When faced with the inevitability of a bleak British winter, it’s near-impossible to do anything but put the kettle on and hibernate.
Tea is the ultimate comforter, with enthusiasts oscillating between Builder's and herbal to keep stimulated throughout the day. But for those with coeliac disease, the simple act of brewing a cuppa isn’t quite so straightforward. Coeliacs have to stay clear of gluten such as wheat, barley and rye, which can be found in certain teas. While traditional blends such as black, green or white are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and are gluten-free, you may be surprised just how many teas do contain the grains above.
Surprisingly, some brands of herbal teas use barley malt as a sweetener, meaning the tea flavouring contains gluten. Roasted barley is also a popular tea ingredient in Japanese, Korean and Chinese cuisine, meaning coeliacs need to be careful when ordering hot beverages in Asian restaurants.
Herbal teas have long been considered helpful for aiding digestive issues, but this isn’t the full picture. Nutritionist Eli Brecher elaborates: “Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where the immune system perceives gluten consumed in the diet to be damaging and attacks tissues in the body when it is consumed in the diet. It affects around 1 in 100 people. Given that most teas are naturally gluten-free, those living with coeliac disease can enjoy most brands of their tea of choice, provided they do not contain barley seed or malt. However, it’s important to always read the ingredients for anyone who has coeliac disease or non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. Many brands of tea label their products as gluten-free, so checking for this label is a good idea.”
This means that there are thousands of naturally gluten-free teas to choose from, but Brecher notes her top picks:
Read on to discover the most soothing teas for coeliac below.
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Pukka Organic Three Ginger Tea 20 Tea Bags
Pukka tea may look good on the kitchen counter with its pretty packaging, but it tastes even better. Aside from peppermint tea, another excellent post-meal soother is ginger. This triple-whammy organic blend of ginger, turmeric and galangal is ethically sourced and housed in compostable bags. Expect a sinus-clearing, brain-boosting de-bloater with this powerful mix.
Buy now £3.99, Holland & Barrett
Clipper Organic Peppermint Tea Bags
Organic peppermint tea is a good post-meal soother for coeliac and IBS symptoms. Clipper’s organic, fair-trade peppermint infusion is housed in bleach-free tea bags and delivers a crisp, refreshing taste which doesn’t overwhelm the senses.
Buy now £11.65, Amazon
Pukka Tea Turmeric Active Herbal Tea Bags
Pukka’s Turmeric Active tea is brimming with rejuvenating herbs. Enjoy a spiced blend of turmeric, ginger and galangal which provide a natural boost for those 4pm slumps. This sustainably made brew is ideal for fitness fans, as the nettle and galangal decrease the levels of heat in the body and invite rest.
This bundle of 80 sachets means you won’t have to restock for a while.
Buy now £12.60, Amazon
English Tea Shop - Pure Green Tea
English Tea Shop’s Your Everyday Tea Range is perfect for those who sip on green tea like it’s water. Great for anyone who’s known for brewing a cup and forgetting about it, only to find it stone cold and over-brewed later, it’s budget-friendly enough to stock up on and brew cup after cup as the day goes by. But don’t think it’s a lesser quality tea just because of its price tag: these Pure Green Tea bags still offer those same smooth and mellow tones as well as a lovely freshness.
Buy now £1.90, Amazon
Matcha & Co 100% organic premium matcha tea
You can get this 100 per cent organic matcha tea in a beautifully-packaged kit which includes a whisk and measuring spoon - very handy indeed if you’re a newbie. This tea is one of the more potent ones but it truly does taste like premium stuff and doesn’t have an unpleasant aftertaste. The tea brand also offers other flavours like breakfast and Jasmine tea which are worth trying.
Buy now £16.95, Matcha & Co
Bird & Blend The Digester Tea
Though detox teas should typically be enjoyed without milk, Bird & Blend’s wonderfully aromatic Digester Tea works brilliantly with dairy if you’d like a more diluted morning brew to kickstart your metabolism.
The Digester Tea has been developed to help soothe digestive issues such as IBS, food intolerances, bloating and indigestion with the help of oolong, ginger, fennel and ginseng.
Buy now £7.80, Bird & Blend
Teapigs Sweet Ginger Tea Made With Whole Herbs
Sweet-toothed tea sippers will adore Teapigs' ginger remedy. A fiery blend of anti-nausea ginger, liquorice roots and cinnamon ease digestion, while offering a gentle pick-me-up during the day.
Buy now £4.23, Amazon
Bird & Blend Tea Co. Dozy Girl Chamomile Tea
Hot girl summer walked so dozy girl winter could run. Esteemed tea connoisseur Bird & Blend say we need to take a break with its Dozy Girl concoction. Allow the sedative properties of the chamomile to take hold and relax into the rest of the day ahead. Chamomile has also been shown to soothe the stomach and relieve any hints of intestinal irritation.
Buy now £7.35, Bird & Blend Tea Co.
