Nourish
3 Tea Elixirs to Give you Exactly What You Need
Whenever the barre3 marketing team has a big day ahead, you’ll find us running to Tea Bar in Portland for our favorite matcha drink. It’s a healthy way of treating ourselves, and it reinforces the spirit of collaboration and community that barre3 is all about. Turns out, that’s exactly why tea-guru it-girl Erica Indira Swanson opened Tea Bar in the first place. “I wanted a good-karma business,” she says. “I wanted to offer something that would provide balance and happiness, as well as foster a sense of community”
We asked Erica to share her favorite tea elixirs to give you what you need every moment of the day. Read on for her three amazing (and so easy to make at home!) recipes.
When you need: An energy boost
Tea elixir to drink: Honey Matcha
Why it works: Matcha has a bit of caffeine, but instead of giving you a spike and then a crash, it offers a calm, sustained energy. It’s also packed with vitamins, chlorophyll, and amino acids, which will make your skin glow and your body feel more balanced.
Ingredients:
1 tsp. organic, unsweetened, premium matcha (available in many grocery stores; Tea Bar will be selling its own version soon!)
8 oz. warm water (175°F is ideal; avoid boiling water as it will be too hot for the matcha)
1 tsp. raw honey
½ cup ice
Directions:
- Place the matcha into a 16-oz. glass jar and add the warm water.
- Sweeten with raw honey.
- Add ice, shake, and serve.
When you need: To refresh and hydrate your body
Tea elixir to drink: Iced* Ginger Lemon Tea Toddy
Why it works: Lemon, ginger, and cayenne are powerhouses in their own right, and when they work together they offer even more amazing benefits. The combo improves circulation, boosts immunity, and detoxifies the body, leaving you refreshed and energized.
Ingredients:
1 oz. fresh organic ginger juice (you can juice your own or buy it; we love the brand Ginger People)
Juice from 1/2 organic lemon
Pinch of cayenne
6-oz. concentrate of your favorite herbal tea. We recommend peppermint, chamomile, or hibiscus. (To make a concentrate, brew your tea extra strong by doubling the amount of loose tea or tea bags and steeping for the normal amount of time.)
1 tsp. raw honey
½ cup ice
Directions:
- Combine the ginger juice, lemon juice, cayenne, and tea concentrate in a 16-oz. glass jar.
- Add raw honey and stir.
- Add ice, shake, and serve.
*To serve hot, omit the ice and increase your tea concentrate to 10 ounces.
When you need: To calm your body and reduce stress
Tea elixir to drink: Lavender Rooibos Chai
Why it works: Lavender not only calms your mind, it also relaxes your muscles. Combined with rooibos, which increases airflow to your lungs and oxygenates your body, the two deliver incredible calming benefits.
Ingredients:
1 Tbs. rooibos, 1 Tbs. lavender (loose tea leaves)
8 oz. hot water
4 oz. full fat organic coconut milk
Raw honey to taste
Directions:
- 1. Combine the rooibos and lavender with the hot water, and brew for 6 to 8 minutes.
- 2. Steam the coconut milk by heating it to (but not above) 160°F, and pour it into the brewed tea.
- 3. Sweeten to taste with honey and serve.
Try these recipes at home and let us know what you think in the comments below! And if you’re in Portland, we highly recommend settling in for one of the delicious tea concoctions at either of Tea Bar’s gorgeous, light-filled locations. Chances are, you’ll see us there, too!
Whenever the barre3 marketing team has a big day ahead, you’ll find us running to Tea Bar in Portland for our favorite matcha drink. It’s a healthy way of treating ourselves, and it reinforces the spirit of collaboration and community that barre3 is all about. Turns out, that’s exactly why tea-guru it-girl Erica Indira Swanson opened Tea Bar in the first place. “I wanted a good-karma business,” she says. “I wanted to offer something that would provide balance and happiness, as well as foster a sense of community”
We asked Erica to share her favorite tea elixirs to give you what you need every moment of the day. Read on for her three amazing (and so easy to make at home!) recipes.
When you need: An energy boost
Tea elixir to drink: Honey Matcha
Why it works: Matcha has a bit of caffeine, but instead of giving you a spike and then a crash, it offers a calm, sustained energy. It’s also packed with vitamins, chlorophyll, and amino acids, which will make your skin glow and your body feel more balanced.
Ingredients:
1 tsp. organic, unsweetened, premium matcha (available in many grocery stores; Tea Bar will be selling its own version soon!)
8 oz. warm water (175°F is ideal; avoid boiling water as it will be too hot for the matcha)
1 tsp. raw honey
½ cup ice
Directions:
- Place the matcha into a 16-oz. glass jar and add the warm water.
- Sweeten with raw honey.
- Add ice, shake, and serve.
When you need: To refresh and hydrate your body
Tea elixir to drink: Iced* Ginger Lemon Tea Toddy
Why it works: Lemon, ginger, and cayenne are powerhouses in their own right, and when they work together they offer even more amazing benefits. The combo improves circulation, boosts immunity, and detoxifies the body, leaving you refreshed and energized.
Ingredients:
1 oz. fresh organic ginger juice (you can juice your own or buy it; we love the brand Ginger People)
Juice from 1/2 organic lemon
Pinch of cayenne
6-oz. concentrate of your favorite herbal tea. We recommend peppermint, chamomile, or hibiscus. (To make a concentrate, brew your tea extra strong by doubling the amount of loose tea or tea bags and steeping for the normal amount of time.)
1 tsp. raw honey
½ cup ice
Directions:
- Combine the ginger juice, lemon juice, cayenne, and tea concentrate in a 16-oz. glass jar.
- Add raw honey and stir.
- Add ice, shake, and serve.
*To serve hot, omit the ice and increase your tea concentrate to 10 ounces.
When you need: To calm your body and reduce stress
Tea elixir to drink: Lavender Rooibos Chai
Why it works: Lavender not only calms your mind, it also relaxes your muscles. Combined with rooibos, which increases airflow to your lungs and oxygenates your body, the two deliver incredible calming benefits.
Ingredients:
1 Tbs. rooibos, 1 Tbs. lavender (loose tea leaves)
8 oz. hot water
4 oz. full fat organic coconut milk
Raw honey to taste
Directions:
- 1. Combine the rooibos and lavender with the hot water, and brew for 6 to 8 minutes.
- 2. Steam the coconut milk by heating it to (but not above) 160°F, and pour it into the brewed tea.
- 3. Sweeten to taste with honey and serve.
Try these recipes at home and let us know what you think in the comments below! And if you’re in Portland, we highly recommend settling in for one of the delicious tea concoctions at either of Tea Bar’s gorgeous, light-filled locations. Chances are, you’ll see us there, too!
