For six years I struggled with restlessness, constant waking and the fatigue that comes with lack of sleep.
Sleep problems are abundant among women. For me, having babies sent me spiraling into no-sleep land. Even once THEY slept through the night…I couldn’t.
Since then I’ve changed a lot of habits that help me sleep better.
But discovering this simple tea put the icing on the cake. I now regularly get a great night’s rest. Friends and clients agree – the tea is magic.
I’ve spoken with renowned doctors who have never heard of it…and others who tout the benefits. It’s definitely on the fringe, but – hey. You’ll have to try and see for yourself.
Today I want to share some tricks for making this nightly ritual easy, fast and tasty.
Start by saving banana peels. Cut off the stem (which usually has plastic bits attached to it) and discard. Rinse the rest of the peel well. I keep mine in a jar in the refrigerator but left too long they WILL go bad, so the freezer is another perfectly suitable option.
In the old days, I’d boil up a banana peel in a pot of water every night.
“But couldn’t you make it in big batches?” everyone asked.
Yes! Lately I’ve been making about 8 servings at a time. It keeps in the fridge for a week or longer and can either be reheated or enjoyed cold. (And I do think it tastes better cold.)
On the subject of taste…
It’s mild, but it tastes like banana peel. Obviously. Which isn’t awful – but it’s also not great.
The good news is that it’s easy to mask the peel flavor by adding a cinnamon stick to your pot. Or, sometimes I’ll add an herbal tea bag (try peppermint or chamomile) and that’s tasty too.
Once the tea has simmered, I let it cool and transfer to a glass jar to store in the refrigerator. What was once a nightly task has turned into a once-a-week prep.
A few important notes
– Many people find great relief with this tea. But some may experience nausea or diarrhea. Start slowly! Try just 1/4 cup of tea before bed and see how it goes.
– Bananas are sprayed heavily with pesticides so it’s in your best interest to only use organic bananas. However, a regular banana will technically still work.
– Make sure your banana is ripe – yellow with small brown spots. A green banana’s peel can cause constipation.
To watch, click play then use the button on the bottom right of video to turn on volume:
- 4 organic banana peels (optional: include banana fruit for a sweeter tea)
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 8 cups water
- Combine all ingredients in a pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes. Drink warm or cold.