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USA Today
07-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- USA Today
Teapigs' teas taste absolutely wonderful to me, a simple non-tea drinking lunkhead
Teapigs' teas taste absolutely wonderful to me, a simple non-tea drinking lunkhead Welcome back to FTW's Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey. For a while, tea entered my daily routine. Not good tea, mind you. Weird, low-budget grocery store flavors like eggnog and the plainest green tea packages available. This didn't last. Coworkers sent me a coffee maker when my daughter was born and I switched over to the more caffeinated of the hot drinks in short order. I still like tea, but I'm more likely to roll with some unsweetened big brand from a giant carafe at a conference or restaurant than make it myself. Teapigs, however, brought me back to the medium. The luxury-ish brand -- their tea is steeped in temples, not bags and those temples start at about 67 cents per and go up from there -- promised bold flavors and some cold brew packs. While part of me was slightly disappointed to learn there's no relation between Teapigs and the wonderful IPAs of Warpigs Brewing, I was still excited to try some new tea nonetheless. Let's see what we've got. Chai: A I'm starting with a tea I'm vaguely familiar with, but have only tried a handful of times. Teapigs' chai promises big flavors; cinnamon, vanilla and cardamom foremost among them. While I normally drink my tea with Splenda and a little milk, I'm gonna start each of these reviews with an unadulterated pour. Which is coincidental, because I drink my tea like a child when all is said and done. After five minutes of steeping, this tea smells incredible. Rich and sweet with the cinnamon you'd associate with Christmas morning. The first sip is wonderfully smooth; there's very little acid here, instead bringing an almost creamy feel to a tea that's rich with flavor. Cinnamon is, of course, foremost among them. But then vanilla arrives to temper it, keeping things from getting too heated. The cardamom seeds, apparent in the transparent tea temples each blend comes in, bring a minor, almost fruity flavor toward the end. It also helps mesh with the earthiness of the tea itself, creating a lovely complex profile. I'm skipping the sugar (replacement) and milk for this one. This may be the first tea I've ever had that I prefer neat. Dang; this tastes great. English Breakfast: A- This smells more like the tea I picture in my head; stodgy, slightly bitter brownwater. But there's a depth to this I don't typically get from my limited green tea experience. Slightly floral, sweet and even a little fruity. It's much more gentle than it seems. Like the chai, the first sip is nice and soft. While it lacks the bolder flavor of that cinnamon and vanilla, it's a hearty brew that puts "TEA" up front and in neon lights. It also finishes dry, leaving you coming back to it without the crutch of sweetness. It's a bit broader than my typical tea; it's in essence, just about everything I'd expect but a little easier to drink without additions. In that regard, it's a proper alternative to coffee -- which I can drink black, but mostly don't want to. This is a nice little sipper that doesn't need milk or lemon. It stands up on its own, even if I couldn't tell you how it tastes beyond "uh, tea?" Liquorice and Peppermint: B Right off the bat, this smells absolutely lovely. Opening the box unleashes a sharp, pleasant aroma balanced about 60-40 in favor of peppermint candies over black jelly beans. I'm interested in it as a beverage, but I also want it as a candle and wrapped around my rearview mirror. There's more of a tea vibe once it's brewed, effectively covering up that strong mint smell with something less appealing. Wow. The first sip is intense. There's a lot of flavor here, which starts sharply, transitions into a soft, pillowy blanket of sweetness and then lingers on the roof of your mouth long after it has cleared your lips. The peppermint is smooth and almost creamy, which keeps it working against the sharp bite of liquorice that starts the sip. The balance is precarious but handled well to provide a really interesting flavor profile. Don't get me wrong; it's *a lot.* But it's also intriguing. I appreciate the effort here, even if this is gonna land in the "sometimes" pile amongst my tea options. Additionally, it does a nice job coating your throat. Keep it in mind next time you start to get sick. Cold Brew Peach & Mango: A Teapigs offers temples specifically designed to be dropped into a bottle of water and left in the fridge a few hours to steep -- though the official instruction recommends a seven minute marinade. I wound up rolling at about 45 minutes before coming back to a light, golden brown Kirkland water bottle filled with fruit tea. While the tea is a bit muted, the fruit flavors come across cleanly but not overpowering. The peach is at the forefront, but the mango adds just enough of a twist to keep things from feeling too familiar. It's mild and sweet enough to not need any added sugar. Interestingly enough, the top two ingredients are white hibiscus and apple, and while I'm not getting either of those up front they do help weave together a light but full bodied drink. There's just enough tea to stay within the genre, but the highlight is that very nice balance of sweet fruit. It's a very satisfying sip, leaving behind a minimal aftertaste and bringing just enough dryness to keep you coming back. To wit; I absolutely crushed this bottle in about seven minutes. I didn't even think I was that thirsty. Would I drink it instead of a Hamm's? This a pass/fail mechanism where I compare whatever I'm drinking to my baseline cheap beer. That's the standby from the land of sky-blue waters, Hamm's. So the question to answer is: on a typical day, would I drink Teapigs over a cold can of Hamm's? Easy yes. The cold brew temples are stowed in my carry on for airport tea. The other temples are already gone. Teapigs is great.
