"Did you know that tea can boost and support your immune system, helping to keep you protected from those pesky cold and flu bugs?" It also keeps you hydrated which is crucial for the regulation of body temperature, prevention of infections and delivering nutrients to cells.

With the cold and flu season around the corner, it's time to start preparing our body for optimal immunity. There is nothing like a hot cup of tea, after a cold, rainy day and when you’re under the weather.  

Give your immune system a boost, naturally with our fave winter teas.

Green Tea

Our delicate green teas boast a refined and vibrant range of flavour profiles with all the healthy benefits of antioxidants. Make it a daily addition to your health routine, to get you through the colder days.

"Try our favourite immune-boosting green teas:"

• Genmaicha
• Original Matcha

Peppermint tea is known for its decongestive powers and aids in easing nasal congestion from colds. The peppermint leaves contain menthol and when inhaled through the hot steam of the tea through each sip, helps us to breathe easily when congested.

Blended with the purest and freshest peppermint leaves, experience the calming nature of our Peppermint tea.

Turmeric

Fondly known as the golden healer, our turmeric latte compromises an ancient medley of spices with powerful  anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that help to regulate the immune system and protect your body from colds. 

Try our delicious smooth Turmeric Latte.

Lemongrass

Naturally uplifting, lemongrass is flavourful and nutritious giving your immune system a much needed boost.

Press the reset button with a delicious cup of our Lemongrass Ginger. 

Chamomile

Chamomile tea is beneficial for those who are after a relaxing state of calm. It has a powerful antioxidant that activates the brain receptors and encourages a restful night of sleep, when you are having trouble sleeping due to a sore throat and stuffy nose. 

Try our perfect blend of Chamomile Blossoms, rose petals and lavender buds to give you a good night's rest this winter.

Ginger

From digestion to reducing inflammation and easing pain, ginger is definitely one tea worth adding to your daily routine.

Try our favourite ginger tea Malabar Chai.

Berries

Naturally sweet and flavourful, our berry teas are rich with antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients helping your body get through the cold and flu season.

Try one of our favourite berry teas to help you through this winter: 

• Fruits of Eden
• Kiwi Berry

Tea has more antioxidants compared to coffee
Both coffee and tea are loaded with antioxidants, mostly polyphenols that contribute to the distinctive flavour as well as the health-promoting properties of each. However, tea contains more of these antioxidants that help protect an individual’s body against damage arising from free radicals. Antioxidants can help avoid the development of some chronic diseases. Drinking green tea is going to provide you with antioxidants that help prevent inflammation.

Tea helps keep the immune system strong
To help protect the body from diseases, people need to have strong immune systems. Tea is among the beverages that help to keep the immunity strong. Regularly consuming herbal tea is going to allow your body to fight off pathogens and keep you healthy. The increased number of antioxidants also helps ensure a person has a strong immune system. 

Tea hydrates your body
When you take tea, it helps hydrate your body. Keeping your body hydrated helps with weight loss, increased energy levels, skin complexion, flushing toxins, and cognitive function, and mood elevation. When you regularly drink tea, you are adding more water in your body, helping keep it healthy.

Tea has less caffeine content 
Compared to coffee, tea contains less amount of caffeine. Whilst the caffeine content is likely to vary depending on the time you take to brew your beverage, the serving size, and the method of preparation, coffee can pack up to two times the caffeine you would find in an equal tea serving. A brewed coffee contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine when compared to 74 milligrams found in black tea of the same serving. Caffeine, whilst being associated with many health benefits, you should take it in moderation – only about 400 mg in a day. Higher amounts can bring health problems like reduced calcium in the body. If you are looking for alternative caffeine-free tea, you may want to drink something like rooibos tea, a herb that’s native to South Africa or herbal teas.

Additional benefits of tea over coffee
To make a good cup of coffee, you need a coffee maker which is both expensive and time consuming to brew. Instant coffee is quick but the flavour is nowhere the same as the cafe latte your favourite barista makes. But tea, thanks to our Soilon biodegradable tea bags you can get a loose leaf quality brew with no effort or mess. Consistency anywhere in the world at any time of the day.

"Also, did you know that there are 40 different varieties of coffee worldwide?  That’s a lot, but compare that to over 3000 varieties of tea!! Think of all the wonderful flavours there are out there waiting for you to try.
When you look at both tea and coffee, you will find that tea takes the lead when it comes to offering health benefits to your body.
Explore our wide range of teas now.

Now, let’s put that matcha to good use with this stunning Raspberry Matcha Roulade.

We’ve partnered with MasterChef Semifinalist Elise Pulbrook to share this sensational summer recipe. Combining Elise’s culinary expertise with the premium quality of our Tea Drop Pure Organic Matcha, a culinary grade matcha, this tropical creation is sure to keep you cool while impressing your taste buds.

Raspberry Matcha Roulade Recipe

Ingredients

For the sponge:

• 5 egg whites

• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 160g caster sugar

• 5 egg yolks

• 140g self-raising flour

• 3 tsp Tea Drop Premium Culinary Matcha

• 20g butter, melted

• 60g yogurt whey (or milk)

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the whipped matcha cream:

• 300g cream

• 4 tsp Tea Drop Premium Culinary Matcha (or to taste)

• 3 tsp icing sugar

Other ingredients:

• Raspberry jam

• Fresh raspberries

• Icing sugar & matcha for dusting

Method

1. Whip the egg whites with cream of tartar and salt in a stand mixer until foamy. Gradually add the sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.

