My New Favorite Super-Teas for Everyday Energy & Immune Support

If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s to appreciate the little things. The ability to see and hug friends & family members. A sunny day and fresh air. A great at-home latte. 

These little joys have kept me grounded and happy in an otherwise pretty insane year, and I’ve started seeking them out more and more – especially during the weekdays.

Working from home, it’s so easy to let the waking up blend into the workday, which blends right into the evening. Creating little rituals that I can look forward to, which also break up the day, has made SUCH a difference in my mood. 

It’s not an exaggeration to say that during the last (6?) months of working from home, I ALWAYS have a beverage next to my laptop while working – usually multiple. 

I love my lemon water and coffee first thing in the morning, but throughout the day, I’ve been reaching for more tea than ever before. 

This is definitely due to my discovery of Pique Tea – a certified organic tea brand that is seriously changing the tea game with tea crystals that are not only delicious and easy to make, but seriously up the nutritional benefits.

Okay so what exactly are ‘tea crystals’? Trust me, it’s not some woo-woo thing – tea crystals are a revolutionary way to get the maximum nutritional benefits out of your tea – 3rd party tests have shown Pique’s tea crystal extraction process yields more concentrated antioxidants than other teas. On top of starting with organic tea leaves, Pique then triple toxin screens for pesticides, heavy metals, and toxic mold. You guys, this level of care and testing is EPIC. It’s also not common – but it’s SO important when it comes to tea – along with coffee, tea is one of the most heavily sprayed crops with pesticides. 

Alright, so know that we know it’s LEGIT, let’s get into why I fell in LOVE:

• NUTRITION BENEFITS – Tea can have a host of powerful nutritional benefits – but lots of time we’re leaving those benefits on the table – because Pique tea crystals give you a full-spectrum, whole-food tea, you’re getting next-level absorbability and bioavailability. I’ll get into the benefits of each of my fav teas below!
• TASTE – I’ve tried a lot of matchas, and let me tell you, there is QUITE a range of taste. Pique Tea’s matcha is SO smooth & creamy and seriously perfect in a latte (recipe below). Their hibiscus tea (which brews pink) makes the perfect caffeine-free afternoon treat. 
  
• EASE OF USE – I don’t know how many times I’ve brewed a cup of hot tea, only to forget about it by the time it was cool enough to drink. Or even worse, set out to make my own iced tea, which required brewing tea, then letting it cool, and hoping I’d still want it. Pique Tea solves all this because the tea crystals dissolve directly in cold or hot water – no brewing required! 

I love all of Pique’s teas – their mint and hibiscus make the best iced-teas – but my two ALL TIME favs are the Sun Goddess Matcha and Electric Turmeric.

WAKE UP WITH MATCHA

Alright guys so here’s the tea with matcha (see what I did there 😏) – for the longest time we’ve had to choose between quality and purity. Most “ceremonial grade” matcha (the best quality) isn’t organic, and most organic matcha isn’t ceremonial grade. This is why I LOVE Pique Tea’s Sun Goddess Matcha – it’s BOTH organic and ceremonial grade. It’s made with organic tea leaves AND quadruple toxin screened for radioactive isotopes, heavy metals, toxic mold, and pesticides.

SO WHY IS MATCHA SO GREAT?

Well, much of it is credited to its mix of caffeine and L-Theanine (an amino acid which promotes relaxation), so you get the caffeine boost without the crash / jitters.

Another cool thing about Pique matcha? It’s grown in a way to maximize its health benefits. By growing matcha leaves in the shade 35% long, the plant has to work overtime, and maximizes its chlorophyll and l-theanine, resulting in greater health benefits for us. 

And finally, matcha is rich in of one of the strongest types of antioxidants (Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG)), up to 10x more than a cup of regular green tea. Preliminary research has even shown EGCG to have antiviral properties. 

I’ve been LOVING making this brain-boosting matcha latte in the late mornings (sometimes afternoon) for a smooth, steady boost of energy, without any jitters or crashes. The caffeine boost, combined with the l-theanine, gives me super calm, focused, energy.

ICED BRAIN-BOOSTING MATCHA LATTE

• 1 packet Pique Sun Goddess Matcha
• 1 tsp MCT oil* makes it EXTRA creamy 
• 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk (I like this blend)
• 1-2 droppers liquid stevia
• Pinch of pink salt 

Combine all ingredients and blend on low for ~30 seconds, then on high for ~15 seconds (the secret to getting it nice and frothy). Pour over ice and enjoy! (And try not to chug it – it’s SO good it’s hard for me not to down it) 

WIND DOWN WITH TURMERIC

When it comes to the health benefits of turmeric, there are a TON – but how you consume turmeric MATTERS. Turmeric has been shown to support the body’s healthy response to inflammation, support the immune system, and support healthy joints. 

And when we’re talking about the health benefits of turmeric, it’s thanks to the curcumin – the biologically active compound in turmeric. Curcumin has been shown to reduce inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). In fact, I’m such a believer in the power of turmeric, I also supplement with curcumin directly to support my immune system when I’m feeling under the weather, or to help with inflammation after an injury. 

The problem with many forms of turmeric, is the lack of bio-availability, meaning your cells can’t absorb the curcumin to get the full benefits. Pique Tea turmeric is different – they maximize bioavailability by using a 300-year-old Okinawan fermentation method that uses mango yeast and Awamori rice wine for superior curcumin absorption. 

The Electric Turmeric blend also includes warming spices like ginger root and ceylon cinnamon to further enhance absorption, and take the taste to the next level!

I’ve been incorporating Pique Tea’s Electric Turmeric tea as a post-dinner treat to kick off my wind routine. The warming spices in the Electric Turmeric blend feel like a hug in a cup and is a ritual I always look forward to. 

ELECTRIC TURMERIC GOLDEN MILK BEDTIME LATTE

• 1 packet Electric Turmeric Pique Tea
• 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk (I like this blend)
• 1-2 droppers liquid stevia
• Pinch of pink salt 

Heat milk of choice in a saucepan until warm, mix in remaining ingredients and stir to combine. If you have an electric whisk, this is a great way to get some extra froth! Optional: top with extra cinnamon 🙂 

READY TO TRY PIQUE TEA?

I’d recommend starting with their Sun Goddess Matcha for a slightly caffeinated option, the Hibiscus Beauty Elixir for an afternoon iced-tea (amazing with lemon), the Ginger Digestion Elixir for anyone looking for healthy digestion support and the Electric Turmeric for the coziest evenings. 

You can use code ‘ELYSEWELLNESS’ for 5% off your order!

Plus they offer a 100% satisfaction promise and easy returns if for some reason you don’t love your tea! 

What’s your favorite tea drinking ritual?

This post was created in partnership with PiqueTea. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Elyse Wellness