Telegraph
17-03-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Are pricey ‘sleepy' drinks really worth it or is a cup of Horlicks just as good?
For some of us, a glass of water, a warm mug of tea, or a sturdy nightcap is all we need before drifting off to sleep at the end of the day. But nearly half of adults get less than seven to nine hours per night, and 90 per cent experience sleep issues, according to a 2024 study. Enter the functional drink. These beverages – which are infused with health-promoting ingredients – have stormed onto the wellness scene in recent years. Twinings, Teapigs, and Pukka are just some of the brands driving this trend with their 'sleep teas' that contain ingredients that supposedly help us to drift off. And we're buying it. The functional beverage industry is now worth an estimated £177 billion and is expected to reach £254 billion by 2030. Most recently, a 'category first' Bedtime Milk from Tom Parker Creamery in Wincanton has joined the party, containing chamomile, valerian root, and magnolia extract to help induce sleep. The functional drink market is overflowing with magnesium coffees, ashwagandha hot chocolates, and mushroom chai lattes ranging from £10 to £40 and beyond. They promise to aid relaxation and boost sleep quality, but are dedicated functional sleep drinks worth the money? Or is a cup of Horlicks just as beneficial? What do the experts think? 'There's nothing wrong with having a sleepy tea or trying these supplements before bed but there certainly isn't the evidence yet to say everyone should try this to fix their sleep,' says Dr Lindsay Browning, a chartered psychologist, neuroscientist, and author of Navigating Sleeplessness. 'Everyone wants a quick fix so the public are massively incentivised to pay for something that's marketed as a quick and easy solution to sleep,' she adds. 'So you might drink a particular tea and think it'll cure your insomnia but the reality is that there is no evidence to suggest these drinks are going to have a significant impact on sleep compared to rigorous treatment for insomnia such as CBTI [cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia].' Dr Kat Lederle, a sleep and circadian rhythm specialist and author of Sleep Sense, believes sleep teas are useful to include in a regular pre-sleep routine to signal to the brain that it's time for bed. ' Pick a tea or drink that you look forward to having before bed,' she says. 'Make it a ritual – so it's not just the tea but it's the whole set-up and atmosphere that allows your body and mind to wind down and relax before sleeping.' So, whilst the evidence on the effectiveness of sleep teas may be insubstantial, they can still be a soothing way to end the day. Just don't expect them to provide an immediate cure to your sleep problems. 'For somebody with insomnia who has normal levels of magnesium in their body, taking one of those drinks isn't likely to do much besides creating a significant placebo effect,' she explains. Are traditional drinks just as useful? So, what about those of us that like to keep it simple and end the day with a glass of water or cup of tea? A review conducted by researchers at Columbia University suggests a positive association between dairy intake and sleep quality. Adults who engaged in more leisure-time physical activity and consumed a higher amount of milk had better sleep in particular. Cow's milk contains tryptophan – 'an amino acid used in the body to make serotonin which is linked to melatonin production,' nutritionist Sophie Trotman explains. 'It's really good when it comes to sleep regulation.' Horlicks and other malted drinks are loaded with vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium and B vitamins that can help to aid relaxation. When mixed with milk, it may help to improve sleep. 'We just need to be aware of how much sugar those drinks contain,' Dr Browning says. 'If it's highly sugared, or if you opt for a drink like hot chocolate which has lots of sugar in it, then it's obviously not going to help us to feel sleepy.' A mug of Horlicks Original with 200ml of semi-skimmed milk contains 28.7g of carbohydrates, of which 19.2g are sugars – a fifth of an adult's maximum intake. Meanwhile, a serving of Cadbury Original drinking hot chocolate contains 20g of sugars. Dr Lederle says a simple glass of warm milk or a cup of tea might provoke a positive association to childhood which could psychologically aid relaxation and contribute to restful sleep. 'In addition to the ingredients, I also think that association to a place or memory is important,' she explains. 