Our mission is to spread knowledge about the benefits of alternatives to alcohol in social events. We create different blends that are healthy and safe using a number of different ingredients that give natural mood boosts.
Tea
People already know tea as a popular beverage that is made by steeping the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant in water. This plant is reported to contain many active biological components that help prevent and treat diseases. For example, a review of the green tea plant can be found in this short and easy-to-read article published in the Global Journal of Pharmacology.
The main components of tea that help us are:
Caffeine: This is a stimulant that can help to increase alertness and reduce fatigue from everyday life. It works by blocking the action of adenosine, a component that informs our brain with signs of sleepiness. However, it is important to highlight that tea caffeine is NOT the same as the caffeine present in coffee. The caffeine in tea is accompanied by other compounds, which can have a calming effect on the brain. In addition, caffeine in tea is released more slowly than the caffeine in coffee, leading to a more sustained effect on energy levels and cognition. Andrew Huberman, an American neuroscientist and professor of neurobiology and behavioural sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, explains more about caffeine without the jitteriness in his podcast episode.
L-Theanine: An amino acid (an organic compound that helps the human body produce proteins to digest food, grow and repair body issues) that is found almost exclusively in tea. It has been shown to promote relaxation and reduce stress without causing drowsiness. A recent review article explains more about stress and anxiety management through Theanine.
Polyphenols: These are a group of antioxidants that are found in tea leaves. They have anti-inflammatory properties that can help to protect the body against damage from free radicals, which can contribute to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. If you are not acquainted with biological terms and would like to know more about these famous free radicals, here is an article that explains them in easy words in the abstract and introduction.
Adaptogens
We also use adaptogens in our tea blends in order to give intention and functionality to our products and let our users be more in control of their decisions. Adaptogens are natural substances that help regulate our metabolism by increasing the ability of the body to adapt to changes. These ancient compounds have been used in many cultures and are regaining popularity in clinical trials. The presence of adaptogens in medical treatments has been increasing over the last decade (as suggested here; study), allowing researchers to pull from already established cultural uses as a guide in treatment research.
Here are a number of adaptogens present in Happy Tea blends:
Siberian Ginseng
Siberian Ginseng, or Eleuthero, is a herb that has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to promote general health and vitality. Siberian Ginseng helps reduce fatigue, improve mental performance, and boosts the immune system. In addition, it has properties that help the body cope with stress. A study found that consuming Siberian Ginseng is safe and improves mental health.
You will find this ingredient in almost all our blends: Morning Shine, Afternoon Pick-Me-Up, Evening Groove, Social Butterfly, and Mellow Fellow.
Lion's Mane
Lion's Mane or Hericium erinaceus, is a functional mushroom (that looks like a lion's mane) that has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine for its potential cognitive benefits. Lion's Mane contains properties that have been shown to promote the growth and development of nerve cells in the brain, which may lead to improved memory and cognitive function. This is a great ingredient for those who need to boost their focus and productivity. In fact, we used Lion's Mane to help write this article ;) Here's a study that found Lion's Mane extract can improve overall cognitive function.
Try Lion's Mane in Morning Shine to spark your day with focus.
Cordyceps
A type of fungus that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. It has anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties, as well as potential benefits for endurance and athletic performance. It does this due to having a similar structure to one of the components of ATP, letting your body use cordyceps as its power source to perform physical activities (more info here). Find out more about how cordyceps helps the brain in this review.
Discover Cordyceps in Fuego.
5-HTP
A natural component present in the body that is used to produce serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood, sleep, and appetite. Because of its regulating effects, supplementing with 5-HTP may help increase serotonin levels and improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. This may be one of your best friends during the festival season. It's commonly known that high doses of psychedelics give a boost to your mood and cause euphoria by releasing a large amount of serotonin in the brain. However, this surge in some chemicals can deplete the brain's supplement system of these neurotransmitters, causing anxiety and depression, or the famous "comedown" or "dip". 5-HTP can help in these moments as it replenishes serotonin in our neurosystem.
Find 5-HTP in Morning Shine, Afternoon Pick-Me-Up, Evening Groove, and Social Butterfly.
Mucuna
A type of bean that contains a compound that the body uses to produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood, motivation, and pleasure. Remember the sensation of satisfaction after a work-out? That's your dopamine going up. Supplementing with Mucuna may help increase dopamine levels and improve symptoms of depression and anxiety. This article provides an overview of the traditional uses and potential effects of Mucuna in mood and cognitive function.
Elevate your motivation with Mucuna in Flow State.
Ashwagandha
A herb that has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine (Nepal/India regions) for thousands of years. It has adaptogenic properties that help the body adapt to stress and promote general health and well-being. In other words, this component may also have potential benefits for reducing anxiety and improving the functions of the brain for everyday activities. Andrew Huberman states that there are six studies that collectively show the reduction in cortisol in healthy but stressed individuals. You can check more on this on his podcast.
Get a dose of Ashwagandha in Flow State.
