An Introduction to Herbal Tea Herbs

Did you know that in reality tea herbs do not exist?

Or rather, tea made from herbs.    Tea is the name given to the drink which comes from a bush called camellia sinensis.  Herbal tea generally refers to a drink made from plants other than the tea bush.  Today, blending different tastes is very popular and so often traditionally known tea has herbs added.

The leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush give us white tea, black tea, oolong tea, green tea and of course a host of names indicating the area where they are grown.  These teas undergo processing after the leaves are picked.

A herbal tea is a drink made from a simple and easy-to-make infusion of the leaves of certain herbs without processing.  The  leaves are placed in hot water and left for a period of time so that the flavor of the plant transfers to the water. Certain attributes such as antioxidants transferred as well making it a very healthy drink.

The English word “tisane” or infusion, originally referred to a drink made from pearl barley. However today it refers to drinks made from many different plant sources.  These tisanes can come from one plant or different herbs  are blended together, fruit may be added  or spices.   So how do you know what herbs blend well together?  A place to start is your local supermarket.  Have a look at their herbal infusion teas and see what herbs they combine together. For instance, I have a tea for digestion which I enjoy drinking.  It contains mint, verbena, melissa (lemon balm) and licorice.

The herbal infusion tea that never fails to put me to sleep at night is made from chamomile, lime (tilia) and orange leaves. All three are known for their ability to promote relaxation and aid sleep.

Sage herbs tea can be combined with spices like cloves or cinnamon, and with Lemon Thyme. Sage is associated with longevity, and restoring a failing memory and strengthening eyesight of older people.

Mint is a universal flavor and you can add mint to your China tea for a different pleasing taste. The scope with mint is  virtually endless.

The experts reckon that your fresh herbs are best harvested after the dew has dried and before the sun gets hot.  However this is not essential.  Harvested later in the day you may find you use more to get the strength you need.   It is important to note however that many  herbs are at their best for your purposes just before they flower.

Making your herbal tea is a simple process.  If your leaves are fresh make sure they are clean and free of any insects.   Before you make the herbal tea you might need to gently crush the leaves and then place  them into your infuser or into a cup and pour hot but not boiling water over them.  A recommended strength is 3 teaspoons of fresh herbs for every cup of boiling water.  Leave them to steep for several  minutes and your tea is ready.  Times will vary according to the herb.

Some people prefer to place their leaves into a container for loose tea leaves, or into a muslin bag instead of an infuser. The tea should be drunk when the water is cool enough to drink.   This is when the flavor will be at its best.   If you want to make iced tea, double the quantity of fresh herbs and when the infusion is ready add icecubes or place it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.

You can use dried herbs for your tea, in which case use one teaspoon of herbs for each cup of water.   You can also add a couple of  fresh leaves to your regular China tea.  Its is all a matter of taste and that is for you to decide.  A further idea is to add store-bought dried herbal teas to your fresh leaves to make your own blend.

Lastly, when you make your herbal infusion tea, take the time out to sit down and relax and really savor it.  In today’s busy world, we need a little “time out” at regular intervals just to find our own balance again.   Find your tea drinking niche in the house or garden, and slow down for a while.

Good tea herbs gardening!