According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, nearly 50 to 70 million2 of Americans have chronic or ongoing sleep disorders. Finding sleep remedies that work can be exhausting, but incorporating sleep-boosting foods into your diet is a low-effort and tasty way to improve your sleep cycle.
One fruit that has gained popularity for aiding sleep is tart cherries, also known as Montmorency cherries. Rich in melatonin and tryptophan, tart cherries can help promote rest, relaxation, and better sleep1.
This sleep-boosting tart cherry bread recipe offers a sweet and relaxing evening snack. Enjoy it warm with a lavender latte and a spread of magnesium-rich almond butter for the perfect bedtime treat!
Tart cherries for sleep: Lame or legit?
Not getting enough sleep can have serious long-term health implications, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, and depression. Tart cherries, with their melatonin content, can help regulate your circadian rhythm, improve sleep quality, and reduce disturbed sleep patterns.
In addition to melatonin, tart cherries contain tryptophan, which can increase serotonin production, improving mood, reducing inflammation, and promoting healthy sleep patterns.
Unlike traditional tart cherry beverages, this tart cherry bread recipe includes tea, which also promotes better sleep. L-theanine, found in tea, helps relax the brain by reducing stress-related hormones and neuron excitability.
Unlike your usual tart cherry bevvy, this tart cherry bread recipe has yet another sleep-boosting ingredient: It’s tea!
The combination of tea, anti-inflammatory spices, and tart cherries in this bread recipe creates a perfect bedtime snack. See the recipe below for Montmorency tart cherry tea bread.
Montmorency Tart Cherry Tea Bread Recipe
Yields 12 servings
Ingredients
10 ounces boiling water
1 bag Earl Grey tea
250 grams dried tart cherries, roughly chopped
1/4 cup maple syrup
Zest of 1 orange
1 3/4 cups white whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 eggs
Follow the steps mentioned in the recipe above to create this delicious Montmorency tart cherry tea bread. Serve warm for a relaxing bedtime treat!
