There is some truth to the statement that the “early bird catches the worm”. Living in tune with nature's rhythms and cycles can set you up for a more productive and energetic day as well as reduce stressful habits.  When we rise and set with the sun, we find ourselves getting quality sleep at night and waking with less effort and it allows for a more productive use of our time. Our bodies are set to live by nature’s timer. We are offered sunlight for times when our bodies and brains are meant to be more active, and darkness when it is time to slow down and rest, so our bodies can...

At Byron Bay Tea Company we are strong advocates for a balanced life- where an individual’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs are met. With the busy lives that many of us lead, we all know how hard this can be hard to achieve. Read on to find out my secret on what can help you to strike the balance.

We love experimenting with different concoctions and flavours here at BBTC as you know, and our most recent session was with SPICE DREAM. Whilst this is a deliciously healthy caffeine-free chai latte for winter, you can also prepare it as a rich and decadent cool drink for Summer. This is a great caffeine-free substitute for an iced coffee or chai.

Tea is the perfect gift for someone special- whether it is to top up stocks of their regular brew; buying a beautiful piece of teaware that will last forever; or, creating your own gift by making your own selection specially for them. Below are our top 5 picks for your tea lover this Valentine’s Day-:

There is nothing better than cooling down with a refreshing iced tea on a long, hot summer’s day. For many of us, drinking plain old water all the time can be pretty boring. We all know that good health requires good hydration- especially in Summer- but water alone doesn’t titillate the taste buds too much does it?

Iced Teas are a deliciously healthy way to hydrate over the Summer and also have the added health benefits of the organic herbs and ingredients that they contain. The process to make these beauties is so simple! You will only need a jug, some water (preferably filtered) and whatever BBTC herbal tea you’d like to use. We recommend using boiling water to infuse the herbal tea so that you extract the active constituents of the herbs that have the therapeutic action. Then the infusion is simply cooled down. 

If you are keen to stay healthy and hydrated in summer and want something more than just plain water, experimenting with some of our teas to make iced teas can be a whole lot of fun. I love using iced teas not only for myself to stay hydrated on a long, hot summer’s day but also for entertaining (as cocktails or even mocktails!)

We love this recipe from @SharonLawtonNutrition using our Spice Dream. Soba noodles are made from buckwheat. Although the name gives the impression buckwheat comes from wheat, it is actually a seed. Soba noodles are thin noodles unlike the thicker udon noodles traditionally made from white rice. Soba noodles can be gluten free and made just with buckwheat. They are also made in a combination of white wheat flour and buckwheat, so read the label if you are seeking gluten-free options.

Crispy skin salmon is one of those ingredients that is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner in spring and with our  Immunity Tea, this salmon dish is taken to a whole new level. @SharonLawtonNutrition has developed this recipe using immunity tea that contains a unique blend of lemon myrtle, eucalyptus, licorice and ginger that works well to balance the rich salmon flavour. She has also added lemongrass and garlic flakes to compliment the loose leaf tea. A drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil ties it all together.

The holidays are a time for gratitude, celebrations, family, friends and of course, gifts. It is sometimes easy to lose sight of what really matters and overlook the art of thoughtful gift giving. At Byron Bay Tea Company, we have put together some of our in-house favourites to help you so that gift giving does not get you down this season.

Our Make Your Own Collections are the best way that you can tailor a gift for someone special- whether they are a traditional tea drinker or more health conscious and adventurous. But, if you get stuck, check out our in-house favourites below for some ideas and our ready-made gifts to make your selection a whole lot easier. We also have some stunning teaware that can compliment your tea gifts.

Are you finding it hard to keep up with the busy pace of your life and just getting by? Working, eating, sleeping and doing this again and again, day in and day out? Many people's lives are so unbalanced with extremely long work hours, very little sleep, eating on the run, and no time to relax and unwind. I believe that stress has a major impact on people's lives on every level- physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. And, there is no one quick fix to address this!  It is obviously essential that the cause of the stress be recognised and the necessary changes made. There are...

By Sharon Lawton

https://www.instagram.com/sharonlawtonnutrition/

https://www.sharonlawton.com/

Roasted vegetables are one of the easiest and tastiest ways to cook vegetables. Serve any roasted vegetable warm in winter and autumn. In spring and summer eat in a salad with leafy lettuce and greens.

