I’ve never considered myself to be a morning person, in fact, I tend to work my best in the evening hours with a candle and relaxing music. There are those mornings that I wake up earlier than usual, and catch a peaceful moment. The sunshine is shining through in our living room and everything seems fresh and anew. All the stress, concerns and thoughts have been washed away by the morning light. This doesn’t happen often, but when it does, these are some of my favorite moments of the day. I make myself a cup of tea and find a few moments to get with my thoughts, plan the day ahead or indulge in a new book. Which thanks to my girl, Erica, I’ve been loving Near & Far, lately. If you need some inspiration, this collection of recipes inspired by travels will give you wanderlust and cravings all at the same time!
Greek Mountain Tea | I’ve always been a tea drinker. I prefer it over coffee, mostly for it’s soothing effects, and while occasionally I indulge in a dose of java, I stick to loose-leaf teas for the most part. I recently bought a pack of Greek mountain tea from Klio (who also happens to have a lot of other amazing teas) and I have been drinking it every single morning. Greek mountain tea, or “tsai tou vounou” is an herbal tea, which means it doesn’t have any caffeine. It comes from the Sideritis plant which grows throughout the mountainous regions of Greece at very high elevations – typically over 3,000 feet. I remember seeing this tea hanging in my grandma’s kitchen to dry. I never thought much about it until recently. Besides the fact that the tea has a really wonderful and subtle taste, it also happens to have really amazing health benefits.
For one, Greek mountain tea is just as potent as green tea according to one study and it has significant anti-inflammatory effects as well as anti-microbial capabilities. And we all know how important it is to keep the inflammation down in your body. It helps you fight off all sorts of issues, from the common cold to serious diseases. It’s known to help soothe your stomach, de-stress and it’s full of antioxidants. There’s obviously a reason that this tea has been around for thousands of years, literally, and that Hippocrates hailed Greek mountain tea for its benefits to the immune and respiratory systems. I can’t get enough of this tea- the taste is so subtle, it’s great in the afternoon, too since there is no caffeine or perhaps even with a sweet treat. Who would have thought that one of my favorite morning rituals would prove to be so healthy!
