ZARİF NUTRITION
A CUP OF WARMTH: WINTER TEAS
From black tea to linden, from rooibos to ginger: the warm cups of November evenings, how to brew them well and what is worth knowing.
Winter is the season spent with a warm cup in our hands. The first tea of the morning, a cup shared with a friend in the afternoon, a gentle herbal tea before bed… Tea does more than warm us; it sets the rhythm of the day, starts conversations and keeps us company in quiet moments.
This month we look at five warm cups of the winter table: how to brew each one, when to enjoy it and what to keep in mind. How to serve these teas, you will find in this issue's Zarif Table section.
1. BLACK TEA — A Warm Start to the Day
In Türkiye, tea is less a drink than a way of coming together. Unlike herbal teas, black tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and contains caffeine. Because of the flavonoids it contains, its effects on health have long been studied.
Brewing: First warm the teapot with hot water. Put about one teaspoon of tea per person into the pot and pour freshly boiled water over it. Let it brew over a low heat for 10–15 minutes without boiling. Using freshly boiled water and not leaving the tea standing for too long preserves its colour and aroma.
Worth knowing:
– Drinking tea with a meal or right after it can reduce the absorption of plant-based iron. Drinking it 30–60 minutes after eating is a better habit.
– If you are sensitive to caffeine, choose lightly brewed tea or herbal teas in the evening.
2. LINDEN — The Classic of Winter Evenings
The dried flowers of the linden tree have been brewed on cold winter evenings for generations. Traditionally they are used to ease the symptoms of colds and to calm mild tension. The European Medicines Agency also recognises linden flower as a traditional herbal product for these uses.
Brewing: For one cup, steep one tablespoon of dried linden in water that has boiled and rested for a minute. Leave it covered for 5–10 minutes. Boiling makes the flowers lose their lovely aroma.
Worth knowing: Linden is not a treatment but a ritual of comfort. In case of fever or lasting symptoms, see your doctor.
3. ROOIBOS — Caffeine-Free Red Tea
Made from South Africa's red bush, rooibos is naturally caffeine-free. It has a lightly sweet, soft and warm taste, which makes it a good choice in the evening, with children, or for anyone who wants to avoid caffeine.
Brewing: For one cup, steep one teaspoon of rooibos in freshly boiled water for 5–7 minutes. Because it does not turn bitter, it tolerates long brewing. It pairs beautifully with a strip of orange peel or a piece of vanilla pod.
4. GINGER — A Cup That Warms from Within
The sharp, warm taste of fresh ginger makes one of the most invigorating cups of winter evenings. In research, ginger stands out especially for its effect in easing nausea.
Preparation: Slice 2–3 cm of fresh ginger thinly. Simmer it with 2 glasses of water over a low heat for 10 minutes. Strain into a cup; if you like, add a slice of lemon and a teaspoon of honey. Adding the honey once the water has cooled slightly preserves its aroma.
Worth knowing: If you take blood-thinning medication, are pregnant or have a gallbladder condition, consult your doctor before consuming ginger regularly and in large amounts.
5. APPLE–CINNAMON — The Scent of Home
The smell of simmering apple and cinnamon is one of the warmest scents to fill the house in winter. It is caffeine-free and, with its lightly sweet taste, needs no sugar.
Preparation: Slice an apple with its skin on. Simmer it over a low heat for 15 minutes with 3 glasses of water, 1 cinnamon stick and, if you like, 2–3 cloves. Strain and serve hot.
Worth knowing: Cassia cinnamon, the most common kind on the market, contains coumarin and should not be consumed regularly in very large amounts. If you will drink it every day, choose Ceylon cinnamon; one stick is enough for one tea.
TEA TIMES
– Morning: black tea, a little after breakfast.
– Afternoon: lightly brewed black tea or rooibos.
– Evening: linden, apple–cinnamon or rooibos; caffeine-free cups.
– When you feel cold: ginger and lemon.
WAYS TO SWEETEN WITHOUT SUGAR
– A strip of orange or mandarin peel
– A cinnamon stick or a few cloves
– A teaspoon of honey in tea that has cooled slightly
– Fresh mint or a sprig of thyme
Note: Herbal teas are not medicines. If you take regular medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor or pharmacist before drinking a new herbal tea regularly.
ZARİF NUTRITION NOTE
A cup of tea is the shortest yet warmest pause of a winter day. A glass that warms our hands, the scent of linden rising with the steam, a conversation shared… Winter teas remind us to slow down and to make time for ourselves.