As early as the first century BC, Ayurvedic doctor Charaka explains why kasaya – natural decoctions – had been most popular as therapeutic potions. Within the treatise Charaka Samhita, he states that ‘kasaya’ enters the physique’s channels gently, kindles digestion and dissolves ama (toxins) with out burdening the system. Natural teas had been thus recognized and valued in India lengthy earlier than the British introduced in ‘common’ tea within the mid-Nineteenth century. Learn on to know the distinction between common milk tea and caffeine-free natural tea.

What Is Milk Tea?

Milk tea is made out of the leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant, with added milk. The milk softens the style of the brew and creates a creamy texture. This tea is loved worldwide in lots of varieties:

• Bubble Tea: Originating in Taiwan within the Nineteen Eighties, this tea comprises milk and chewy tapioca pearls – making it extra like a dessert.
• Hong Kong Milk Tea: Ready with evaporated milk, this beverage is historically brewed utilizing a reusable cloth infuser referred to as a ‘tea sock’
• Tea Latte: A creamy drink made by combining brewed tea with steamed milk, fashionable in Western nations. 
• Thai Iced Tea: A mix of black tea, condensed and evaporated milk, sugar, and spices, this tea is usually bought as a powdered combine.
• Masala Chai: India’s conventional spiced milk tea is made by simmering black tea with milk, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger and different spices.
• British Milk Tea: The nation’s ubiquitous beverage is typically served with milk. Typically ready by including milk first, then pouring the tea over it to protect flavour.

What Are Caffeine-Free Natural Teas?

Natural teas are infusions made out of herbs, flowers, roots, seeds or spices. Steeped in sizzling water, the lively precept of the herbs infuses into the water. Simple to digest and caffeine-free, natural teas are appropriate even for these with poor agni (digestive fireplace). They’re typically formulated to pacify aggravated doshas (inner bio-energies), help digestion, assist detoxing and promote general well being.

Is Milk Tea Good for Well being?

From an Ayurvedic perspective, extreme consumption of milk tea can overstimulate the nervous system and disturb Vata and Pitta Doshas. Caffeine in tea can enhance nervousness, restlessness and digestive disturbances.

Caffeine Stimulation and Sleep Disturbance

Caffeine is a stimulant that impacts sleep by blocking adenosine* receptors, disturbing the physique’s pure sleep cycles. Over time, this can lead to insomnia. Consuming greater than two cups of tea a day – particularly near bedtime – is more likely to disrupt sleep. 
(*Adenosine is a pure compound that builds up within the physique throughout the day and creates sleep stress.)

Sugar and Digestive Affect 

Milk tea is usually had with sugar, which will increase its caloric and glycaemic load. Extra sugar could impression digestion and worsen Kapha.

Diminished Iron Absorption

Tea comprises flavonoids (plant proteins), which can intervene with iron absorption by blocking different proteins that assist iron consumption. Over time, this will likely result in iron deficiency, inflicting weak point, fatigue and anaemia.

Digestive Heaviness and Heartburn

The mixture of sugar, caffeine and milk could worsen acid reflux disease signs. It could additionally trigger digestive discomfort, bloating, or fuel. Analysis signifies that extreme caffeine could enhance acid manufacturing within the abdomen and chill out the decrease oesophageal sphincter. This enables acid to maneuver upwards, inflicting acid reflux disease, heartburn and frequent burping.

Caffeine Dependence

Common and extreme consumption of milk tea could result in caffeine dependence. Since caffeine will not be a vital nutrient, this may result in well being issues. Over time, it could lead to withdrawal signs equivalent to complications and irritability when consumption is decreased.

Well being Advantages of Natural Teas

• Offers Dosha Particular Help: Natural teas work gently to spice up the physique’s pure processes with out harsh stimulation. Ayurveda recommends explicit herbs based mostly on particular person dosha inclinations.
  Greatest herbs for Vata stability: Herbs equivalent to ginger, liquorice, fennel, cinnamon and ashwagandha help digestion, calm nerves and scale back dryness.
  Greatest herbs for Pitta stability: Candy, mildly bitter and cooling herbs equivalent to mint, coriander, rose, fennel, and liquorice assist scale back extra warmth.
  Greatest herbs for Kapha stability: Stimulating herbs equivalent to ginger, turmeric, black pepper and clove are advisable to stimulate metabolism and relieve congestion.
  
• Boosts Immunity: Tulsi herbal tea is taken into account to be adaptogenic and helps stability all of the doshas. It’s doubtless to assist increase immune well being and respiratory operate whereas lowering stress.
  
• Supports Detoxification: Triphala – made out of three fruits, Haritaki, Bibhitaki, and Amalaki – is used extensively in Ayurveda for digestive well being. It helps stability Apana Vata (subtype of Vata Dosha), detoxifies the colon and regulates bowel actions.
  
• Improves Digestion: Ginger tea is historically used to enhance digestion, scale back bloating, and ease congestion. It ought to be consumed cautiously by Pitta-dominant people.
  

