Best Teas for Allergies

Nothing ruins a good day quite like suffering from allergies. You could be having a walk with friends and family, or be at work, or even sitting at home.

It doesn’t matter where you are when the pollen count is high - it always finds its way. But can your morning cuppa help? And if so, what are the Best Teas for allergies? We will find out below.

The following article will look into what causes allergies, as well as whether your favourite beverage can combat its symptoms. Once you know the facts, you can buy the best Teas for allergies right here at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company.

We pack every Loose Tea, Tisane and Coffee fresh to order, ensuring not only quality but also consistency. 

What are Allergies?

Allergies occur when a foreign substance (such as pollen) enters your body, resulting in what is arguably an “overreaction” from the immune system.

This network of cells, organisms, proteins and tissues can protect us against a variety of harmful viruses, parasites and bacteria. However, when the immune system identifies a so-called allergen, it responds to it even though it often poses no immediate threat.

The way your body reacts to this foreign substance depends on the person. Some may experience it worse than others, with rare cases even posing a risk to life. Most, however, experience relatively minor irritation, with symptoms including:

• Wheezing, coughing and sneezing.
• A blocked or runny nose.
• Red, inflamed and itchy eyes.
• Itchy rashes or hives.
• Worsened cases of asthma and/or eczema. 

Statistics indicate that 1 in 4 people in the UK has, at some point in their lives, suffered from allergies. While particularly common in children, it can persist into adulthood, thus making it a lifelong occurrence.

Most types of allergies have no cure, although several treatments exist that can relieve symptoms. Enter the best Teas for allergies!

Teas for Allergies

We’ve mentioned it already, but we’ll mention it again - rarely is there a “fix-all” solution when it comes to allergies. Depending on your symptoms, doctors will inevitably recommend medicines like antihistamines - and you should absolutely, without doubt, listen to them. Health professionals know best, but that doesn’t mean the best Teas for allergies can’t offer support, too. 

Below, you will find four recommended infusions to help ease allergy symptoms - backed with the latest scientific evidence. If you have any concerns, though, it remains paramount that you seek medical consultation before brewing up.

First and foremost, The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company cares about the welfare of its customers.

Rooibos for Allergies

The most famous Tea for allergies is, unmistakably, Rooibos Tea. This wholesome, nutritious herb grows exclusively in the Cederberg region of South Africa, located in the Western Cape Province.

It comes from the perennial Aspalathus linearis plant, a member of the Fabaceae (Legume) family. When brewed, this Tea offers a natural sweetness with notes reminiscent of nuts, honey and caramel.

The indigenous Khoisan people of the region used Rooibos Tea Benefits in their daily lives many centuries ago. However, it wasn’t until 1967 that a South African mother named Dr. Annique Theron discovered its true potential.

Her 14-month-old daughter, Lorinda, had long suffered from severe allergies and colic. After many sleepless nights, Annique decided to warm her milk with Rooibos.

Not only did the young Lorinda sleep for 3 hours straight, but also became less susceptible to her allergies. Just one year later, in 1968, Theron published her book entitled “Allergies: An Amazing Discovery”. And what a discovery it was.

But the question begs: how and why does this work? Researchers believe the reason is its abundance in a bioflavonoid called quercetin. Quercetin has antihistamine properties, which blocks the release of histamine from mast cells to curb common symptoms of seasonal allergies.

Nettle Tea for Allergies

Nettle is a surprisingly delicious and health beneficial Herbal Tea. Though cursed by hikers, gardeners and children alike, the perennial, flowering Urtica dioica plant has earned its place in the world.

It belongs to the Urticaceae family, of which there are three primary genera. But perhaps strangest of all, it has the potential to be one of the best Teas for allergies.

In one study published by the University of Maryland Medical Center, researchers concluded that nettle capsules helped reduce itching and sneezing in volunteers with hay fever.

In another study, 57% of participants rated nettles as effective in relieving their allergies, while 48% considered nettles more effective than some allergy medications.

It gets stranger. Nettle Tea also works as an antidote to its own sting! Indeed, although the plant’s sting is highly irritant, once boiled and dried to neutralise the acid, the leaves act as a natural antihistamine. Pretty amazing, huh?

Peppermint Tea for Allergies

This is perhaps the best known and most loved Herbal Tea in the world. Peppermint Tea comes from the aromatic, rhizomatous perennial plant botanically known as Mentha piperita. The plant is a natural hybrid of watermint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (Mentha spicata).

When brewed, it has, as you’d expect, a strong minty flavour with herbaceous notes.

But what about it being one of the best Teas for allergies? There is evidence to suggest that it has, among other qualities, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties. This alone enables it to fight clogged sinuses along with other symptoms.

Furthermore, research demonstrates that the menthol in Peppermint Tea (the chemical compound responsible for its taste) can improve the perception of airflow in your nasal cavity. When used as a steam, then, it may help you feel as though your breathing is easier.

Yerba Mate for Allergies

Yerba Mate (pronounced “Yer-bah-mah-tay”) comes from a plant that grows predominantly in the South American rainforest. It belongs to the Holy (Aquifoliaceae) family, known by its botanical name of Ilex Paraguariensis.

Unlike most Herbal Teas, Yerba Mate contains high levels of caffeine, thus making it an excellent choice when a boost is in need.

Yet this isn’t the only thing it can do. Yerba Mate has the potential to stimulate the adrenal glands, which in turn increases the production of corticosteroids.

This then helps in suppressing overactive immune system responses to allergens, while simultaneously reducing inflammation and creating more oxygen flow. In essence, it kickstarts a chain of events that ultimately fights allergy symptoms.

It’s worth noting, though, that due to its caffeine content, Yerba Mate Tea might not be the best choice of Tea before bed. If allergies affect your sleeping patterns, in other words, then it’s best to opt for another beverage.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t change the fact that this unique and extraordinary herbal infusion deserves its place as one of the best Teas for allergies.

Conclusion

Experiencing allergies is a relatively common occurrence, particularly when the pollen count outside is high. People often develop different symptoms of varying severity, with most doctors recommending antihistamine medicines to combat it.

An alternative, though, is to choose one of the best Teas for allergies. This includes Rooibos, Nettle, Peppermint and Yerba Mate.

Whichever brew you choose, be sure to buy from The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. We also stock several other types of Teas and Coffees, many of which come with health benefits of their own.

Why not check out our other blogs for more information? Alternatively, start browsing our vast, quality-assured selection and put the kettle on!

Related:

• Best Tea for Immune System Health

Author: Richard Smith

Partner at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company

Richard Smith is a Tea expert, entrepreneur, and owner of The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. Part of a family of renowned Tea planters dating back four generations, he was born in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, where he spent his childhood between Tea Estates in Assam and Darjeeling.

In the late 1970s, having accumulated years of knowledge in the industry, Mr Smith and his mother, Janet Smith, moved to Kent, South East England, to establish a Tea business in the village of Pluckley. Their early days of packing Tea Bags by hand from chests of 10,000 prompted the creation of the company’s flagship infusion known as Pluckley Tea. It remains our most popular product today.

Mr Smith, who studied economics at London Polytechnic, has since specialised in over 1,000 types of Loose Leaf Tea - in addition to around 70 varieties of Roast Coffee - from around the world. These are now available at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, where everything is still packed by hand and fresh to order, not only to honour tradition but to ensure the utmost quality and consistency.