. Luckily, drinking tea made from its leaves can impart these benefits to you too. According to a study published in the journal of Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, the catechins in tea can inhibit growth and/or destroy the cell walls of many of the most common types of illnesses including influenza and the bacteria responsible for strep throat1. The amount of tea that should be consumed per day to produce this result is still up for debate, but many studies look at subjects that drink at least 3 cups of green tea per day.

  A shop favorite Japanese green tea is the Kagoshima Sencha. This tea is minimally processed and packed fresh at the source; thereby preserving it’s nutritional attributes and yielding an exceptionally smooth and vibrantly green cup. For an extra boost of all the benefits green tea has to offer try any of our teas containing Matcha, a stone ground green tea leaf. Drinking matcha increases the potency of your tea because you are actually imbibing the entire green tea leaf instead of steeping it for a minute or two and then removing it. On its own or dusted onto a Complimentary Green Tea, matcha is a delicious and healthy drink option for this flu season.   

  Ginger tea

Ginger, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, can help to soothe throat pain and discomfort associated with coughing. Ginger also has antimicrobial properties that can help to fight off infection. Whether you are sipping on a cup of our Ginger Peach tea or any one of our many Health & Wellness teas that are packed with ginger (we suggest No. 124 Cozy Time for sore throats), this sweet and spicy root can help you to feel your best all winter long.

  Tulsi

Tulsi, also known as “Indian holy basil” has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Brewed as a tea, this herb can impart many beneficial properties to the drinker. The anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties can offer welcome relief from painful congestion or sore throat while giving your immune system the boost it needs to keep you in tip-top shape2. Try our Purple Leaf Tulsi for a soothing cup with mild mint and spice notes, or try a pot of Tulsi Ginger tea for a double dose of flu fighting goodness.

    1Friedman, M. Overview of antibacterial, antitoxin, antiviral, and

antifungal activities of tea flavonoids and teas. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2007,51, 116–134