5 Refreshing Herbal Teas
July 17, 2012
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Dallas
• 0 Comments
5 Refreshing Herbal Teas
Technically speaking, herbal teas are not tea at all, but infusions. While true tea is an infusion as well, it is, as its name suggests, made from tealeaves. Herbal teas or infusions are not. They can be made from any of thousands of different ingredients, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, grasses, leaves, and roots of numerous plants. There are so many choices that it takes a chemists or graduates of Texas culinary schools to figure out tasty combinations.
Many people believe in the healing and restorative powers of herbal teas. And, while some of the science hasn’t been settled on that matter, there is little doubt that an evening chamomile or peppermint tea can make for restful night’s sleep.
How to Make Herbal Tea
Whether making hot or iced tea, the process begins with boiling water. The ingredients of your herbal mixture are then brewed or steeped in the hot water for a few minutes. The amounts of ingredients and length of time for brewing are different depending upon the ingredients chosen.
If you are making iced tea, let the infusion cool to room temperature before serving over ice so that it doesn’t melt the ice and dilute the taste of the tea.
5 Refreshing and Delicious Herbal Teas
As I said above, there are literally thousands of types of herbal teas out there. Some can be purchased pre-mixed at stores or teahouses. Others must be mixed by hand. Below are some of our favorites that we think you’ll really enjoy.
- Chamomile
A cup of warm chamomile tea is a wonderful way to relieve some tensions when you are feeling anxious or nervous. Chamomile is a natural calming herb and its affects are strongly felt in tea. Chinese and Eastern herbalists use it to treat everything from anxiety to joint inflammation and menstrual pain.
- Peppermint
You may not need a nice hot cup of tea on a long summer night, but you might change your mind when you smell the tempting minty flavors of peppermint tea. Use a couple of teaspoons of dried peppermint leaves to make this infusion that some use to help sooth headaches.
- Ginger Tea
Ginger is well known as a treatment for mild nausea. Make a hot cup of ginger tea to help with nausea brought on by motion sickness, influenza, or morning sickness. Try adding some lemon zest to the infusion for added flavor.
- Blueberry and Acai
Blueberries and acai berries are the super foods of the fruit world. Typically made with dried berries, rose hips, and other herbal ingredients, this tea is loaded with flavor and healthy antioxidants. Studies show that blueberries improve brain function and can delay memory loss associated with aging.
- Rooibos Tea
Commonly called red or rose tea, rooibos tea is made from the rooibos plant that only grows on mountain slopes in South Africa. It used to be rare, but today rooibos tea is growing in popularity. You can find rooibos tea mixtures that include mango, vanilla, raspberry, or pomegranate.
It doesn’t take a culinary school degree to appreciate the tastes and benefits of herbal teas. These and other teas are naturally without caffeine and contain many beneficial antioxidants and other nutrients. Try making some herbal tea the next time you have a hankering for something that isn’t the popular coffee brand of the day.
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