Herbal Tea as a Nurturing Health Ritual

Herbal teas, or tisanes, are often confused with the teas which are prepared from the cured leaves of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. This tea contains caffeine and is often distinguished as green, white, or black tea. 

Herbal teas are single or combinations of dried or fresh plant material. They are the seeds, leaves, barks, and roots of edible and medicinal plants. Unlike Camellia sinensis, they most often do not contain caffeine. 

Herbal tea can have an amazing impact on your health and well-being. This post walks you through the benefits of drinking herbal tea, and gives you tips on how to brew a delicious and nutrient packed cup of herbal tea. Making an herbal tea is the simplest way to use herbs as medicine. We hope to encourage a health bolstering alternative to the plastic bottles and cans of our toxic beverage culture. 

First off, herbal tea is primarily water. Incorporating herbal tea into your diet can help to hydrate the body. Proper hydration helps to regulate body temperature, keeps joints lubricated, prevents infections, delivers nutrients to cells, and keeps organs functioning properly. Being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood. 

Herbs are also full of vitamins and minerals. Many have medicinal effect on our physical and mental health. Some of our favorite nutrient dense herbs are Alfalfa Leaf, Nettle Leaf, Bilberries, Rose Hips, and Dandelion Root. 

Red Clover can help detoxify the body and promote clear skin.  Lemon balm is said to provide comfort in depression. Passion flower is sedative and Oats feel like a hug from your mom. Ginger and Fennel have a delicious, spicy flavor and calm an upset stomach. Slippery Elm soothes a sore throat and Mullein is an expectorant. Damiana is touted as an aphrodisiac and Kava Kava relaxes and aids social anxiety almost like a glass of wine. Raspberry Leaf has benefit specifically for women's health and has a pleasant, mild flavor. There are so many herbs to experience.

​Start simple and try brewing a cup of a single herb so you can get to know the flavor and effect. Try one of the Mints, Chamomile, Lemon Verbena, Tulsi, Lemongrass, Sage, Dandelion Root, or Elder Berries, these herbs have delicious flavor and are great herbs to start with. 

Brewing Tea: 
In our experience herbal preparations are simple once you make them a few times. There are some important factors to consider if you want to make a perfect cup of tea, but don't get too caught up in the details. 

Factors for the Perfect Cup of Herbal Tea
Your water needs to be hot.
You need to cover your tea while it steeps.
You need to let it steep for the proper amount of time. 

Use the basic guidelines and proportions listed below for brewing a perfect cup of tea every time. 
Basic steps for making your own herbal tea:
Decoction
Tea from tough parts of plants like roots, bark, dried seeds, dried berries: 
Use 1 tsp. herb for every cup water, 
1.) Simmer herbs for 20-25 minutes or for an even stronger cup of tea cover and let sit (infuse) several hours or overnight. 

2.) Strain the tea through a mesh strainer, cheesecloth or colander

3.) Pour into a container of storage or mug: stainless steel, ceramic and glass are preferable. Glass mason jars are a great option for storage
Sweeten your tea if you’d like with the sweetener of your choice. After you get used to drinking tea regularly you may find that you don’t even need a sweetener in your tea. 

Infusion
Tea from tender parts of plants like leaves and flowers:
Use 1 heaping tsp. for every cup water.
1.) Pour boiling water over the herbs measured into a mug, pot or jar

2.) Place a lid on the pot, mug or jar and let steep 15 - 20 minutes or overnight.

3.) Strain the tea through a mesh strainer, cheesecloth or colander

4.) Pour into a container of storage or mug: stainless steel, ceramic and glass are preferable. Glass mason jars are a great option for storage
Sweeten your tea if you’d like with the sweetener of your choice. 

Tea from powdered herb (any part of the plant):
½ tsp powder mixed in a mug with small amount of boiling water first to smooth out all lumps.
Next add water to fill cup, stir again and tea is ready to drink as soon as it’s cool enough. No need to infuse any longer. Stir as you drink to ingest the powder or let powder settle to bottom and avoid it.

​Solar Infusion
In the summer our favorite method of brewing Herbal Tea is by Solar Infusion or Sun tea. 
Use 1 tsp. herb for every cup water. 
1 ) Place herb in a clear glass jar and over with a lid. 

2) Set in Sun for 2-6 hours
I like to visit it every so often throughout the day to make sure the jar is still in full sun. 
​
3.) Strain the tea through a mesh strainer, cheesecloth or colander

4.) Pour into a container of storage or mug: stainless steel, ceramic and glass are preferable. Glass mason jars are a great option for storage
Sweeten your tea if you’d like with the sweetener of your choice. 

​​A pot of tea can be refrigerated for about five days after the herbs are strained out.
The tea may then be enjoyed chilled, at room temperature or gently warmed up.

Incorporating herbal tea into your day can add nutrients to your diet, help to keep you hydrated, and even add medicinal benefit according to what you may need personally to help foster vibrant health and well being. 

​Cheers!