Joinsupermoms

What is your favorite drink?

As we age, our ability to manage heat slows. We need less food, more drink, and a steady supply of key vitamins and minerals. Particularly when we exercise, this study shows that the older you are, the less likely your body is to prevent dehydration from sweat.

Add to that the effects of climate change, and heat exhaustion, and fatigue are now more common in places and people that were thought to be safe from it.

I, for one, thought I was safe from Dehydration. I could easily tell you my favourite drink is water and it’s flavoured variations. So I was in shock when a dizzy spout sent me to hospital.

That was when I decided to power up my tea. Credits due here. I got inspiration when a traditional restaurant in Lisbon added cinnamon sticks and Rosemary to my brew. I felt an immediate pump after a 3-hour walk. A pleasant lesson that the secret to tea is how bespoke you make it.

Since then, I love the way you can just power up any tea with everyday spices. And I am sharing here how to infuse wellness in each workday with 5 powerful spices.

I have tried these and come alive with every sip.

Choose a tea base

These are the leaves that form the strongest flavour of your water. My go-to leaves depend on what part of the world I am in, and what wellness effect I want to achieve. So today, I’ll share 5 spices you can combine with one of my most loved West African tea leaves: The hibiscus flower.

This drink is a West African favourite. Depending on what part of West Africa you visit, it will be called zobo or bissap. It’s made with the petals of the hibiscus flower steeped or simmered to a brew and served chilled.

I like it steeped. I feel like I get greater health benefits that way. I drink it hot or cold, again, depending on my desired outcomes.

Your base tea should have beneficial properties of its own. Zobo is a great energiser during and after a workout, so I can brew a litre and drink it throughout the day.

What I love about hibiscus is it packs a healthy punch in vitamins and minerals. Depending on what temperature you drink it at and what spices you add, it will put you to sleep, calm an upset stomach, tame a cold, balance your blood pressure, or relax your muscles.

So, as a base tea, even without the spices, it’s an excellent drink.

Hibiscus has a strong, tangy flavour. So, you want to use the petals in moderation depending on what flavour and wellness result you hope to achieve. A few dried petals would easily make a very strong brew.

And now, let’s finally get into the powerful spices.

Powerful Spices

Ginger or peppercorns are spicey. Both are going to help with reducing inflammation and pain relief in the joints. I find this is a great combination with increased physical exercise. Other spices are cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise.

I’ve decided to share my love for Hibiscus tea with the next European country I visit.

If you share my love for tea, share your Power up recipes. Leave us a like and subscribe and when I come your way, I’ll be sharing some Hibiscus leaves!