The "Secret Weapon Tea I Brought From Lichfield to Devon (And Why Your Sinuses Need It)
- Kim Peak
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
If you’ve been following our journey lately, you’ll know that The Lichfield Tea Company recently packed up the tea-ware and moved down to the beautiful, rolling hills of Clayhidon in Devon.
It is absolutely idyllic down here. The air is fresh, the views are stunning, and... my face currently feels like it is under a mountain of pressure.
Going from a city environment to the dense, lush countryside pollen of Devon shocked my system. But instead of the classic runny nose and sneezing, my allergies hit me right in the sinuses. I’m talking about that heavy, throbbing tension behind the eyes, across the cheeks, and right into the ears.
Luckily, as a tea merchant, my "medicine cabinet" is a bit different than most. I walked right into our stockroom and pulled out a rare Japanese green tea we’ve been keeping in stock: Benifuki.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, sinus pressure, or hay fever, this is the one tea you need to know about. Here is the lowdown on why it works, minus the boring science lecture.
The Tea with a Natural "Shield"
Most green teas are famous for being healthy, but Benifuki is a very special cultivar from Japan. It naturally contains a rare type of antioxidant (called methylated catechins) that you won't find in standard green teas.
Think of these antioxidants as a natural shield for your immune system. When pollen hits your body, your cells normally panic and release histamine—which triggers all that swelling, facial pain, and pressure. Benifuki gently steps in and tells those cells to calm down, stopping the allergy response before it even really starts.
Because it targets inflammation from the inside out, it can reach those deep, painful sinus cavities behind your eyes where standard nasal sprays can't touch.
How I’m Brewing It for Maximum Relief
Because Benifuki is packed with these powerful compounds, it has a bold, punchy, and slightly bitter personality—perfect if you love a robust morning drink.
To get the absolute most allergy relief out of the loose leaves, here is how I'm brewing my morning cup:
Turn up the heat: Use water around 90°C (just off the boil) to force the leaves to release those protective antioxidants.
Let it steep: Give it a solid 3 minutes.
Breathe it in: While it steeps, lean over the mug and inhale the hot steam. It acts like an instant, soothing facial sauna for blocked sinuses.
The Founder's Hack: I like to drop a couple of slices of fresh ginger into the pot. Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory that pairs perfectly with the tea to knock out that heavy head tension.
Are You Fighting the Seasonal Slump?
If you're tired of drowsy allergy pills and want a clean, natural alternative that also gives you a smooth, focused morning energy boost, give Benifuki a try.
I’m currently drinking 2-3 cups a day to adapt to my new Devon surroundings.
Follow along on our blog to see how my "Devon vs. Pollen" experiment goes—and grab a pouch of our premium loose-leaf Benifuki to try it alongside me!
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