We’ve all heard of spring tonics – how about creating one of your own with a tea of your choice? Anything consumed with a positive mindset can do wonders for the body and soul. Choose a tea you like and then find some of the wonderful herbal blends to mix with it. Be on the lookout for those super fruit blends – blueberry, acai berry, goji berry, and pomegranate, to name a few. Some of these include true tea, whereas others are strictly herbal infusions without any true tea. You’ll be giving yourself a double dose of vitality if you steep these together. Keep in mind that most of the health research being done on tea concerns green tea – but any tea is fine. Although herbal infusions are often referred to as tea, most of them do not contain any of the tea plant at all; therefore, they do not have the same health benefits as tea does.
Spring tonics began hundreds of years ago (perhaps even longer) when diets during the winter months were heavy and didn’t contain many fresh ingredients. They were used as a means of cleansing the body to get rid of residues.
The celebration of spring spans millennia and has been recognized as part of religious rituals and cultural traditions for almost as long as man has walked upright.
The Vernal Equinox, as it is known, was a celebration of hope and relief from harsh winters across the world. But for the other half of our planet, it was, and still is, a celebration of the end of the hot weather as it turns to autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the Vernal Equinox marks the first day of spring and when spring is in the air many great things have been known to happen – as they say, “a young man’s fancy turns to love”. I’ve even seen older men with some pep in their step when spring has sprung! Of course, we women should not be left out of this time for blossoming and emerging, either.
The word “equinox” means “equal night” and is called such because the position of the sun is directly above the equator, thus providing us with an equal amount of day and night. Vernal denotes “spring”. Equinoxes occur twice a year – in the spring and in the autumn, when again, the tilt of the Earth’s axis causes the sun to be located vertically above a point on the equator.
If winter has left any lackluster residues, then by all means, find yourself a spring tonic tea to sip in celebration, or create one all on your own, and then share it with someone! I know you will find many teas to choose from here at T Ching.
Let’s all enjoy a step full of pep!
Happy Spring!
Additional articles that you might enjoy on T Ching:
Springtime Detox: Restart Your Body by Emma Lawson
Tea Blending: Rose Petals and Tea Leaves by Paula Geerligs
Turmeric Tea by Kevin Borowsky
How To Make a Tasty Green Tea Latte by Kei Nishida
Publisher Note: This post has been updated from the original 2009 version. T Ching thanks the author, Dharlene Marie Fahl for the many wonderful tea articles she has contributed. You may read more of her work on her author page.
Dharlene, while reading your post I noticed the first blossom on the tall hibiscus tree in my garden, which I bought in a 1-gallon container many years ago. Spring is definitely here in southern California!
Thanks for reminding us about the wonders of spring. In Oregon, I’m afraid it’s still feeling like winter. Your post brings me hope.