Less Stress More Zest by Mindful Roots Tea

(Gifted for purposes of review)

When the lovely Elle, creator of Mindful Roots Tea, approached me about a possible collaboration, I was immediately drawn to both the name/concept of her tea company and this infusion… if you’ve been playing along on instagram, you’ll already know that lavender is one of my faaavourite aromas, especially when it comes to relaxation teas. So snuggle up under a soft blanket, take some deep soothing breaths, and let’s talk Mindful Roots Tea.

Elle created Mindful Roots Tea, inspired in part by her Jamaican mother’s use of herbal remedies when she was a child. Her mother gave Elle mint tea when she had a poorly tummy, and was met with complete dismissal from their GP in the UK. Cut to now, with people taking over the counter peppermint oil capsules for IBS and happily drinking mint infusions for upset stomachs – it’s easy to see why that passion for natural remedies that started so young still burns so brightly.

Not only interested in herbal remedies and infusions, Elle became a Tea Champion in 2018 through the UK Tea Academy, with a view to progressing through to Tea Master.

Mindful Roots is also named as such as a reminder to live in the now, and to cherish the calm feeling when one is drinking a cup of tea. This particularly resonates with me, and I think a lot of people in the tea-community. Tea, or any herbal blend, as a reason to take time to settle, centre and be present.

With that opportunity laid for a totally slick segue, let’s take the time to be present with a cup of Less Stress More Zest – a herbal infusion of lemongrass, lemon peel, lavender and blue cornflowers.

This blend is one of Mindful Roots signature blends, which are all designed and hand blended by Elle, If you have an event coming up, and would like to talk about the possibility of having your own blend created, you can contact Elle through her email! How fun!

On opening the bag of Less Stress More Zest, I’m captured by the gorgeous, rich scent of lavender. There has been no scrimping on the ingredients, they’re fresh, potent, and bright. The cornflowers bring a beautiful blue hue to the loose leaf.

First I tried the tea as per the brewing instructions – 10 minutes with 98-95 degree water. This method brings a pale gold liquor, that brings to life the lemony side of the blend, zipping over my tongue, with the lavender deep in the base notes and the inhale. I find there is a slight bitter taste from the pith of the lemon peel, but nothing bothersome, and would definitely be mellowed by a swirl of (preferably lavender) honey if you needed to.

I, in my spare time, am on a quest to find the herbal blend closest to drinking lavender essential oil, so I also very much enjoy this tea cold-brewed too. You must take care, no more than 3 or 4 hours of steeping in the fridge, as more than that will release too much of the lemon pith oil and throw the balance off. But the gorgeous iced lavender and lemon is so enticing when brewed correctly, and is very much in harmony.