THINKING FOR YOURSELF is a skill that needs to be developed and nurtured- a really important skill to have right now in these times of change. Check out these tips I have below to help enrich your life by truly believing in your ideas, thoughts and opinions on big issues, rather than taking on those that are shaped by those around you. Developing this skill can help to remove fear and empower you to live the life that you want to live. So, here it goes-:

1. Aim for balanced meals and snacks with 30% protein, 40% complex carbohydrates and 30% good quality fats.

• Protein - Examples include fish, seafood, poultry, meat, eggs, dairy, soy and legumes.
• Complex Carbohydrates - Examples include grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits.
• Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) - EFAs are essential in the diet as they are important compounds not able to be synthesised in our own bodies. Found mainly in fish oils (sardines, mackerel, tuna, salmon) and plant oils (like flaxseed and grapeseed), EFAs are a constituent in every cell membrane and improve the integrity...

By Sharon Lawton

https://www.instagram.com/sharonlawtonnutrition/

https://www.sharonlawton.com/

In this recipe our FORTIFY blend has been used. It is a variation of raw cacao with extra spice with soothing and warming flavours of Cacao, Tulsi and Nutmeg making these little beauties a great Immune Boosting treat for Winter.

To make our birthday month oh so special, we are so excited that we have been recognised for our unique and healing brews. We have received the award for Best Medicinal Tea Company in the prestigious LUXlife magazine 2020 Food & Drinks Awards- for the second year running! These awards not only commend businesses that demonstrate a high level of culinary excellence but also pay homage to those businesses who successfully cater to the varying lifestyles, tastes and choices of the modern-day consumer by bringing new and innovative products to the table. So, that’s a lot for us to celebrate...

Chicken soup has been touted as a cure for the common cold for centuries. But is chicken soup a “miracle cure” in a bowl or is this just a myth?

Ingredients-:

• 2 tsp Fortify
• 300mls Almond milk
• 2 tsp tahini
• 1 banana
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• Optional: 1 serve of good quality protein powder

Method-:

Simply mix altogether in a blender and enjoy!

Ingredients-:

• 1 teaspoon wasabi paste
• 2 tablespoons salt-reduced soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tablespoons mirin
• 1 teaspoon finely grated ginger
• 2 (200g each) skinless salmon fillets
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 400g shiitake mushrooms, quartered
• 1 red capsicum, deseeded, cut into thin strips
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 100g trimmed kale, coarsely chopped
• 180g dried soba noodles
• Micro coriander, to serve

Method-:

1. Combine the wasabi, soy sauce, mirin and ginger in a small bowl. Pour half the mixture into a shallow glass or ceramic dish, add salmon and stir to coat (reserve remaining mixture). Cover...

Ingredients-:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated
• 2 carrots, sliced 1 cm thick
• 1 fennel bulb, diced         (fronds reserved)
• 2 cups button mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cups fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced (or ½ cup dried)
• 6 cups water
• ¼ cup dried reishi mushrooms, ground
• ¼ cup miso paste
• 1 tbsp allspice
• 1 tbsp thyme
• 3 cups kale, chopped
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Fennel fronds, minced

Serves 6

Shiitake mushrooms should first be sautéed lightly in olive oil until softened and gently caramelized. They can then be added to scrambled eggs using fresh herbs and seasonings of your choice. Pop on your favourite sourdough toast, some avocado (high in Vitamin A and C to boost the immune system) and some steamed sautéed spinach (high in vitamin A).

Ingredients-:

• ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons shredded coconut, unsweetened
• ½ cup raw almonds
• 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
• 1 cup medjool dates, pits removed
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup almond butter
• 6 teaspoons Fortify
• ¼ teaspoon fine grain sea salt

Method-:

1. Toast 2 tablespoons of shredded coconut until lightly browned.
2. Pulse almonds and ½ cup shredded coconut in a food processor until completely ground (no chunks of almonds!).
3. Add the remaining ingredients, except for the 2 tablespoons of toasted coconut, and blend in the food processor until all ingredients are...

Ingredients-:

• You will need a bamboo steamer or metal steamer that fits on top of an oven proof casserole dish or pot and I would definitely recommend doing this on a BBQ burner if you can because it can get quite smokey.
• 2 chicken breasts- chopped into about 4 pieces each
• 1 stick lemongrass bruised and chopped finely
• 1 x 2cm piece of ginger- chopped finely
• Juice 1/2 lime
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• For smoking-
• 1/4 cup Ginger Zing leaves
• 1/2 cup raw brown rice
• 3 tbsp brown sugar

Serves 2

This is such an easy dish to get together and jam-packed full of nutrients making the perfect meal for winter. Containing whole-grains, root vegetables, steamed greens and avocado- it has a good balance of protein, carbohydrate and quality fats. Topped with sauerkraut, a fermented food to encourage the growth of good bacteria in the gut- this is sure to make the tummy happy.

