Herbal Teas, Tea, Part 4

Herbal teas are not officially a tea, in and of themselves. Herbal teas are traditional teas infused or blended with other elements such as bark, flowers, roots, and fruits. These added properties have flavor and medicinal benefits.

Adding flavors to the tea and the properties of other plants amplifies their benefit. Here are some common ways herbal teas are used to treat health and wellness issues:

• Digestion
• Cholesterol
• Blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Anxiety

Herbal teas have the added benefit of tasting great and can be served hot or cold, depending on your mood. Some teas are relatively well known such as Chamomile, but others are more obscure. Here’s a list of fun teas you may not have heard of:

Milk Thistle/Dandelion tea- Great for digestive issues and a healthy liver.

Lemon Balm tea– Great for elevating your mood and creating peace. Can be used day or night, hot or cold.

Rose Hip tea- Wonderful for skin and tissue health as well as adrenal function.

Rooibos tea- Considered an anti-aging miracle. (This is my favorite tea and I hope to do one more tea post highlighting Rooiboos, simply because I love it so much.)

Sage tea- is great for hair growth and sore throats.

Herbal teas are readily available at tea stores and your local grocer, but you can also make your own loose herbal tea and prepare your favorite tea drinks at home. There are unlimited types of tea pots, tea strainers, and other tea gear for you to use. Here’s how to make your own tea at home:

1. Start with tea. Though you don’t actually need tea in your herbal blend, the boost of caffeine is likely a boon, so start with high quality loose leaf tea such as black tea.
2. Add your favorite combination of ingredients. Fresh herbs are always preferred, but dried will also do. Put ingredients in a tea ball or other gadget designed to steep tea.
3. Steep your tea in boiling water for 2-5 minutes depending on the intensity you prefer for your tea. Remove the tea ball and sweeten or ice your tea.

Here are some fun combinations you might like to try for herbal tea:

Lemon + Sage + Honey

Mint + Strawberry

Black tea + Vanilla bean + Cinnamon

Orange peel + white tea + splash of maple syrup

The sky’s the limit for your recipes. Make preparing tea a family experience. Provide fun ingredients and help your kids make their own concoctions. The good news is: if their tea is a flop, there is very little waste and they can try again!

So what is your favorite herbal tea combination? Please share in the comments below.