Reishi mushroom (Lingzhi)
A type of mushroom that has been recognised as medicinal for over 2000 years, and has been documented in many ancient scripts. It has components that may help stimulate the immune system and reduce inflammation in the body. Due to this it can help numerous systems in our body such as hormone regulation, liver detoxification and stimulating nerve growth factor levels in cells. Here is an article that mentions the historical use of this component and its effects.
Reishi is used in Mellow Fellow and Dreamland.
Chaga mushroom
A type of mushroom found growing on birch trees all throughout northern Europe and Asia. It contains one of the highest amounts of natural oxalate, a compound forms a variety of salts and oxalic acid that will help recover crucial minerals lost through dehydration. It has been commonly used as an anti-inflammatory and oxidative stress relief, which can contribute to the development of hangovers and headaches. For more in-depth information check here.
This mushroom is present in Back to Life.
Rhodiola rosea
A herb that has been traditionally used in arctic regions of Europe and Asia as medicine to promote physical and mental resistance. It has components that help the body adapt to stress, as well as potential benefits for improving the functions of the brain and acting as an anti-depressant and decreasing anxiety. Using these components, our resilience to both mild health stressors to more severe health concerns increases. It's one of the most incredible adaptogens we have found through our research and blend development. Here is a review of studies that evidence the remediating effects of Rhodiola.
Boost your overall well-being with rhodiola rosea in Flow State.
Vitamin B12
This is a water-soluble vitamin that cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained through diet or supplements. Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that plays an important role in many activities in our body, including the formation of red blood cells and proper function of our nerves. We find this vitamin in meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Once consumed, vitamin B12 is absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to cells throughout the body for energy production and other essential biological processes. It is important to supplement this nutrient, since a Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to a variety of health problems, including anaemia, fatigue, weakness, and neurological disorders. One of our reasons for using this amino-acid is to complement its effects that it has in combination with magic truffles.
Vitamin B12 is used in almost all our blends: Morning Shine, Afternoon Pick-Me-Up, Evening Groove, Flow State, Back to Life, Fuego, and Mellow Fellow.
Vitamin B6
This vitamin plays an essential role in several body functions, including the production of melatonin: a very important hormone that regulates the stages of our sleep. This component helps regulate our brain activities by communicating with our GABA receptors, which are neurotransmitters that suppress certain activities in our central nervous system. This can help with easing our active mind and transitioning to rest.
Vitamin B6 is present in Dreamland.
DHM (Dihydromyricetin)
DHM is a powerful ingredient against alcohol's effects on the body. Alcohol consumption disrupts the reception of abundant fuels important to the learning and memory systems receptors in our brain. DHM comes from a Japanese Pepper vine, which is funnily enough part of the wine family. It acts as a protective agent in our nervous systems to the effects of alcohol. This way, this component preserves the nervous system from memory loss and slower reflexes and helps with anxiety regulation. It is shown (in this study) that intake of this substance both before and after alcohol intake improves these bio markers.
DHM is present in Back to Life.
Blue Lotus Flower
The Lotus flower (Nymphaea caerulea) contains some chemical compounds that interact with the serotonin 2A receptors in our brain, promoting mood regulation, anxiety reduction, relaxation and calming feelings. It is also known for its potential sedative effects, which contribute to sleep quality. Here's a detailed study about how lotus may help with sleep.
Blue Lotus is present in Dreamland.
Magnolia Flower
This flower has natural compounds known to have anxiety relief and sedative effects, which can potentially improve sleep quality, including REM sleep. These compounds may interact with areas in the brain that contribute to a rejuvenating sleep experience. Here's a study conducted for specific groups that showcase the impact of Magnolia on sleep quality.
Magnolia is present in Dreamland.
Valerian Root
Valerian Root is known to reduce anxiety and promote better sleep. This root can help you relax against stress, making it a natural remedy for sleep. This happens because some studies have shown that this root may help with the reduction of our brain waves, preparing us to sleep.
Valerian is present in Dreamland.
Magic truffles (psilocybe mexicana)
Apart from the ingredients mentioned above, you can also drink Happy Tea with truffles. They contain psilocybin, a component used in some clinical trials that have shown positive effects in the treatment of some mental diseases. Our truffles are locally sourced are grown in farms in the Netherlands. It's an option add-on, as our tea blends do a lot of work on their own.
Depending on the dose of the truffle, it can give you a subtle 'buzz' that makes you feel great and bit floaty. This feeling is a healthier buzz than the one obtained from drinking alcohol. This is why we promote the use of it with our tea blends.
Curious to find out more? Read our article about magic truffles. If you're already in to try Happy Tea and add magic truffles, but unsure on what dose you should use, here is a guide to microdosing.
Whether you want to improve your focus, boost your energy for a night out or simply relax before sleep, Happy Tea can help you with any activity you have planned.
Are you uncertain about which ingredients you need to help you with your activity or intention? You can choose your happy tea based on your occasion. Not sure if it can help you? Find out how other people benefited from happy tea on our story wall.
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