PRESENTING SUNSHINE IN A BOX, a luxury holistic wellness box
This tier of luxury wellness boxes was curated with care and extra consideration to support and nurture anyone going through cancer or other health issues to deliver a dose of comfort and happiness.
Products have been meticulously sourced and are ethically produced, eco-friendly, organic and refined sugar-free.
The box has been carefully curated such that the premium products included cannot be found on the high street but rather are sourced for their high quality and significant benefits to the survivor.
We are so excited to be interviewing several brands who are contributing to this wellness box.
Here we have interviewed Lubna Madan, co-founder of Camellia’s Tea House
1) Please if you could tell me about your background and how the idea of Camellia's Tea House came to be? I read on the website the beautiful story of how you and Ajit started making teas at home; what made you decide to create your own blends?
Since I was 19 years old, I have always worked in the "Wellness" sector and have been a licensed homeopath for many years.
I had the opportunity to collaborate with skilled herbalists while working as a homeopath, which sparked a desire to learn more about the fascinating practice of botanical therapy and gave rise to the concept of creating a line of herbal wellness teas. On Carnaby Street, we opened our first Camellia's Tea House boutique in 2007. I've since been working on developing herbal wellness tea infusions.
Ajit studied medical microbiology before pursuing additional degrees in economics. He continued a career in finance, working for some of the most prestigious international banks. After working in the city for 15 years, he made the decision to join me in our new endeavour to launch a wellness tea company. He has always retained an interest in science and health in general. He also became the UK's first ITEI Master Tea Sommelier.
When we originally opened Camellia's Tea House, there were no (that we knew of) herbal tea companies that provided artisan, handmade teas to support particular body systems. We concentrated on obtaining high-quality ingredients, blending in small batches to retain freshness, preparing tea blends fresh upon order, developing bespoke recipes for our customers, and incorporating a tea school to impart knowledge about tea and botanicals as a means of promoting good health.
We initially did start handcrafting tea blends at our home studio, and walked around smelling of herbs all day long, but very quickly moved to a manufacturing facility - thank goodness!!
2) How does Camellia's Tea house differ from other brands out there?
We have a plethora of experience in our field and were one of the first businesses to market artisan wellness teas in the UK.
Our teas are only created by herbalists with a solid understanding of medicinal plants and over 30 years of experience working in the wellness industry.
We make sure to include components in our recipes that promote optimal absorption. For instance, adding black pepper with turmeric releases curcumin, the substance that makes turmeric active.
We are an ethically-minded tea company and sustainability is important to us. Our tea bags and packaging are recyclable.
We provide clients with tea education and training programs.
We design our own teas, hand-blend them and offer a signature/bespoke tea service to our clients.
We are an innovative tea company so love to work with new and creative ideas
3) What was the reasoning for creating the Therapeutic Teas? What made you decide to start formulating this line of teas?
Having recently gone through a close member of our family going through cancer treatment, and another team member's father passing away from cancer, it made us question why are so many people suffering with life threatening and chronic diseases?
As a team, we had been considering developing a line of teas to support the treatment of chronic illnesses and cancer for some time, and with all the new information coming out of clinical studies and reliable scientific research that highlighted the benefits of using botanicals, we decided that now would be a good time to begin formulating.
To aid with the side-effects of strong medication and cancer care, we took to develop a core line of supplemental tea infusions that went along with a healthy diet and lifestyle. We also wanted to incorporate the teas relevant to the mental and physical demands of daily living for maintaining good health.
4) I love that Digest and Energise concoction contains ginger and burdock; for those that aren't aware of their benefits, what was the reason for their inclusion in this tea blend?
Both ingredients are considered to be powerful healing herbs/spices and are the two functional key ingredients to Digest and Energise.
Ginger is well renowned for its gastrointestinal and anti-nausea benefits (perfect for anyone through chemotherapy). Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory properties, decreases blood sugar and cholesterol, and promotes the body's natural cleansing process.
Burdock is well-known for its various health benefits, and studies show that it may also lessen viral and microbial activity as well as the development of several malignancies. Additionally, it promotes the health of the liver and kidneys and lessens inflammation.
5) And can you tell us a bit more about the other ingredients in the Digest and Energise tea blend?
Ginger and burdock are supported by spearmint for the digestive system, nettle for the liver, and marshmallow to help soothe the gut lining.
6) In terms of the Relax and Recover formulation, which is also included in the box, can you share about this tea blend? As it contains chamomile, rose and nettle, I have tried it in the evening as it makes me very relaxed and calm. Can you share a bit about the reasoning for these ingredients, if there are any others in the tea and when should one take this tea?
In order to support people who could experience stress, anxiety, and fear, Relax and Recover was developed. The substances are well-known for their cooling and calming effects on the neurological system, especially in areas where there is inflammation. The purpose of Relax and Recover was to promote both skin health and emotional wellbeing. In many skin care products, marigold is used to reduce rashes and skin inflammation, while nettle, which has cooling characteristics, improves the health of the liver.
Hibiscus, which is also present in Relax and Recover, is renowned for having strong antioxidant capabilities that aid in preventing or repairing cell damage. It also contains a lot of vitamin C, which is essential for boosting sluggish skin.
7) Is there anything else you'd like to add about the Therapy Teas?
During the development phase we teamed up with a third party scientific consultant who helped us develop the range, and daily dosage amount to achieve maximum health benefits. We have found that many of our customers like to drink the range just to support daily health. Relax and Recover is adored at night before bed, Digest and Energise after a meal and Refresh and Rebuild when low in energy.
8) Lastly, just as a fun final question, do you have a favourite food recipe that you use any of your teas in, and if so which one?
We love infusing tea with food and have many recipes. We created a delicious gluten-free and vegan energy ball using Smoky Earl Grey tea for a little pick-me-up. Here's the link.
We have also created a delicious Pimms and Lemonade with Relax and Recover tea (no pimms ;-) ), which can be found on our insta account.
Find out more about Camellia’s Tea House & be sure to order your wellness box featuring the Therapeutic Teas discussed here over at the Yes to Life Wellness shop