Competition: Win the entire range of Pukka teas!

Tea is the world’s second-most- consumed drink – after water – and there are more blends and more styles of drinking to explore than ever before. The key to a great cup of tea (or mug – you won’t find any receptacle-ism here) could be water quality, it could be brewing temperature, and it’s certainly about the ingredients contained in those little bags of flavour.

Pukka Herbs prides itself on not using any synthetic flavourings in their range of 40 teas, only sustainably sourced, organically grown and fairly traded tea, herbs and fruit, which is of real importance to Sebastian Pole, Pukka’s master herbsmith and co-founder. For Sebastian, creating a Pukka blend is about capturing the vibrancy of the tea, herbs or fruit – an appeal that is reflected not just in the taste, but in its aroma, look and feel, too. Each of Pukka’s organic teas comes jam-packed with nature’s finest ingredients that smell mesmerising when you open the beautiful packaging and translate into taste with delicious depth. Wellbeing is high on the agenda, too, with teas such as Detox and Night Time blended to give specific physical benefits.

Green teas – particularly matcha blends – are increasingly popular. Reflecting this, new additions to the Pukka range include matcha greens blended with ginseng or mint. New Turmeric Gold is a blend of whole-leaf green tea with queen of protective spices turmeric, plus cardamom and lemon. Find your favourites blends online at pukkaherbs.com.

HOW TO ENTER
Enter our competition for your chance to win the entire range of Pukka organic teas. One lucky winner will receive one packet of each tea currently available at pukkaherbs.com. 

ENTER NOW

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
There is one prize of the full range of Pukka teas delivered to your door. No cash alternative is available and the prize cannot be transferred. The competition closes on 17 May 2017. The winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries after this date and notified soon after. You can find full terms and conditions on page 129 of the April issue and at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

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Pukkapedia: Herbs to help rebalance

Many of us take the new year as a cue to give our bodies an MOT, with rebalancing what we eat as good a place as any to start. Nature’s medicine cabinet contains many cleansing plants.

Fennel, a key ingredient of Pukka’s Detox tea, is great for easing nausea and indigestion and can help to reduce the other physical effects of alcohol. A warm cup of fennel tea will help to relieve digestive ailments, making it a handy hangover tonic and a gentle cleanser.

Marvellous matcha
Matcha is made from a special type of powdered green tea. It’s packed full of antioxidants which help to fight free radicals built up by pollution, exposure to alcohol and those not-so-healthy party foods. Sip this tea, perhaps with a squeeze of lemon, the next time you feel the need to rebalance your body. Or try Pukka’s Clean Matcha Green.

Turn to page 15 of January’s The Simple Things for more rebalancing herbs, including Mint, Ginger, Rosemary, Chamomile, Parsley and Turmeric.

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Sponsored post: Pukka's herbal encyclopedia – cinnamon

Full of sweet and stimulating essential oils, cinnamon is a long-time favourite for invigorating and warming the whole body, while generally making life more delicious. Cinnamon’s sweet spiciness comes from a combination of potent compounds including cinnamaldehyde and coumarin which gives this herb its distinctive flavour. Pukka teams cinnamon with star anise and ginger to create a warming, deeply spiced tea.

Soothing and nourishing

In traditional medicines, cinnamon is thought to benefit a cold and sluggish digestion, metabolism and circulation. In Ayurveda, India’s ancient health system, the bark of the tree is used as a major digestive herb. It is wonderfully warming, sweet and pungent. Additionally, cinnamon appears to strengthen nutritional absorption as well as playing an important role in balancing blood sugar and reducing insulin resistance.

Some history

Until the 16th century the origins of cinnamon were a fiercely guarded secret;  global trade was controlled by wealthy Arabs who protected their monopoly and justified exorbitant prices by fabricating extraordinary tales, including how cinnamon was only found in giant birds’ nests perched on insurmountable mountain peaks, or in deep canyons guarded by flying snakes! To produce the traditional spice we see today, the bark is harvested and then either powdered or rolled into characteristic quills. The making of cinnamon quills is a traditional art in some countries.

Turn to page 23 of December's The Simple Things for this month's Pukkapedia and more on spices. 

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Sponsored post: Herbs to help you sleep

Many conventional sleeping tablets actually inhibit REM sleep and should only ever be used short term. Natural relaxants, such as herb-based teas and supplements, are safe and will help to calm a restless body and mind as well as encourage undisturbed and refreshing sleep.

Nature’s natural sedative

Valerian is a strong nervine and sedative to the central nervous system, relaxing tense muscles while also encouraging an undisturbed sleep, healthy sleeping pattern and ameliorating stress. It promotes relaxation by enhancing GABA neurotransmission; it relaxes the heart, treating palpitations, tightness and high blood pressure, reduces the time to sleep onset and improves sleep quality. Valerian can also help with withdrawal from conventional medications used to treat insomnia. Valerian is the key ingredient in Pukka’s Night Time capsules.

