Mum Stories - Bethan Thomas from HotTea Mama
/As part of Isabella and Us. I will be bringing you a brand new blog series where each week a mum shares her story. I believe it is vitally important that we share our honest, vulnerable and incredible stories of our motherhood journey.
** Please be aware that you may find some of the stories potentially be upsetting or they may trigger something for you. If you do need further support please do seek advice from your GP or a mental health professional.
This week Bethan Thomas from HotTea Mama shares why she set up HotTea Mama with my best friend almost 2 years ago as she inspired by their experience of how restrictive pregnancy and breastfeeding could be on women’s diet.
A little bit about Beth:
“ I’m a mum of 2 amazing kids - Cerys is 4 and Hector is 2. I am also a professional tea nerd.
I have a Tea Science degree and have worked as a tea taster and blender since I graduated. I now run HotTea Mama with my best friend, supporting women in pregnancy and motherhood with functional teas.”
Bethan’s Story:
I’ve worked in the tea trade since I first graduated over 12 years ago, but it wasn’t until I was pregnant, that I realised many of the herbal blends that I’d been making, were completely unsafe for pregnancy.
I realised that whilst women were well aware that they should cut back caffeine, they weren’t so clear about other herbal tea risks. For example, how many people realise that drinking or eating liquorice can raise your blood pressure, and be particularly dangers for anyone at risk of preeclampsia.
On top of this, women were drinking teas that tasted awful, just to get a health benefit. In such a restricted diet, this felt incredibly unfair.
So, when my friend Kate had 2 babies in the space of 2 years and asked me why no one was making something better for women…I knew we had to fix the situation.
We took my experience and Tea Science degree, and Kate’s marketing background, and worked over 9 months to create 6 blends that each have a functional benefit to women, but most importantly – are delicious.
I was pregnant at this point, and Kate was breastfeeding, so we were the perfect guinea pigs for the blends! We’re so proud of what we created, and the fact that our teas are not only bag full of leaves that women can drink…they’re also a reason for women to take a moment to themselves, which is rare as a mum. The mental benefit that accompanies this is huge.
We have an award winning blend to help ease morning sickness blended from tummy soothing botanicals; a caffeine free pick up which uses grapes as the base for a natural sugar lift; a tea for birth preparation which has raspberry leaf and whole peppermint; a breastfeeding support tea; a slow release, high caffeine lift for tired mums; and a sleep aid.
It’s amazing to see the teas go out to mums – often as gifts with notes that make me cry! And when our teas make it onto shelves of independent stores, I have a bigger sense of achievement than from anything else I’ve ever done. Not including my children!
It’s a hard road, that has covered late nights, early mornings and the struggles of juggling family life and growing a business. But so far, it’s well worth it.
Bethan
