Episode Summary

After leaving law to build eteaket, I needed steady focus - not the spike-crash cycle I got from coffee. This episode explores why tea can feel calmer and clearer, and how pairing tea with tiny rituals (breath, stillness, journaling) creates “better energy” you can actually work with.

In this episode, we cover:

* Why “more coffee, more progress” can backfire - especially if you’re caffeine-sensitive

* How caffeine can disrupt sleep and amplify anxiety, cravings, and the spike-crash loop

* The shift from coffee-fuelled pushing to tea-supported presence (and why it helped after leaving law to build eteaket)

* What makes tea feel different: L-theanine working alongside caffeine for calmer focus

* Three teas for controlled energy - matcha for focus bursts, hojicha for gentle afternoons, rooibos for a full reset

* A simple 3-minute Tea Mind routine: boil mindfully, breathe while it steeps, sip with intention

* A practical note on balance - coffee isn’t the villain, but watch sugary matcha/hojicha lattes

Resources and Links

* L-theanine + caffeine cognitive benefits: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21040626/

* Alpha brain waves and calm focus: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18296328/

* Caffeine and sleep disruption: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24235903/

* Caffeine and anxiety: Harvard Health https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/caffeine-and-anxiety

* Yerba mate health: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8622869

* Rooibos benefits: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6533872

* Last week’s episode on hojicha and calm productivity: episode

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our awesome teas, like these caffeine free infusions.

Thanks for pausing for tea with me today.If this helped, I’d love a quick comment, a heart, or a share. It genuinely helps this post reach more people who need a calmer next step.

Erica x

The Tea Mind is reader-supported. To get new posts (and support my work), consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

Tea is more than a beverage.It’s a practice.A pause you can borrow back from your day.

In this episode, we explore Hojicha: a roasted Japanese green tea that doesn’t shout for attention, but can quietly change how you feel in your body and mind.

If coffee makes you feel wired, scattered, or sleep gets messy… this one’s for you.

In this episode, we cover

* Why modern life leaves us overstimulated, and why “more caffeine” isn’t always the answer

* The difference between high energy and high performance

* My personal caffeine story: tea all day, but coffee jitters (and why matcha worked better for me)

* The moment we discovered hojicha powder as a team and thought: this is the bridge between matcha and coffee

* What Hojicha actually is, how it’s made, and why roasting changes everything

* A simple caffeine comparison (per 240 ml)

* The relaxing science: roasted tea aroma compounds (including pyrazines) and why L-theanine matters

* A guided Tea Routine you can use today: The Evening Clarity Cup

Resources and Links

* Hojicha Lab caffeine chart (as referenced in the episode):https://hojichalab.co.uk/blogs/what-is-hojicha-the-complete-guide/hojicha-caffeine-the-complete-chart-vs-coffee-matcha-black-tea

* Roasted tea aroma compounds and relaxation (pyrazines):

Verywell Health (2024): https://www.verywellhealth.com/hojicha-benefits-11792506

* L-theanine and alpha brain wavesNational Library of Medicine (paper on L-theanine and alpha waves):https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8080930/ and Medical News Today explainer: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324120

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our awesome teas, like Hojicha.

Thanks for pausing for tea with me today.If this helped, I’d love a quick comment, a heart, or a share. It genuinely helps this post reach more people who need a calmer next step.

Erica x

The Tea Mind is reader-supported. To get new posts (and support my work), consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode Summary

In this final episode of Between Years, Erica gently closes the circle we opened twelve days ago. What began as a pause has become a rhythm. What felt like an ending reveals itself as a quiet beginning.

This episode is an invitation to settle, integrate, and carry forward what has emerged during the days between years. With tea in hand, we reflect on what has softened, what has returned, and what now feels ready to walk with us into the year ahead.

Completion here is not about closure. It is about continuity.

In this episode:

* Closing the Between Years journey with presence and intention

* Working with Epiphany as a moment of illumination and return

* A gentle herbal tea ritual for restoration and balance

* How all five elements come into harmony at completion

* Personal reflections on ease, flow, and listening rather than forcing

* Noticing your final omen and what it reveals

* How to integrate this pause into everyday life

As your tea brews, reflect quietly: What have these twelve days revealed and what keeps returning?

Live Sessions

I’d love you to join me at our Closing Circle (6 Jan) - a live online space to brew together, reflect, and set gentle intentions for 2026. Register now for your complimentary space (spaces are limited):

Closing Circle 6 Jan 7-8pm UK time:

Resources and Links

* Join {Between Years} - the free 12 Day Tea Ritual at The Tea Mind Substack

* Make sure you’re getting eteaket’s Tea Mail to be the first to discover our new teas, like Sea Within.

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.