Ingredients-:

• 6 Tablespoons chia seeds
• 2 cups unsweetened coconut, almond or cashew milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons Fortify
• 1 Tablespoon maple syrup, honey or sweetener of choice (optional)
• blueberries and strawberries, for topping

Method-:

1. In a bowl or jar, mix together chia seeds, milk, maple syrup, Fortify and vanilla. If you’re using a mason jar, you can put the lid on and shake the mixture to combine everything.
2. Once the chia pudding mixture is well combined, let it sit for 5 minutes, give it another stir/shake to break up any clumps of chia seeds, cover and put the...

Ingredients-:

Smoothies are a great way to provide your body with lots of immune boosting nutrients. Smoothies are also easy to digest from their “pureed” consistency taking the burden off the digestive process, giving your body more energy to do other things. This paleo, immune-boosting smoothie is packed full of specific ingredients targeted at healing the gut lining (flaxseed oil), boosting your detoxification pathways and promoting optimal immune function.

Ingredients

• 300ml milk
• 2tbsp Byron Bay Tea Company’s Spice Dream
• 125g unsalted butter, softened
• 210g caster sugar
• 2eggs
• 1vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
• 250g self-raising flour, sifted
• 20g unsalted butter, extra
• 1tsp ground cinnamon
• 1tbsp caster sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20 cm-diameter cake tin with baking paper.
2. Add the milk and Byron Bay Tea Company’s Spice Dream to a small saucepan, place over medium heat, bring to the boil.
3. Cream together the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4. Add the eggs, one at a...

These are a delicious snack to help chase away the winter sniffles. They are high in zinc (from the walnuts and almonds)- which is one of the most important nutrients to boost the immune system. With the addition of Manuka honey (or local Jellybush honey) which has a strong antibacterial action and our Fortify tea latte powder, these are sure to give you that added protection.

Healthy, simple and delicious! This barramundi dish will leave you completely nourished and give you that pick-me-up when you have the winter sniffles. We love the use of Immunity tea that has a Lemon Myrtle flavour- it gives this dish a fresh aroma of citrus, which is sweet and refreshing.

Ingredients-:

• olive oil - 2 tbsp
• 400g diced lean boneless lamb
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 1 tablespoon Ginger Zing tea
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 long red chilli, seeded, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 400g can chopped tomatoes
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups cooked red kidney beans or adzuki beans (or 400g can, rinsed and drained)
• 150g baby spinach
• 2 cups steamed green veggies, to serve
• 2 cups steamed brown rice, to serve
• Coriander. to serve (optional)

Method-:

Preheat oven to 140.C. Heat a...

Ingredients-:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• Oil for frying
• 1/4 cup barley or brown rice miso
• 6 cups water (divided)
• 5 small carrots, chopped
• 1 cup chopped maitake mushrooms
• 1 cup chopped kale
• Sliced kelp to taste (or wakame, arame or other seaweed)

Method-:

Saute onion, garlic and maitake mushrooms in soup pot. Add miso and 2 cups of water. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Add carrots and 4 cups of water and let boil until carrots are soft. Add kale. Add kelp or seaweed to taste. Serve immediately.

Ingredients-:

• 1 Cup coconut flour
• 2 Cup almond meal
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 Cup paleo muesli
• 2 organic eggs
• 1 Cup coconut sugar
• 1 Cup almond milk
• 1/2 Cup chai spiced syrup
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cardamom powder
• 2 drops orange essential oil
• 1/2 Cup pistachio nuts
• 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt

Method-:

Chai syrup can be made by placing 3 heaped teaspoons of BBTC Spice Dream into a cup with a half a cup of boiling water and 1 tablespoon of honey, stirring vigorously.

Ingredients-:

• 1/2 cup quinoa (well rinsed)
• 1 cup almond milk (or coconut, soy or cow’s milk)
• 1 tsp Spice Dream
• 1 tsp raw Australian honey
• Stewed apple or pear (An alternative to stewed fruits are fresh berries or banana)
• Unsweetened yoghurt
• Lightly toasted coconut flakes and pepitas to sprinkle on top.

Method-:

Place quinoa and milk in a small saucepan and bring to the boil with the lid on. Once boiling, turn the heat down to a gentle simmer and add the Spice Dream and sweetener. Simmer for 12-14 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and the germ turns opaque. I take it off the stove...

