'I tried drinking the tea hailed as a heatwave saviour - it really kept me cool'

06 September 2023 , 14:12

511     0

I was sceptical over the drink - but the results can't be argued with

Just as we were mentally preparing to get cosy in multiple layers, with our Pumpkin Spiced Lattes and candles galore, Mother Nature hit us with a heatwave - and we're now all confused and sweaty. I, for one, am not complaining at this late arrival of summer, but with temperatures hitting early thirties in some parts of the UK, the fans are back out, the ice trays are full, and the SPF has been dug out of the draw again.

After seeing a nutritionist claiming that hot mint tea was meant to cool you down in hot weather, I was majorly sceptical. How could a hot drink possibly make you cooler? Sipping on a piping brew was the last thing I wanted to do when my flat felt like the centre of the sun.

Mint tea apparently cools you down...

Admittedly, the only tea I normally drink is English Breakfast (boring, I know) and I'm way more inclined to drink a coconut milk iced latte on a boiling hot day, but when I saw claims that hot mint tea could lower body temperature I was intruiged. Why? How? Although, I did remember my grandma saying that she thought drinking a cup of tea on a sunny day was the key to staying cool. And here was me thinking it was drinking Aperol spritzes...

Tempted enough by the promise of feeling less warm, I bought some mint tea bags. I opted for Tetley, which can be bought from Tesco for £1.75 for 20 bags - but own-brand options come in at £1.45. After I'd brewed the tea and taken the tea bag out, it felt really counterproductive to hold a hot brew in my hands on such a warm day. At first, before I'd taken a sip, it felt as though I was getting warmer and I wasn't impressed. I'd decided to drink it before I headed out into central Manchester for the evening, hoping that it would cool me down enough so I wouldn't sweat all my make-up off while travelling on the tram.

I was hoping the tea would make me feel less warm - but I didn't have much hope

Hesitantly, when it was cool enough to drink, I took a sip and felt a cool tingly sensation go through my body. Until I took another sip, I wasn't convinced, but the menthol feeling genuinely made my body temperature feel so much cooler. And there's a reason behind it. According to All Recipes: "When you consume mint or mint-flavoured foods or drinks, the menthol interacts with the receptors in your skin and mouth, creating a cooling effect. It triggers the cold-sensitive receptors, which can make you feel cooler even though the actual temperature of your body remains the same."

Fruit and veg crisis explained as supermarkets empty while corner shops are full

Simone Thomas, a nutritionist and wellness coach, also told the Mirror: "Easy to grow in the garden or in pots, and cheap to pick up in the supermarket, peppermint is the perfect pick me and up and offers a natural way to cool down as the herb's menthol stimulates your body's cooling receptors." When it comes to choosing a hot or cold brew, Simone said she "prefers it cool when it's warm outside as it's so refreshing." I'm relieved to find out that enjoying my mint tea cold would still offer benefits in the scorching weather.

It turns out that mint tea has tonnes of health benefits too, as well as making you feel less hot and bothered. It can aid digestion, is caffeine-free, may help you to sleep better, makes your breath smell fresher, and can also help if you've got a blocked nose, according to BBC Good Food.

I was so impressed with the way that the mint tea made my body feel that I decided to have a cup before I went to bed, and the tea, combined with a good book, did make me feel very ready for sleep - and way less hot before drifting off. Regardless of the weather outside, I may have a new night-time routine - and a new heatwave saviour.

Have you ever tried mint tea as a method to keep cool? Let us know in the comments.

Danielle Kate Wroe