Bad Dreams

“And words that have no form,
Are falling from my lips…”

Discover the dark magic of tea… or perhaps, the magic of dark tea? Valerian root is a traditional herb used as a sleep aid. It offers relaxation and improves sleep quality. So why isn’t everyone sipping valerian root tea? It comes at a price… the other thing valerian is famous for is an aroma that can only be described as ‘pungent’, with a flavor to match.

Some tea makers try to hide valerian in blends with other sleep-associated herbs and a variety of flavorings.  But it’s not an herb that can be covered over.  We thought, instead of masking it, we would match it. Ripe pu-erh, also known as ‘dark tea’, is a fermented tea known for its own earthy, woodsy flavor. Carefully blended with valerian root, it takes the edge off.  While the aroma remains, the flavor is robust and appealing.  Coffee drinkers in particular may find it to their liking.

Pu-erh, like all tea leaf, contains caffeine, but the fermentation undergone by dark teas reduces the amount. Bad Dreams is a 50/50 blend of pu-erh with valerian root, so a cup has less than half the caffeine of a regular cup of tea.  Theanine, the tea chemical that reduces stress and relieves anxiety, remains intact.