Episode Summary

Late January can feel heavy. The “fresh start” buzz is gone, and spring feels miles away. In this episode, Erica explores wintering as a real practice (not an Instagram aesthetic), guided by the Water element in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) - quiet, deep, steady energy - paired with white tea. You’ll learn how to conserve your reserves now, so you’re resourced for the coming months.

In this episode, we cover:

* Why late January often feels harder than we expect (and why that doesn’t mean you’re failing).

* How the Water element (TCM) frames winter: conservation, restoration, and working with fear rather than fighting it.

* A river metaphor for resilience: water doesn’t battle the rock - it adapts and keeps moving.

* Why “flow” isn’t doing more, it’s reducing internal noise.

* A 3-minute tea-and-journaling ritual to build steadiness and protect your energy.

Resources and Links

* Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times - Katherine May. https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/438893/wintering-by-katherine-may/9781846045998

* Winter, the Water element (Kidneys, reserves, fear) and Traditional Chinese Medicine article - Ear Spheres. https://www.earspheres.co.uk/post/winter-the-water-element-in-chinese-medicine-rest-renewal-and-returning-to-your-depths

* Expressive writing research overview. https://cssh.northeastern.edu/pandemic-teaching-initiative/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2020/10/Pennebaker-Expressive-Writing-in-Psychological-Science.pdf

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our awesome teas, like these white teas.

Gentle note

If a low mood feels heavy, persistent, or scary, please reach out to a professional or someone you trust. Seasonal dips are common and support helps.

* Resources for Mental Wellbeing: https://health-in-mind.org.uk/how-we-can-help/resources/

* Resources for crisis support: https://health-in-mind.org.uk/how-we-can-help/get-help-now/ (Scotland) and https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/ (England & Wales)

Thanks for pausing for tea with me today.If this helped, I’d love a quick comment, a heart, or a share. It genuinely helps this post reach more people who need a calmer next step.

Erica x

The Tea Mind is reader-supported. To get new posts (and support my work), consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

After leaving law to build eteaket, I needed steady focus - not the spike-crash cycle I got from coffee. This episode explores why tea can feel calmer and clearer, and how pairing tea with tiny rituals (breath, stillness, journaling) creates “better energy” you can actually work with.

In this episode, we cover:

* Why “more coffee, more progress” can backfire - especially if you’re caffeine-sensitive

* How caffeine can disrupt sleep and amplify anxiety, cravings, and the spike-crash loop

* The shift from coffee-fuelled pushing to tea-supported presence (and why it helped after leaving law to build eteaket)

* What makes tea feel different: L-theanine working alongside caffeine for calmer focus

* Three teas for controlled energy - matcha for focus bursts, hojicha for gentle afternoons, rooibos for a full reset

* A simple 3-minute Tea Mind routine: boil mindfully, breathe while it steeps, sip with intention

* A practical note on balance - coffee isn’t the villain, but watch sugary matcha/hojicha lattes

Resources and Links

* L-theanine + caffeine cognitive benefits: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21040626/

* Alpha brain waves and calm focus: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18296328/

* Caffeine and sleep disruption: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24235903/

* Caffeine and anxiety: Harvard Health https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/caffeine-and-anxiety

* Yerba mate health: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8622869

* Rooibos benefits: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6533872

* Last week’s episode on hojicha and calm productivity: episode

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our awesome teas, like these caffeine free infusions.

Thanks for pausing for tea with me today.If this helped, I’d love a quick comment, a heart, or a share. It genuinely helps this post reach more people who need a calmer next step.

Erica x

The Tea Mind is reader-supported. To get new posts (and support my work), consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

Tea is more than a beverage.It’s a practice.A pause you can borrow back from your day.

In this episode, we explore Hojicha: a roasted Japanese green tea that doesn’t shout for attention, but can quietly change how you feel in your body and mind.

If coffee makes you feel wired, scattered, or sleep gets messy… this one’s for you.

In this episode, we cover

* Why modern life leaves us overstimulated, and why “more caffeine” isn’t always the answer

* The difference between high energy and high performance

* My personal caffeine story: tea all day, but coffee jitters (and why matcha worked better for me)

* The moment we discovered hojicha powder as a team and thought: this is the bridge between matcha and coffee

* What Hojicha actually is, how it’s made, and why roasting changes everything

* A simple caffeine comparison (per 240 ml)

* The relaxing science: roasted tea aroma compounds (including pyrazines) and why L-theanine matters

* A guided Tea Routine you can use today: The Evening Clarity Cup

Resources and Links

* Hojicha Lab caffeine chart (as referenced in the episode):https://hojichalab.co.uk/blogs/what-is-hojicha-the-complete-guide/hojicha-caffeine-the-complete-chart-vs-coffee-matcha-black-tea

* Roasted tea aroma compounds and relaxation (pyrazines):

Verywell Health (2024): https://www.verywellhealth.com/hojicha-benefits-11792506

* L-theanine and alpha brain wavesNational Library of Medicine (paper on L-theanine and alpha waves):https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8080930/ and Medical News Today explainer: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324120

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our awesome teas, like Hojicha.

Thanks for pausing for tea with me today.If this helped, I’d love a quick comment, a heart, or a share. It genuinely helps this post reach more people who need a calmer next step.

Erica x

The Tea Mind is reader-supported. To get new posts (and support my work), consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.