Milk Tea vs Natural Tea — Key Variations 

Side	Milk Tea	Natural Tea
Supply	Cassia Sinensis leaves	Medicinal herbs/spices
Nature	Stimulant, diuretic, Kashaya  (astringent)	Comprises properties of the herbs used
DigUV6odzestion	It’s astringent in nature and should enhance Vata, disrupting urge for food. If consumed after meals, milk tea could intervene with the absorption of iron and protein	If ready with digestive spices, the teas stimulate urge for food and assist digestion
Bowel actions	Being astringent, it could worsen Vata; extra consumption could cause constipation	Triphala natural infusion could also be used to ease elimination
Sleep	Milk tea has caffeine, which blocks adenosine receptors, rising alertness. Because of this caffeine consumption, particularly at bedtime, can delay sleep	Natural teas are caffeine-free; herbs like chamomile increase restful sleep
Affect on doshas	Might worsen Vata	Relying on the herbs chosen, the teas assist stability doshas
Total impression	It’s a stimulant and should induce dependency	Doesn’t induce dependency

Greatest Natural Teas for Particular Wants

• Pure Cleanse Tea: Comprises gokshura, anantmool, amalaki, ginger  – helps cleanse bodily channels.
• Vata Tea: Has liquorice, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom – balances Vata.
• Pitta Tea: Fabricated from ginger, cardamom, and rose petals, the tea helps soothe and funky. 
• Kapha Tea: This mix of ginger, clove, turmeric and saffron helps stability Kapha.
• Active Women: Herbs like shatavari and Ashoka within the infusion assist stability hormones, whereas fennel and liquorice soothe and stability Vata and Pitta.

Greatest Natural Teas for Particular Wants

Teas for Digestion 

• Tulsi Lemon Ginger Tea: The digestive herbs on this mix – tulsi, lemon, ginger and lemongrass – promote digestive concord, stability doshas and strengthen immunity towards seasonal sickness. 
• Cinnamon: This spice has deepana (appetiser), pachana (digestive), and carminative (relieves fuel) properties.
• Ginger: Helps increase urge for food and is digestive, antioxidant and antimicrobial in nature. As per Ayurveda, the herb acts as a aamdoshahara (toxin remover). Lemon, added to ginger, helps secrete digestive juices.
• Peppermint: Acts as an appetiser and helps in digestion, easing flatulence and belching.
• Turmeric: It’s anti-inflammatory in nature.
• Tulsi Green Tea: An antioxidant mix that detoxifies, energises, and boosts metabolism.
• Rama Tulsi: With vibrant inexperienced leaves, this herb has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties that assist struggle seasonal sickness.
• Krishna Tulsi: The ‘Darkish Tulsi’, with darkish inexperienced or purple leaves, helps relieve stress and calms the thoughts.
• Vana Tulsi: The fragrant herb helps increase immunity.
• Rama, Vana, and Krishna Tulsi: Impressed by Ayurveda, this particular mix offers sturdy antioxidant advantages and boosts vitality gently. Infused with antioxidant-rich inexperienced tea, it additional enhances metabolism and supports detoxification.

Calming Teas (Chamomile, Rose, Hibiscus)

• Blissful Tea: This tea helps to calm the agitated thoughts and enhance sleep high quality.
  Substances embrace:
  Chamomile: Identified to help pure relaxation.
  Lemongrass: Helps stability doshas (bio-energies).
  Valerian Root: Believed to appease the thoughts and promote sleep.
  Lavender: Identified for its calming aroma and soothing vitality.
• Honey Chamomile Tea: That is made out of herbs that assist calm the thoughts, improve psychological stability, and promote sleep.
  Substances embrace:
  Chamomile: The ‘marvel herb,’ recognized for its stress-relieving and calming properties.
  Honey: Wealthy in tryptophan, which helps leisure and sleep; additionally boosts metabolism and promotes detoxing.
  Brahmi: A medhya rasayana (mind rejuvenator), Brahmi helps enhance psychological readability and focus.
  Fennel: This cooling Ayurvedic herb aids digestion and enhances style.
  Liquorice: A pure sweetener. 
• Rose Hibiscus Tea: As per Ayurveda, this distinctive mix of cooling and uplifting herbs helps stability warmth and chill out the thoughts. The mixture additionally helps coronary heart well being and strengthens the nervous system. 
  Substances embrace:
  Rose: The ‘king of flowers’ is soothing and uplifts moods. 
  Hibiscus: An antioxidant-rich herb, it has cardiotonic and neuro-tonic properties.
  Fennel: The cooling Ayurvedic herb enhances style.
  Chamomile: A ‘marvel herb’ recognized for its stress-relieving and calming properties.
  

When to Select Milk Tea vs Natural Tea

Ayurveda typically recommends herbal teas over milk teas and different caffeinated drinks. Right here’s how you could regulate your tea consumption.

• Morning: It’s possible you’ll kick-start the day with milk tea. Keep away from taking it on an empty abdomen to stop acidity. 
• After heavy meals: Keep away from milk tea as it could intervene with protein absorption. (Go for natural tea.)
• Night: Round 4 pm, milk tea could also be taken with a small snack. 
• Night time: Keep away from milk tea at night time as it’s a stimulant and should intervene with sleep. Finish the day with a cup of calming natural tea.

FAQS

1. Is milk tea unhealthy?

Ayurveda doesn’t suggest milk tea as it’s a stimulant containing caffeine. The beverage aggravates Vata, and extra consumption is more likely to trigger acidity, interfering with nutrient absorption.

2. Does natural infusion include caffeine?

No, as it’s an infusion of herbs/spices bearing the properties of those botanicals. 

3. Which tea is finest for digestion?

Natural tea, which has herbs or spices that act as pure digestives – these embrace ginger tea and blends of ginger-lemon and coriander-fennel-cumin.

4. Can natural tea change milk tea?

Sure, natural tea is a more healthy caffeine-free possibility, except particular person well being points recommend in any other case. (However notice that no natural infusion ought to be consumed each day.)