What is a herbal tea?
- Tania Papaikonomou
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
A herbal tea, which is also known as ‘tisane’, is a beverage made by infusing herbs, spices, or other plant materials in hot water. Various parts of the plants are used in herbal teas such as:
- Fruits: rosehips, berries, citrus peels
- Flowers: chamomile, lavender, hibiscus
- Leaves: peppermint, lemon balm, stevia
- Roots: ginger, turmeric, dandelion
- Barks: cinnamon, willow bark
- Seeds: fennel, coriander
Herbal teas are often consumed for their, medicinal properties such as calming the nervous system and as an anti-inflammatory. They are also consumed for their flavour and as an alternate to caffeine.
As a general rule, typically 1 teaspoon of the dried herb or 3 teaspoons of the freshly crushed herb to one cup of boiling water. Pour the cup of boiling water over the herb and let set (steep) for 5 to 10 minutes covered. To make the tea stronger, use more of the herb rather than steeping for a longer time as this may make the tea bitter. Milk or cream added to the tea will cover up the natural flavour of the herb. Teas consumed in glass mugs are best for retaining the flavour profile.
Herbal teas can be consumed as often as desired, however usually up to four cups a day , depending on the results your looking to achieve is more than reasonable. Each person is different and therefore there is no one size fits all. You will know if you have consumed a little too much tea if th
e bowels are loose. Typically, the bowels should move one or two times a day if three meals are eaten.
What is your favourite herbal tea?
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