Joanna James
Sri Lanka is one of the best places to enjoy a refreshing cup of tea and the great thing is, there are diverse herbal varieties available too. Here are some of the healthy tea types you can try, many of which are linked with the traditional healing practices of Ayurveda.
A traditional herb that has health benefits too, polpala also known as "Aerva lanata", is used in a dried and preserved form to make a healthy cup of tea. As a beverage, polpala is believed to offer a number of benefits including for treating ailments linked with kidney stones, the bladder, indigestion and urinary related disorders. Interestingly, it can be ground to make a paste in order to remedy skin eruptions as well as used in combination with other herbs to treat snake bites.
"Aegle marmelos" is the scientific name given to the beli (or bael) tree which apart from a popular fruit also has flowers that have healthy properties. The flowers can be used to prepare herbal tea which is known for its distinctive aroma and flavour that helps in keeping one's breath fresh too. But wait there's more! This kind of traditionally-made tea is also believed to aid in treating issues relating to the bowels, heartburn, vomiting and even malaria.
Renowned the world over, Ceylon Tea offers the perfect way to start the morning and a refreshing pick-me-up anytime during the day. One of the best places to enjoy a traditional cuppa is in the hill country where this tea is grown including in Kandy; hotel properties here including the likes of Earl's Regent Kandy provide the ideal location in which to savour this reviving beverage. What's more, drinking this tea ("Camellia sinensis") is also beneficial for one's health; it is known to possess antioxidants which aid in removing toxins from the blood and which are believed to help in lowering the risk of strokes and heart disease as well.
The "Cassia auriculata" or ranawara flower is another traditional and all-natural ingredient used for making herbal tea. Passed down from generation to generation, this herbal beverage is also believed to offer those who drink it many health benefits; this includes the treatment of diabetes and urinary issues as well as to restore the glow of one's skin. Ranawara ayurvedic herbal tea is also drunk in order to revive sexual vitality and to ease discomfort caused by menstruation-related pain as well.
Belonging to the Lythraceae family, the myla or malitha flower ("Woodfordia fruticose") is a popular ingredient for herbal tea, especially in the dry zone of the country. The herb, in fact, has been used as a part of indigenous medicine as an all-natural ingredient to remedy various ailments be it diarrhoea, asthma, diseases related to the liver or dysentery. As a herbal tea, it has a unique taste and amongst the other benefits it is believed to offer is the reducing of flatulence.
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A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
