All posts tagged: Tea

Queen Elizabeth’s favourite sandwich she ate every day for 90 years

Queen Elizabeth’s favourite sandwich she ate every day for 90 years

The late Queen Elizabeth may have been the longest-serving British monarch with access to the most lavish and exotic cuisines imaginable, yet when it came to satisfying her sweet tooth, she favoured something decidedly ordinary and distinctly British. Throughout her 70-year reign, the late monarch undertook more than 200 visits to Commonwealth countries alone, which would undoubtedly have exposed her to an array of delicacies served at formal dinners. However, when it came to her preferences, Elizabeth would choose a beloved English favourite that countless Britons have come to cherish — one that she enjoyed every day from childhood. Darren McGrady, who served the Royal Family for 15 years as a chef preparing meals for all the senior members of the Firm, disclosed what the late monarch’s preferred afternoon indulgence was. In a YouTube video, he discussed the annual summer garden parties, explaining: “With 6,000 people at each garden party that’s a lot of food, and fortunately, the royal chefs only have to cater for the royal tea tent.” He continued: “The [late] Queen was …

‘I collapsed into my cream tea on a bike ride. Turns out I had a serious, undiagnosed health condition for 50 years’

‘I collapsed into my cream tea on a bike ride. Turns out I had a serious, undiagnosed health condition for 50 years’

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore An Essex woman, who unknowingly lived with a significant heart defect for over five decades, is now embarking on a challenging 54-mile charity cycle from London to Brighton. This life-altering discovery, made after a dramatic collapse during a leisurely bike ride, has prompted her to undertake the endurance cycle for the British Heart Foundation. Diana Warren, 55, was enjoying a bike ride with her wife, Lisa, in June 2022 when she suddenly collapsed. The couple had paused their 14-mile journey to Mersey Island at a local cafe, where Ms Warren, then 51, had chosen a coffee and a cream tea “for carbohydrates” to sustain them for the remainder of their trip. “I’d put the cream on the scone ready to go for it, and I don’t remember much after that,” Ms Warren, who lives in Colchester, told PA Real Life. “Apparently, …

All The Health Benefits Linked To A Cup Of Rooibos Tea

All The Health Benefits Linked To A Cup Of Rooibos Tea

Mint tea may have benefits for our digestive system, while passionflower tea can help us sleep. And there’s some evidence to suggest that rooibos tea, a South African variety made from the fermented leaves of the Aspalathus linearis shrub, can help with everything from reducing inflammation to controlling blood sugar and boosting our gut health. Green rooibos is made from the same leaves, but they’re unfermented. Here are some of the potential health benefits of the caffeine-free tea: 1) It’s brimming with antioxidants Green rooibos tea is the only source of aspalathin (which helps to maintain cell health), and it’s high in other antioxidants, like quercetin (potentially anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine, and immune-boosting), too. Antioxidants help to protect our DNA from harmful free radicals. They may also assist in protecting against chronic illness, heart disease, and cancer. A 2023 review found that drinking rooibos tea seemed to be linked to higher antioxidant levels in our bodies. 2) It could be good for our gut health According to a 2024 paper, green rooibos tea appears to help to …

The affordable tea that can boost gut health and reduce inflammation

The affordable tea that can boost gut health and reduce inflammation

Sign up to IndyEat’s free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free Rooibos tea, a caffeine-free drink made from the leaves of a shrub indigenous to South Africa, is part of the country’s heritage. The rooibos plant (Aspalathus linearis) grows in the mountainous Cederberg region of South Africa’s Western Cape province. It has been traditionally harvested and consumed as a herbal tea by the Khoisan people. Beyond making tea, the plant has been touted for its potential health benefits. Rooibos has scientifically proven effects as an antioxidant. This is a natural substance that helps to protect your body’s cells from damage caused by harmful molecules. It’s also an anti-inflammatory: a substance that reduces inflammation (redness, swelling, and pain) in the body. It can help protect the heart and liver, regulate blood sugar and improve skin health. Commercial cultivation of rooibos began in the early 20th century. Scientific research into its health benefits started in the 1960s, when …

A bonobo’s imaginary tea party hints that apes can pretend

A bonobo’s imaginary tea party hints that apes can pretend

ape: A group of rather large primates, all of which lack a tail. They include gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, gibbons and humans. Most people tend to group humans into their own separate subcategory owing to a number of special traits. These include a larger brain, greater mental abilities (including being able to talk) and their ability to walk on two legs. behavior: The way something (often a person or other organism) conducts itself or acts towards others. cognitive: A term that relates to mental activities, such as thinking, learning, remembering and solving puzzles. colleague: Someone who works with another; a co-worker or team member. intelligence: The ability to collect and apply knowledge and skills. primate: The order of mammals that includes humans, apes, monkeys and related animals (such as tarsiers, the Daubentonia and other lemurs). tool: An object that a person or other animal makes or obtains and then uses to carry out some purpose such as reaching food, defending itself or grooming. unique: Something that is unlike anything else; the only one of its …

