I started in book publishing and fell in love with the publishing industry. I was in a position to meet new creatives, work with them closely on publishing their most intimate works, and could watch the results of our labour bring dreams to fruition. For nine years, I was excelling but was also burning the candle on both ends. At this time, I knew I needed to slow down and figure out how to realign my lifestyle so that it wouldn’t continue to cause detriment to my health, my peace of mind, and my business. It was through delving deep into tai chi methodology and the healing benefits of herbal teas that I have been able to find restoration in my life. Through this healing, Upland Tea House was born.
Tea consumption is more than just an alternative to coffee. It’s a time-honoured lifestyle for some cultures and a ritual in others. After consuming a variety of teas to treat burnout, mind fog, and anxiety I fell in love with the overall healing benefits of rooibos tea. Immediately after drinking the first cup, my body relaxed and my mind had a chance to ‘shut off’ the overthinking and allow myself to rest – finally. Rooibos isn’t characteristically a sleep aid tea but I found that the body is able to heal faster and build resiliency from the relaxing qualities the rooibos bush provides.
So, what is Rooibos? It is a broom-like plant that is native to a small mountainous area of the Western Cape province of South Africa and the leaves are used to make a herbal tea that is called by the names: rooibos, bush tea, red tea, or honeybush tea. It is a flavorful, caffeine-free alternative to black and green tea with many claims of antioxidants that can protect against cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Compared to regular black tea or green tea, rooibos reduces internal inflammation and is lower in tannins (these interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients, such as iron) and oxalic acid (this can increase your risk of kidney stones).
After learning from some of the best in the field, and being a consumer of the tea, I have much respect for the harvesters as well as the rooibos experience overall. I now find solace in creating a peaceful space in my day to set intentions and quiet my mind from daily responsibilities. We are doing more for our total mind-body wellness, by implementing a daily tea ceremony, than many would believe. My daily ceremony is my pathway to wellness.
By April Sheris, Upland Tea House
Blessing Iyamadiken loves the art of storytelling and enjoys creating all types of content from news to entertainment. She is also a feminist and very passionate about Gender Equality. In her spare time, she loves to read or binge on Netflix.