'If you don't like chamomile tea, don't force yourself to drink it. It won't help you to relax. Pick a tea or a drink that you look forward to having and can add to your restful pre-sleep routine.' Dr Browning says a glass of milk is 'ideal' before bed. She suggests drinking it warm as it can help to raise your core body temperature which aids sleep initiation. 'Sometimes people can't fall asleep because they're hungry,' she adds. 'And of course, milk is food. So if you have a warm glass of milk before going to sleep, you're not going to be hungry and you're going to feel more calm and settled.' It is high in protein so will keep you full throughout the night, meaning you're less likely to wake up at midnight desperate for a snack. And, of course, you can't go wrong with a glass of water before bed which helps to prevent dehydration and supports temperature regulation. The science behind the ingredients in sleepy teas Chamomile In 2018, Twinings launched their Superblends range of teas in the UK which included a sleep tea containing chamomile, passionflower, and valerian root. Chamomile has a long history of use for sleep. In fact, it dates back 2000 years, as far as ancient Rome when it was recommended for treating insomnia. It can reduce the number of awakenings and help people to stay asleep too, according to a 2024 study in the Complementary Therapies in Medicine journal, although it didn't affect sleep duration or efficiency. 'Chamomile contains an antioxidant called apigenin which can reduce anxiety and cortisol levels, promoting relaxation,' says Trotman. 'It can also help with digestion which might help to aid better sleep by reducing uncomfortable bloating.' Valerian root Valerian root is a powerful herbal remedy which can help to reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, whilst passionflower may help to ease anxiety by increasing levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical the brain makes to help regulate mood. However, the science supporting the effectiveness of these sleep aids is limited and teas should not be treated as a quick fix to insomnia and other sleep issues. Magnesium Magnesium supplements have experienced an unprecedented surge in popularity in recent years, with Waitrose reporting a 44 per cent rise in sales in 2023. Scientists and wellness experts alike laud the mineral's various benefits from easing anxiety to improving workouts. A 2024 study published in the European Society of Medicine suggests that it can improve sleep quality, duration, and mood. Magnesium bisglycinate, a supplement which contains both magnesium and the amino acid glycine, is often a core ingredient in functional night drinks. Dr Lederle says that magnesium can certainly help with sleep as it binds to receptors in the brain to promote a deeper state of relaxation. However she urges people with sleep issues not to treat these functional drinks like 'a sleeping pill' – a view which Dr Browning shares. Whilst studies have shown that magnesium can be helpful for sleep, generally this is seen most clearly when people already have a deficiency, she explains. Therefore, whilst it may improve sleep most dramatically for those bringing their magnesium levels back to the 'normal' amount, those who already have an adequate level are less likely to experience such benefits. Magnolia Another common ingredient in sleep drinks is magnolia. It features in Tom Parker Creamery's functional Bedtime Milk alongside valerian root, lavender and chamomile. A 2012 study published in the Neuropharmacology journal conducted on mice found that magnolol - a polyphenol in magnolia bark - may help to induce and improve sleep. However, comprehensive research on other common functional drink ingredients such as ashwagandha and reishi mushrooms is lacking. Whilst a 2021 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that ashwagandha extracts can improve sleep quality, especially for insomnia sufferers, researchers said that further clinical trials are needed to generalise the outcome. What's the best drink to have before bed? 1. Milk Milk is low in sugar, high in protein, and rich in tryptophan, all of which contribute to a more comfortable night's sleep. If the thought of a glass of milk before bed is distinctly unappealing, consider mixing it into your favourite decaffeinated tea. 2. Water Water will always be the best beverage to drink at any time of the day, including before bed. It prevents dehydration and supports temperature regulation, leading to a more restful sleep. Just be sure not to drink too much before bed in order to avoid a midnight trip to the bathroom. 3. Chamomile tea Trotman lauds the benefits of a soothing mug of chamomile tea before bed. Its relaxation effects are scientifically proven and incorporating it in a regular routine can help to signal to the brain that it's time to wind down in the evening.