GLOSSARY

REM: A kind of sleep that occurs at intervals during the night and is characterised by rapid eye movements, more dreaming and bodily movement, and faster pulse and breathing. REM sleep is important because it is the restorative part of our sleep cycle. 
Nervine: A plant remedy that has a beneficial, calming effect on the nervous system.
GABA: A type of protein that helps suppress the circuits in the brain (neurotransmitters) that cause anxiety. 
Melatonin: A hormone found naturally in the body that influences you to feel sleepy.

Turn to page 87 of November's The Simple Things for this month's Pukkapedia and more on sleep. 

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Turn to page 49 of October's The Simple Things for your free sample of Pukka tea. Put the kettle on, brew up and read on to discover why its ingredients are so beneficial. 

IMMUNITY

Autumn glow

This season is a good time to consider how herbs can play a role in our wellbeing. More people use antibiotics at this time of year, as they’re commonly prescribed for upper respiratory tract infections, even though most coughs and flus are caused by viruses. But there are simple, natural solutions.

Purple magic

Elderberries are the autumnal fruit of the elderflower. They’re full of anti-viral, anti-inflammatory constituents including vitamin C, anthocyanins, lignans and flavonoids. Research shows that this humble hedgerow plant can deactivate 10 strains of flu virus as well as hasten recovery time.

As a syrup, its soothing qualities help calm irritated mucous membranes and coughs. Elderberry’s anti- spasmodic, airway-clearing properties ease painful spasms whilst gently clearing catarrh from the respiratory tract and sinuses. Pukka’s Elderberry Syrup is made from concentrated juice of elderberry with 10 other herbs. One daily dose supplies 12,000mg.

Other herbal heroes

Try these powerful herbs, teas and remedies next time you feel a chill.

Ginger: Grate some fresh ginger into a mug of hot water and lemon. Or sip Pukka’s Lemon, Ginger and Manuka Honey tea as soon as you feel a cold coming on.

Trikatu: This mix of ginger, black pepper and long pepper helps to blow away the cold. Mix half a teaspoon with honey to sweeten it or add to your favourite herbal tea. 

Andrographis: A great all-round winter boost. Take two capsules twice a day. 

Echinacea: This popular flower can help maintain the immune system. Try Pukka’s warming Elderberry and Echinacea tea.

Discover more about Pukka’s incredible organic herbs at pukkaherbs.com

GLOSSARY

Antibiotic
A substance that can destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, especially bacteria. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. Common antibiotics include penicillin and erythromycin.

Lignans
Chemical compounds found in plants that have antioxidant (stopping damage from free radicals) properties.

Anti-inflammatory
A substance that reduces signs of inflammation or swelling

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Sponsored post: Pukkapedia - Pukka's herbal encyclopedia

Turn to page 79 of September's The Simple Things for your free sample of Pukka supreme matcha green tea. Put the kettle on, brew up and read on to discover why its ingredients are so beneficial. 

YOUR SKIN

Pollution proofing

Our skin is an expression of our health and our environment, so when we’re tired or unwell, it can look grey or dull. And when we’re exposed to lots of toxins and free radicals, and don’t have enough antioxidants to mop them up, one of the results can be faster skin ageing. There are unique substances found in plant foods that are said to have antioxidant activity, which work to protect our cells and tissues – including our skin – against the damaging effects of free radicals and pollution.

So one of the primary ways to support our body’s antioxidant defence system is to consume plenty of plant foods – especially vegetables and fruit, which are brimming with all-important polyphenols and other antioxidants.

Golden glow

Turmeric is particularly effective for fighting against free radicals, thanks to its content of curcuminoids – pigments that give this super spice its bright yellow-orange colour.

Curcumin, the most widely studied, may even directly reduce skin ageing, including preventing moisture loss and protecting against wrinkles. You can get your daily dose of turmeric by including it in homemade curries and other Asian-inspired dishes, but buy a top-quality organic turmeric powder or fresh root to reap the full benefits.

Green gold

Green tea contains catechins, which have demonstrated pretty impressive abilities to fight free radicals. A specific catechin called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) is thought to have the most potent protective activity. To get the most out of your green tea, go for matcha. Matcha tea is a high-quality powdered green tea used in Japanese tea ceremonies. It’s made from only the fresh leaf tips of the tea plant, with darker green, sweeter-tasting leaves packed with antioxidants. 

GLOSSARY

Free radicals

A molecule that is highly chemically reactive towards other substances. Rust is an example of free radical damage that happens in the environment. In the body, when there are excessive free radicals around, this can cause damage to cells and proteins that make up the body’s tissues – including our skin.

Antioxidants

Substances that react with free radicals, stopping the chain of damage that can occur.

Polyphenols

Micronutrients found in our diet that have an antioxidant effect. 

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