2. Add the egg yolks and whip briefly, just until incorporated.

3. Sift the matcha and flour into the mixture and fold gently until combined.

4. Stir in the melted butter, vanilla, and yogurt whey until fully incorporated. Be careful not to overmix.

5. Pour the batter onto a lined baking sheet (approximately 45cm x 30cm). Bake at 170°C for 15-17 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.

6. Once baked, carefully roll the sponge into a clean linen tea towel while still warm. Allow it to cool completely while wrapped and rolled.

7. Whip the cream with matcha and icing sugar until soft peaks form.

8. Once cooled, carefully unroll the sponge and spread a layer of raspberry jam, followed by the whipped matcha cream. Place fresh raspberries along the curled end to create a vibrant centre.

9. Roll it back up, then dust with icing sugar and matcha for a beautiful finish! Serve with extra cream if desired.

This Raspberry Matcha Roulade is a delightful fusion of flavours and textures. The light, fluffy sponge perfectly balances the richness of the matcha cream, while the raspberries add a refreshing tartness. Whether you’re a matcha aficionado or new to baking with tea, this recipe is an easy yet impressive way to explore the versatility of Tea Drop’s Culinary Matcha.

Ready to bake? Grab your matcha, roll up your sleeves, and treat yourself to a slice of matcha heaven

Tea is the most popular beverage in the world after water. And no matter the season we can always enjoy a cup of warm or iced tea any time of the day.  Tea leaves are made from the plant Camellia sinensis. Black tea, Green tea, White tea, Oolong tea and Pu Erh tea comes from this same plant. The distinctive flavour profiles and colours that come from these tea types are due to the way the plant is processed.

Different types of tea leaves

Green tea leaves and white tea leaves are the least processed and not oxidized and therefore regarded the healthiest. Black tea leaves are fully oxidized, and oolong tea leaves are only partially oxidized. Pu Erh tea leaves are aged and considered a post oxidized tea. These tea types offer a host of health benefits. The caffeine content will vary between these teas depending on the process.

Herbal tea is not officially a tea, as it does not come from the Camellia sinensis plant, but is instead an infusion of leaves, fruits, bark, roots, or flowers of almost any edible, non-tea plant. The most common herbal teas are chamomile tea, hibiscus tea, peppermint tea, ginger, and rooibos tea. Herbal teas have been around for a long time, with our ancestors’ making infusions of the plants, roots, and herbs they saw around them for medicinal use. This practice continues today with the use of herbal teas to support a healthy mind and body.

Why is tea healthy?

Potential health benefits of tea are due to the polyphenol or flavonoids content in the tea leaves. These chemical compounds act as antioxidants, which control the damaging effects of free radicals in the body. The more tea leaves are processed, usually the less polyphenol content. But their antioxidizing power will still be high.

Health benefits of tea

No matter the season, we recommend getting into the natural, immune-boosting habit of drinking tea every day as tea has a myriad of health benefits.

• Keeps You Hydrated - Did you know that drinking 4-6 cups of tea a day is as good for keeping you hydrated as a litre of water. Whether enjoyed as a delicious hot cuppa or served on ice stay hydrated with tea.
• Great Coffee Alternative – Herbal teas are caffeine free, while traditional teas have less amounts of caffeine than typically found in coffee. Therefore, it will help boost energy and you can consume it without the jittery side effects when the caffeine wears off.
• High in Antioxidants – Tea is loaded with antioxidants that help protect your body from free radicals, keeping you healthy mentally and physically.
• May aid in weight loss – The jury is still out on this, but studies have shown that the caffeine and catechins in tea may aid with weight loss. Green tea is a popular choice for weight loss, as it contains amino acids that signal the body to burn stored fat. The caffeine in tea also helps boost energy and is ideal as a pre-workout drink. Teas are calorie free and the ideal drink to have guilt free.
• Aids in digestion – Tea aids with digestion and can treat issues from nausea to an upset stomach. It also contains tannins which has shown to reduce intestinal inflammation, which can help soothe stomach cramps and irritable bowel syndrome. Teas with ginger are a popular choice.
• Boost your mood – Drinking tea is always connected with calming and soothing effects and linked to decreased stress levels and help you unwind after a tough day.
• Boost your immune system - Tea is great for your immune system. Many types of teas have antiviral and antibacterial properties that can aid to prevent you from getting sick. Whether you’re worried about flu season, or just want to improve your overall health, a daily tea schedule will benefit you.

By incorporating tea into your lifestyle, not only is it a refreshing & aromatic treat, but there is also a myriad of benefits designed to elevate your life. So, get ready to enjoy a flavoursome and sensorial tea experience from the very first sip.

• 1 passion fruit
• 4 large oranges
• 1 large ripe mango
• 1.5 tsp turmeric latte in 200ml water
• 2 tablespoon sugar (optional)

How to make smoothie

Cut the passion fruit in half scoop out the pulp into a bowl and beat it with a fork to extract pulp from the seeds. Now strain this into your blender.

Add rest of the ingredients to the blender and blend till smooth and creamy consistency is reached.