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Have you experienced the nighttime stalker, the sleepytime killer, the tossing and turning, turning and tossing, head under pillow, covers over head, on the tummy, left side, right side, even upside down and you just can't seem to escape its doom?  Whether it be a final exam, a new job interview, a relationship gone sour, or a business decision that keeps you up staring at the ice melting away in your water glass with the nearby reflection of red lit numbers ticking away at your sanity as it approaches the set alarm time before you've even had a chance to catch one z.  Insomnia is no joke.   The good news is, tea for insomnia is no joke either.

You've tried all sorts of remedies. Over-the-counter, prescription, counting, reading, watching television, glass of milk, spoonful of yogurt, acupuncture, hypnotism and nothing seems to work. You've simply had enough.

California Tea House's Bedtime Chai is specifically designed to combat sleeplessness ... Bedtime Chai is a sleepytime tea, and it works. CTH invites you to take the natural challenge by sipping yourself to sleep. The main, all natural ingredient, valerian root, is a powerful herb famous throughout history to tranquilize oneself. 

Bedtime Chai's valerian root is blended up with organic honeybush, chamomile blossoms, organic vanilla pieces, whole cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and toasted rice bits. The addition of chamomile, which is also known as a sleep aid that combats anxiety, seals this beverage as a powerful sleepytime potion. 

California Tea House invites you to take a sleepytime challenge for a peaceful slumber:

1. Eliminate caffeine intake at least 8 hours before you sleep.

2. Eat a hearty dinner at least 3 hours before bedtime that leaves you full.

3. Brew a hot cup of Bedtime Chai an hour before bedtime.

4. Drink your tea next to a fire, listening to soft music, or cuddling next to a loved one.

As always, we love your feedback!

How is it that you enjoy your night time tea? Do you enjoy a cup of herbal in the quiet after the kids go to bed? Do you sip a cup during the nightly news? I take mine out to the front porch and sip my tea while I drink in the night. Listening to the night sounds of suburbia, Killdeers winging through the dark... Sometimes watching a bat fly in and out of the streetlight catchng insects.

Other times I sit quietly with prayer beads in hand and ask the Universe to help plot my course to contentment, pray for the end of suffering and war... or pray for things closer to home and my heart... or I simply give thanks for the blessings I have.

These are prayer beads I made for a friend fighting breat cancer.

Do you have a night time ritual invovling tea?

Brrr! It's getting cold here in NJ, and I have been retreating to my fall favorites to keep warm: fires, blankets, mulled cider, and hot toddies! I first experienced a hot toddy as a child when I was sick with a sore throat or when I came in freezing from playing out in the snow. My mom presented me with this, at the time, extremely potent concoction that was overwhelming to sip but definitely took the cold edge off. Since then, I've actually come to enjoy this hot tea recipe in the fall and winter because it warms you from the inside out, and so I have adapted my own versions to my particular tastes. 

The classic hot toddy is made with black tea (because it mixes well with lemon and honey), but green tea does too, and I think you could make it delicious however you want according to whatever teas you prefer. The possibilities are infinite, but here is a simple standard recipe:

1oz (or more if you like!) of brandy, whiskey, or rum

1 tablespoon honey (sometimes I like to use agave nectar instead)

1/4 lemon (add more if you accidently made it too strong)

Golden Monkey Paw black tea

Voila! Curl up next to a fire, keep sipping, and keep toasty.

Coffee's for mornings. Wine's for after 5pm. But any time can be tea time. 

The variety of teas -- their origins, aromas and effects on the body and sense -- make tea the most versatile beverage on the planet. As I've mentioned in my previous post, I'm a promiscuous tea drinker -- I try everything once; twice if I like it. So to set each tea apart, I've discovered each tea has its corresponding time of day:

• For a morning caffeine jolt, I experiment with a variety of black teas for a solid wake-up call.
• For a non-caffeinated morning reboot, a spicy Rooibos tea does the trick.
• Chai, especially in latte form, is a great mid-afternoon break type tea. The caffeine and spices jump start my brain cells and the milk and sugar keep me going.
• White tea is nice for an afternoon tea, especially when blended with peach or aromatic herbs. It goes well with jam and scones.
• With dinner, a blooming tea or strong herbal tea can compliment a meal more specifically than wine.