The bedtime ritual experts say can calm a ‘menopausal mind’ and help you sleep

The bedtime ritual experts say can calm a ‘menopausal mind’ and help you sleep

There are few things quite as relaxing as a hot cup of herbal tea, especially just before bed.  Many of us already take advantage of the benefits of these drinks. Made with herbs such as chamomile, valerian or lavender, they are well known for their calming properties and their ability to help you drift off.  Incorporating a night-time cuppa into your routine can be a natural and effective way to de-stress and prepare the body for a night of restorative rest. “Depending on the plant used, herbal teas can help you unwind, slow down the pace of your evening, and help you rest after a long day,” says pharmacist Mar Sieira.  Furthermore, many of these herbs offer additional health benefits, making them a healthy and delicious way to round off the day. We asked the expert for the top reasons why you should consider including herbal tea in your nightly ritual. 1. The science of sipping: Why herbal teas are the ultimate sleep aid For centuries, herbal teas have been used as natural sleep remedies …

Kate Middleton reveals unexpected tea preference as she weighs into controversial British debate

Kate Middleton reveals unexpected tea preference as she weighs into controversial British debate

The Princess of Wales weighed into a classic British debate as she revealed how she likes her tea during her royal away day to Leicester on Thursday.  Kate, 44, sat down for a hot drink at Bobby’s restaurant, named after the 1973 Bollywood film, while Prince William visited Cornwall for St Piran’s Day, 300 miles away. However, it seems the royal is not a fan of an overly sweetened brew, instead preferring to keep things simple.  The Princess was keen to sample some chai, and was asked: “Would you like sugar in your tea?” She responded, “no thank you”, and instead opted for just milk. After sipping the drink, which contains cinnamon, cardamom and other spices, she commented that it was “lovely”.  The Princess met Lakhani, 57, who runs the restaurant and his wife Enna, 56, enjoying traditional sweets together. She said: “What’s lovely about a family business is that the values still stay. That’s the heart of it. That’s really what matters to the customers, those relationships.” Royal-tea Kate is known to be a …

A simple yet effective kettle

A simple yet effective kettle

Small kitchen appliance brand Sage has topped several of our recent kitchen tests. And no, it hasn’t paid to be there. Categories are often tested by different experts, yet the brand has still been named as the purveyor of our best toastie maker, best sparkling water maker and, of course, our highest rated coffee machine. Many of the brand’s appliances are well-finished in stainless steel, bringing a quality to your kitchen that can’t be found at lower prices. Still, when food writer and kettle and toaster tester, Imogen Hope named Sage’s £119 Soft Top Luxe Kettle her best kettle, we decided it was worth further investigation. Here, Imogen sets out exactly why she thinks it’s worth spending this on a kettle, while I, Recommended’s home and garden editor, explain why I would reach for her value buy, instead. What you need to know about Sage’s The Soft Top Luxe Kettle Before we dive into the pros and cons, here’s what £120 of kettle will buy you. Hope tested the stainless steel iteration (colours from pink …

2-3 cups of coffee a day can lower dementia risk and slow cognitive decline

2-3 cups of coffee a day can lower dementia risk and slow cognitive decline

Morning routines can add up over decades. A new study suggests your daily coffee or tea habit may also connect to how well your brain holds up with age. “When searching for possible dementia prevention tools, we thought something as prevalent as coffee may be a promising dietary intervention — and our unique access to high-quality data through studies that have been going on for more than 40 years allowed us to follow through on that idea,” said senior author Daniel Wang, an associate scientist with the Channing Division of Network Medicine in the Mass General Brigham Department of Medicine and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. Daniel Wang, an associate scientist with the Channing Division of Network Medicine in the Mass General Brigham Department of Medicine and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. (CREDIT: Harvard Medical School) “While our results are encouraging, it’s important to remember that the effect size is small and there are lots of important ways to protect cognitive function as we age. Our study suggests that caffeinated coffee …

Thai Coffee Chains Cut Default Sugar Content in Coffee and Tea Drinks in a New Health Push

Thai Coffee Chains Cut Default Sugar Content in Coffee and Tea Drinks in a New Health Push

BANGKOK (AP) — For many Thais, a meal doesn’t feel complete without an iced coffee or tea so sugary it could pass for dessert. The government, concerned about the health consequences, wants them to dial it back. Starting Wednesday, nine major coffee chains across the country have pledged to cut the default sugar content in some of their drinks by half in a government initiative aimed at tackling excessive sugar consumption. According to the Health Department, Thais consume an average of 21 teaspoons of sugar per day, more than three times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of six teaspoons. Health officials warn that such high intake increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and other diseases. The initiative is the first significant step to change consumers’ sugar consumption behavior, said Amporn Benjaponpitak, the director general of the department. Pakorn Tungkasereerak, the department’s deputy, said 2025 data show that about 45% of Thais aged 15 and older are obese, while 10% of the population has diabetes. A survey by the Bureau of Nutrition found that a …