Watching the yellow, orange and red leaves falling and breathing in the crisp cool air while snuggling into a plush warm sweater is what I enjoy about Autumn. I also love all of the fresh apples that are ready to eat and preserve into sauce, butter, pie filling and apple chips. I get to smell the cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices filling the air inside.
I also don’t want to make an apple pie every day of the week to enjoy the flavour, my waistline is appreciative of this too. So I created Herbal Twist Tea’s Apple Pie Tea.
The Ingredients
Rooibos (ROY-boss)
Rooibos (aspalathus linearus) is not a “true tea” from the camellia sinensis plant. It is an herb that comes to us from Africa and is often called African Red Tea or Red Bush Tea. It has long thin needle leaves that are picked green and turn red during fermentation. Rooibos is a beautiful reddish brown colour when it is brewed and has A sweet flavour with hints of vanilla and caramel. The fact that it is caffeine free is a bonus for me since I can drink it close to bed time and not stay up all night.
Benefits of Rooibos
It is high in antioxidants, which are chemical compounds that help keep the skin looking youthful
It contains many minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc
It has antispasmodic compounds that may help ease stomach cramps by activating potassium ions.
Cinnamon Chips
Cinnamon is a flavour that most everyone associates with apples, but it is also great for you. It has some of the same benefits as Rooibos such as being high in antioxidants and may fight skin aging. Here are a few more of its bonuses.
Benefits of Cinnamon Chips
It is anti inflammatory
It can increase insulin sensitivity to help lower blood sugar levels
It helps to increase circulation to bring more blood flow to extremities.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg rounds out the flavour of this tea with its fragrance and warm sweet taste. It also adds the benefit of lifting your mood by promoting serotonin production in your brain.
Benefits of Nutmeg
It soothes indigestion
It boosts skin health
It increases circulation
Interactions with Medications
As always please check with your physician before adding new herbs into your regular diet especially if you have a medical condition or if you are on any medication.
Brewing the Perfect Cup of Apple Pie Tea
Step One: Prepare the Tea Leaves
Use two teaspoons of the tea leaves for an 8 ounce cup. Be sure to store tea in an airtight, dark container between uses.
Step Two: Boil the Water
Using filtered or tap water (never distilled) bring water to a boil and pour over tea leaves.
Step Three: Steep
Cover to steep for 5-10 minutes (or more if you’re like me, it may also increase antioxidant development.
Step Four: Enjoy!
