Fresh mint tea healthy hot drink

By itself, mint tea does not contain caffeine, but some mixed mint teas may contain caffeine from other ingredients that are included. Iced mint tea provides cool refreshment during the hot summer months, and hot mint tea can offer comfort and relief in the cold winter months.

Health Benefits of Fresh Mint Tea

Mint tea can contain both peppermint and spearmint leaves, which can be combined in varying proportions depending on your personal preference. Spearmint and peppermint have flavors that are very different from each other, and they both offer health benefits.

Spearmint contains a compound known as carvone, giving it a mild flavor that’s sweet and cool. Carvone is also found in caraway seeds and dill.

Peppermint, on the other hand, is loaded with menthol and menthone, giving it a sharp, spicy flavor.

Mint tea offers the following health benefits:

Fresh mint tea - healthy hot drink — Fresh mint tea – healthy hot drink

Comfort for Stomach Problems

Peppermint can relieve an upset stomach, and in some cases it has been seen to relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It does this by causing the muscles of the stomach to relax and by improving the flow of bile, helping food digest and pass through the stomach more quickly. However, peppermint can also be an irritant, so it should not be used if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD.

Relief from Cold and Flu Symptoms

Mint tea is a common remedy for relief from cold and flu symptoms. The aroma from peppermint tea has a unique ability to open nasal passages. Menthol has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may also contribute to the relief of these symptoms. Some studies have observed that menthol has anti-viral properties, but it’s not suggested that menthol is able to cure a flu or a common cold.

Other Possible Benefits

Mint tea may provide other benefits, but this belief is based on the benefits of peppermint oil and has not been studied completely. In most cases, these benefits are achieved by applying peppermint oil topically. Studies have not determined if drinking mint tea brings the same results. Some of these possible benefits include:

Antiviral and antibacterial properties
Relief from tension headaches
Relief from muscular soreness and menstrual pain

Here are some great recipes for using fresh mint tea

Ingredients

2 cups filtered water
15 fresh mint leaves (peppermint or spearmint)
1 to 2 teaspoons sugar (or honey), optional
1 cup ice, optional
2 lemon slices, optional
Fresh lemon juice, optional

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
Bring the water to a boil.
Remove from the heat and add the fresh mint leaves. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on desired strength.
Add optional sweetener. Start with 1 teaspoon per cup and add more as desired.
If serving iced, fill tall glasses with ice and pour the tea over. If serving hot, pour the tea into mugs. Garnish with optional lemon slices and/or lemon juice to taste.

Recipe Variations

Here are a few lesser known varieties that can be blended to make a great healthy cup of tea:

Pineapple mint
Apple mint (woolly mint)
Ginger mint
Red raripila mint
Catmint
Chocolate mint
Orange mint
Lavender mint
Grapefruit mint
Calamint
Licorice mint
Basil mint
Chewing gum mint
Water mint
Corn or field mint

Mint tea is low in calories, a great palate cleanser and has traditionally been used to aid digestion. Wash and tear up a handful of mint leaves, add to a small teapot and top up with boiling water. Avoid Moroccan mint tea in restaurants, as it can be loaded with sugar.

If you are interested in other herbal teas that are good for health, support the treatment of certain diseases such as cancer, liver disease, hormonal support for women, … you can refer here