Cool Mint Tea

by Elma Shrock

May 2008

After sitting in the office all day, I looked forward to engaging in some kind of physical activity. The girls had invited me for a quick game of basketball after work, and even though it meant an early morning and late night, it was worth it. We all enjoyed the intense game but, no one was ready to call it a night. After tossing some ideas around, I was nominated to fix dinner. The girls would come to my place in half an hour for more fun and food.

I rushed home, desperately trying to remember what I had in the fridge, knowing there wasn’t much. I arrived to find only eggs and the simple ingredients to make pancakes. I had no choice but to make a P.M. breakfast but figured everyone would probably be too ravenous to really care what I fixed as long as it tasted good. It didn't take much to get things started. Then, all I needed to worry about was something for everyone to drink.

I began to feel stressed as I rummaged through the coffee cabinet finding nothing. But, then I saw the package of Cool Mint Tea from MoreThanAlive.com, one of my friends had recently given to me. What a relief! If it tasted as good as I remembered, everything would be just great. It didn't take long to make the tea and put it in the fridge to chill, first pouring myself a glass over ice to enjoy while I finished the meal.

As I sipped, I could feel myself relaxing.The scent of Peppermint and Chamomile soothed my senses and evaporated the stress that had developed from the long hectic day and unusual turn of events. Licorice made the tea naturally sweet so I didn't have to add much honey. I did notice a slightly unique flavor that I knew had to be Fennel Seed. While reading the label I realized all the herbs in the blend are commonly used for relaxation, stress, upset stomach or indigestion. From my own personal experience, I know herbs are very effective so I knew this would be perfect to calm everyone down after the thrill of the game.

Peppermint has a delicious minty flavor, and is one of the best herbs for an upset stomach. The volatile oil it contains relaxes the stomach, making it useful for a wide range of digestive problems, such as flatulence, nausea, vomiting, heartburn and diarrhea. Peppermint can also be used to relieve tension and stress and makes an effective home remedy for colds, flu, fevers and chills. The menthol it contains also relieves sinus congestion, and causes a cooling sensation when you drink it, making it ideal for a quick summer cool down.

Chamomile is another soothing herb that can be used for stress and insomnia. It is an effective remedy for indigestion, nervous stomach, and diarrhea. To clean out the sinuses, simply make a pot of chamomile tea, lean over with your face over the pot with a towel over your head, and inhale. Chamomile is quite a versatile herb, and can also be used to relieve painful menstrual cramps, back pain, gas, swelling, sore muscles, skin irritations, or kidney and bladder problems.

Fennel has been a favorite remedy down through the years to soothe everything from lethargy to frenzied nerves and makes a very effective digestive aid. It soothes the digestive tract, making it excellent for flatulence, relieving cramps, and indigestion. You can even use it to fight colds and coughs. Fennel has long been loved for its culinary uses as well. I like to add a little of it to pizza sauce. It adds a delicious original flavor.

The hint of sweetness in this blend comes from Licorice. This grand old herb is still prescribed by herbalists for respiratory and digestive problems. It is frequently used to heighten the effectiveness of other herbs and has been used in teas to relieve constipation and fevers. Researchers have found it contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-arthritic actions and can be used to ease coughs and clear congestion.

All the herbs included in the Cool Mint Tea blend have similar healing qualities, making it a wonderful solution for upset stomachs or frayed nerves caused by stress. It also makes a perfect summertime beverage to keep in the fridge to cool you down after being outside working or playing. Now that I had finished my tea, I felt refreshed, relaxed, and hungry. I glanced at the clock. I had gotten the meal ready in record time, but the girls were late. I poured myself another glass of tea and fixed myself a plate. They would just have to understand. This was too delicious too wait.

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