In partnership with Pukka Teas
Everyone’s got that one thing they love to hoard in a kitchen cupboard. For some it’s Heinz tomato soup, for me it’s tea. In fact, my housemates and I have got an entire cupboard dedicated just to it. Growing up in Ireland, ‘Do you want a cup of tea’ was practically said on an hourly basis. But it was being sent off to interview A-listers that swung me back round to tea. It soon became clear that the enviable glowy skin and all round bouncy attitude (even when they’d just stepped off a long-haul flight) wasn’t coming from an extra large, double shot cappuccino. Instead, it was all down to something much more wholesome. From Lily-Rose Depp sipping on lemon tea to ease a head-cold, to Kylie Jenner ordering a green tea for an energy boost and Selena Gomez requesting a mint tea post dinner, I left each interview with a mental note to swing by the tea aisle in my local supermarket ASAP.
Like most health trends, herbal tea drinking started in LA where they saw the de-stressing and detoxing benefits first. However, just like avo on toast, it didn’t take long for tea menus to start cropping up in the UK too. Forget a sugary afternoon tea, now it’s all about catching up over a cup of Assam alongside a slice of gluten free carrot cake at East London’s Tiosk, while you’ll always find queues at Good & Proper’s roving tea van where they dish up Earl Grey infused crumpets and steaming cups of the Japanese green tea Hojicha, which basically tastes of honey and caramel. Plus an iced Matcha latte from Marlyebone’s Amanzi tea store is way more Instagrammable than that generic high-street chain spamming your feed, and gives your body a heavy hit of antioxidants rather than a sickly spike. And it doesn’t just stop after daylight hours either. Fera at Claridges, alongside Jikoni in West London both employ a tea sommelier to advise customers on what tea to drink with savoury dishes. Think a summery Darjeeling from India paired with lemon sole or punchy black tea from Japan with Cornish lamb. Cheaper than a bottle of wine and way lighter on the waistline, this isn’t just one for a teetotaller.
But which teas will get you that A-lister Hollywood glow? We’ve got the lowdown...
What: Tumeric tea
Drink it if… a bright yellow-orange spice commonly used in curries and sauces this spice has been used for its medicinal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties for thousands of years. Said to boost blood flow through the liver, this is ideal to sip after a big night out.
What: Detox tea
Drink it if… you’ve booked your summer holiday but have yet to use your gym membership. With sweet aniseed and spicy cardamom this tea helps give your body an overall spring clean and beat the bloat.
What: Ginger tea
Drink it if… you feel grey rather than glowy. Ginger helps soothe digestive issues plus boosts circulation meaning you’ll soon start feeling peppy again.
What: Pukka Supreme Matcha Green tea
Drink it if… you always suffer from that 4pm slump. Blended with green tea, this gives a slow and steady release of caffeine rather than a sudden spike. Think of it as coffee but without the dreaded after-effects including jitters and sleeplessness.
What: Blackcurrant tea
Drink it if… you’re trying to cut down on sugar. Fused with hibiscus flowers and rose-hips this tastes like a sweet treat. High in vitamin C it also gives a boost to your immune system