Ingredients

• 6 cups low sodium chicken stock 
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 4 carrots, chopped
• 2 parsnips, chopped
• 2 celery sticks, chopped
• 2 leeks, chopped
• 8 peppercorns
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 large chunk garlic
• 2 tablespoons Immunity tea
• 1.5 kg bone-in chicken breasts or thighs

Method

In the bowl of your crockpot or slow cooker, combine the chicken stock, olive oil, onions, carrots, parsnips, celery, leeks, peppercorns, bay leaf, thyme, ginger, Immunity tea and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Add the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or...

Ingredients

• ½ cup raw walnut pieces
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped brown onion
• 200g maitake mushrooms, roughly chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup dry brown rice, cooked according to package directions and cooled
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon shopped fresh thyme

Instructions

1. Toast the walnut pieces over medium-high heat in a large, dry skillet. Stir often and cook for 3 minutes, or until you begin to smell their nutty aroma. Remove from the heat and transfer the nuts to a...

Simon Mulvany is passionate, insightful and on a quest to save the declining bee population. He is also my cousin. Having spent many childhood summers together on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, I have witnessed his love of nature and the world around us. He is a wealth of knowledge from topics such as gardening and fishing- to saving the bees. His passion is infectious and his motivation totally self-less- it is purely to educate people on the importance of our bees. He has founded SAVE THE BEES AUSTRALIA and Beethecure.com.au in 2015 to get the word out there and Byron Bay Tea...

I don’t know about you, but for me there is nothing better than cooling down with a refreshing iced tea on a long, hot summer’s day. After a little bit of time in the sweltering Byron Bay sun and a dip in the Ocean, I usually come home to an iced tea and plate of fresh fruit- that’s my favourite summer ritual. There is nothing more refreshing to enliven the senses!

Byron Bay Tea Company has received an award for Best Medicinal Tea Company in the prestigious LUXlife magazine 2019 Food & Drinks Awards. These awards not only commend businesses that demonstrate a high level of culinary excellence but also pay homage to those businesses who successfully cater to the varying lifestyles, tastes and choices of the modern-day consumer by bringing new and innovative products to the table.

Ingredients:

Green smoothies are full of vitamins and minerals, very alkalising and detoxifying. I like to keep things simple so I follow this formula-:

This is such an easy dish to get together and jam-packed full of nutrients making the perfect cleansing meal for Spring. Containing wholegrains, vegetables, greens and avocado- it has a good balance of protein, carbohydrate and quality fats. Topped with sauerkraut, a fermented food to encourage the growth of good bacteria in the gut- this is sure to make the tummy happy.

Ingredients:

There is yet another use for the good old tea leaf- Kombucha! I love this stuff so decided to give it a go making it at home. For those of you who are not familiar with this magical drink- Kombucha is a fizzy, fermented beverage made from sweetened tea, usually black, that is fermented by a bacteria and yeast culture and ends up full of probiotics as a result.

Ingredients-:

• 2 medium zucchini;
• 1 tsp celtic sea salt;
• 2 green onions, finely chopped;
• 2 cloves garlic, minced;
• 1 egg;
• ½ cup almond flour (optional);
• ½ tsp baking powder;
• ¼ tsp BBTC’s Spice Dream;
• Coconut oil for cooking;

Method-:

Your blood is involved in many bodily functions; ranging from transporting oxygen, hormones, sugar, fats and cells throughout the body; as well as transporting wastes that need to be eliminated via the kidneys.  The functions of the blood and kidneys are closely connected. 

Spring has sprung in Byron Bay where the days are getting longer and the nights shorter. With the warmth of the spring air and flowers blooming all around us, it naturally becomes a time to “spring clean” and rid the body of impurities that have accumulated over winter. 

To get the most out of any detox it is vitally important that we start with ensuring the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal system. If the gut is not breaking down food well, assimilating nutrients and eliminating wastes efficiently- toxins can be produced and sub-optimal health results. In doing this, we need to not only make healthy food choices to assist gut cleansing (and what these are can vary depending on individual needs), but we also need to look at the way we eat.

Improving the Way You Eat

Lymphatic Cleansing

The lymphatic system is an extensive drainage network that lies just under the skin that helps the body fight infection and helps with the elimination of toxins from the body.

SPICE DREAM is a deliciously healthy and exotic Chai Latte blend with a delicate balance of sweetness and spice. With the Australian tea market bursting with chai options and variations, I found that many of the powders and syrups available were full of rubbish- milk solids, flavourings and a whole lot of sugar! I wanted to make a spicy brew that was devoid of these nasties- something that was natural and pure and in line with what we stand for at Byron Bay Tea Company.

