Ilan Presence - Native Mint

What kind of tea would remind us of serene tropical ocean breezes, or relaxing on a hammock under trees by the azure coloured water, or lazing around contentedly with a full belly after a delicious tropical meal with friends? Ahhh. transport me to Mer Island paradise, where you can hear the sound of the Great Barrier Reef. That was our design thinking for Ilan Presence. Whilst we can't be on holidays every day, it is still lovely to invite calm, presence and stillness into our world. This tea simply had to be a cool, soothing mint variety. So along with traditional spearmint and peppermint, we included the native Australian mint varieties - round mint and river mint for you to enjoy. We even added butterfly pea flower, which can turn your tea as blue as the tropical ocean. Enjoy.

Mentha spicata and Mentha piperita leaf - Spearmint and Peppermint. Cultivated in Egypt.

Spearmint and peppermint teas are both great options for those looking to get a refreshing and delicious drink. Spearmint has a slightly sweeter flavour than peppermint, and peppermint is more intense and has a stronger flavour. They combine beautifully in Ilan Presence tea. Spearmint and peppermint are known for their health benefits and are used commonly to help digestion.

Prostanthera rotundifolia - Round Mint. Cultivated in Victoria.

Round mint is an Australian native which is related to mint, oregano, thyme and sage. It is commonly known as round-leaved mint-bush, or round mint and grows in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. The leaves are edible, with a minty flavour, and can be used in salads, teas, and as a garnish.

Mentha australis - River Mint. Cultivated in Victoria.

River mint (Mentha australis) is an aromatic herbaceous perennial plant native to Australia. It has a very distinctive minty aroma and is often used as an ingredient in food and beverages The leaves can be used fresh or dried to make teas and tinctures, and the flowers are edible and can be used in salads.

Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly pea-flower. Cultivated in India.

Now we are giving away our magic trick .... (it's the same trick gin distillers play, so the cat's out of the bag). In the presence of a gentle acid (from lemon or other), butterfly pea-flower can turn your beverage azure blue. Add more lemon and it turns purple. We included this ingredient to Ilan Presence because we wanted to help you to feel present, as if you were floating in the azure blue waters of the tropical Torres Strait Islands. How blue your tea turns, will depend on how much butterfly pea-flower was scooped up for the brew. Add lemon for a more vivid effect!

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