FORTIFY is the super-charged newcomer to the BBTC range of herbal teas- a wellness tonic combining the powerful healing benefits of medicinal mushrooms and Tulsi with Cacao and a delicate blend of spices. Medicinal mushrooms have been a personal favourite of mine for years. I keep a powder on hand at all times when I need that extra zing! Fortify has been a long time in the making and involved a little trial and error to get the balance of ingredients just right. Cacao matches the richness of the medicinal mushrooms and seemed like the perfect addition to this blend. And, let’s face it-...

1. Place 2 heaped teaspoons of chai into saucepan, per 1 cup (220 ml) of water & bring to the boil.

1. Place 1 teaspoon of tea per 220 ml of boiling water into chosen brewing device.

As the days get longer and hotter, think about brewing a thirst-quenching BBTC iced tea. It's really so easy!

1. Place 1 teaspoon of tea per 220 ml of boiling water into chosen brewing device.

1. Place 1 teaspoon of tea per 220 ml of near-to-boiling water into chosen brewing device.

Tired? Stressed? Worn-out? No milk?

I went to a seminar on the Integrative treatment of cancer a couple of weeks ago. Green tea was one of the therapeutic phytonutrients, along with Tumeric and Resveratrol, that starred on the day- due to their potent antioxidant actions.

As the days get shorter, the nights get longer and a chilly winter sets in, we need to adjust our lifestyles to match the natural rhythm of a different season. Winter is the season for “storage” in Chinese Medicine. It is the storage of winter that allows for the aliveness of Spring. It is the storage of Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang that is important and this is done by using an appropriate diet for the cooler seasons, as well as modifying our lifestyle in other ways.

10 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE KIDNEYS IN WINTER

So many of us are focussed on what we eat and obsessively follow a particular diet whether it be Paleo, Gluten-free, Ketogenic, low GI, Blood type diet, Mediterranean, The Zone, Raw Food, Weight Watchers or Atkins…. in an effort to stay healthy and well. Whilst it is vitally important that we make healthy food choices (and what these are can vary depending on individual needs), we also need to look at the way we eat.

Long before celebrity chefs began to garnish their plates with delicious herbs, there was an ancient art called herbalism. Herbalism is having a resurgence as many households are learning the health benefits of the herbs they are consuming in their food. Not just for ourselves, but for our beautiful furry pollinators, the bees.

Part of our revitalisation journey has been about articulating our intent and what we stand for as an organisation. Byron Bay is a unique region in its concentration of views towards a more socially, politically and environmentally aware consciousness. We reflect this in more than just our name, but our commitment to bring about positive change.

Knowing where your tea comes from is an essential part of your tea selection process. At Byron Bay Tea Company, we use over fifty ingredients across our range. We source our ingredients from where they grow best. Our ingredients are then hand blended and packaged according to our recipes in the lush, green rolling hills of the Byron Bay hinterland.

Like savouring a fine wine, tasting premium tea is similar. Tea masters around the world use standardised cupping procedures where measurements determine the amount of leaf, the temperature of water, and infusion time. There is also a time-honoured set of rules to assess the flavour of tea and this can differ across cultures and include slurping, sipping, swallowing, or spitting. The most frequently used is the “slurp-and-sip” method and this involved slurping tea from a spoon and spitting the tea rather than swallowing. Recently, tea experts have suggested that swallowing is an important...

Tea has become such a broadly accepted term for brewed leaf or herbal matter. For many, our journey stops here. For the tea enthusiasts, there are thousands of years steeped in history. How tea has developed over time by different cultures, creating the huge array of teas that we have available today.

Naturally, the tea leaf contains a small amount of caffeine with Black tea having the most caffeine and White tea having the least.

Eastern Traditions have been consuming tea for their health benefits long before the British popularised it in the mid-17th century. In 1211 the Japanese monk Eisai wrote:

I sound like an absolute dag but I love herbs and always have! I have always been interested in Natural Medicine and the healing power of herbs and I wanted others to experience their benefits. I felt like there was a gap in the market 14 years ago when all you could find on a supermarket shelf was plain Chamomile or Peppermint tea. I observed that many people were interested in drinking them for their health benefits but didn’t really enjoy the flavours.

In 1211 the Japanese monk Eisai wrote:

I love sitting down and making a great brew of tea to enjoy with friends, or as a way to unwind for myself in the afternoon. In our fast-paced world, I believe we have lost touch with the art of making tea. Long before coffee was a twinkle in the eye of a barista, the ritual of brewing the right tea for your visitors was a way of welcoming people to your home in both Eastern and Western cultures.

The pace of life for most of us means that we are finding ways to streamline daily activities to give us back a little more time to be busier! We are steadily losing patience to line up and wait for something. Our attention spans have now surpassed the goldfish at 7 seconds