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Yummy Herbal Teas
by Phyllis D. Light, RH
While many of us see no reason to restrict our consumption of two common herbs, tea and coffee, few have explored the vast world of herbal teas that awaits the palate. As a traditional method of drinking up our daily nutrients, herbal teas are also good for the body. Freshly picked herbs make the most wonderful teas but few of us have the luxury of a backdoor herb garden. If you are not growing your own herbs, dried herbal teas can be found in health food stores, grocery stores or can be ordered from herb companies over the Internet.
Brewing Herbal Teas
When brewing your herbal teas, keep a few rules of thumb in mind. Roots need to be brewed the longest because they are the most dense. Root and bark teas are generally highest in mineral content and need that extra bit of brewing time for maximum flavor and nutrient extraction. Roots and bark need at least ten minutes of brewing time.
Leaves contain the most vitamins and should be brewed about five minutes. Drink leaf tea quickly to capture the water soluble vitamins before they dissipate. Flowers should be brewed about seven minutes to extract volatile oils and other nutrients embedded in the blossoms. In general, use one teaspoon of dried herb for every cup of water and one spoon for the pot. Place the herbs into the pot and then add boiling water. Let sit, strain and enjoy.
Sun teas are another great way of making herbal teas. Place the amount of fresh or dried herbal material in a clear glass jar, add water and place in the sun. A sunny window, the back porch or the roof of a car can all be used to enhance the extraction of flavor and nutrients from your herbs. It takes about 3 to 4 hours for sun tea to brew, but the taste is worth the wait.
Drinking Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are a taste bud adventure. Don’t be shy, experiment with different herbal combinations and explore the wealth of health-giving qualities waiting in your tea cup. Here are some of my favorite herbal teas.
Chamomile
Chamomile has an apple-like fragrance and a taste reminiscent of apple and cloves or cinnamon. Children especially love this delectable brew with a touch of honey added. Chamomile is calming and quieting and makes a great drink for adults and children to help relax before bedtime. It can also help quiet unruly digestion and relieve excess gas.
Catnip
Catnip tea is the traditional remedy for colic-suffering babies. Its bitter-sweet flavor is best released from the dried leaves of the plant. It helps relax the digestive tract and provides a mild calming effect.
Sage
Sage leaf tea can be useful for women having hot flashes. Traditionally, it has been used to “dry out” the perspiration that some women experience with flashes. Sage has also been associated with increasing mental faculties and has been known as a thinker’s drink.
Rosemary
Rosemary leaf tea was known as a memory drink in ancient times. It has also traditionally been drank to relax tired, over-worked muscles. Rosemary gets its flavor from volatile oils which contain anti-oxidants.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a flavor almost everyone knows. It aids in digestion and helps relieve gas. Peppermint leaf tea can be drunk cold as a refreshing beverage in hot weather or hot as a warming winter drink. Hot peppermint tea with a touch of honey can help open stuffed heads and ease congested breathing. And the kids love its minty taste!
Chicory
Chicory root is used as a non-caffeine coffee substitute. The unique flavor of Cajun coffee is a result of mixing coffee with chicory. Chicory is an excellent tonic for the liver and contains nutrients such as choline and carotenoids.
Raspberry
Raspberry leaf tea is a favorite. It can be drank alone or added to other teas to impart a bit of fruity flavor. It combines excellently with red clover as a traditional blood cleaner. Raspberry tea is well-known as a support tea for pregnant women. It is rich in folic acid, iron, vitamin C and can help reduce morning sickness.
Nettle
Nettle leaf tea provides a green, green cuppa. It is rich in minerals and helpful to folks with poor circulation, anemia or who are just plain tired. Nettles is one of the traditional blood cleansers or alteratives.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus or malva flowers are a rich source of minerals. It combines well with raspberry or blackberry leaves for a refreshing, fruity taste delight. Hibiscus is considered a tonic for the eyes, stomach and kidneys. Rosehips and hibiscus tea is ruby-red in color and loaded with vitamin C.
Thyme
Thyme is a very strong tasting plant due to the amount of oils in the leaves and stems. I often dilute thyme tea after it is brewed to reduce its strong taste. Traditionally, thyme tea has been used for sore throats and to relieve congestion in the sinuses and respiratory tract. It can also be used as a throat gargle.
Chai Teas
My favorite chai or masala tea recipe combines several herbs: fennel, fenugreek, ginger, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, anise seeds and cardamom. For a warming drink, combine 1/2 teaspoon of each spice with 2 cups of water, 1 cup of milk and honey or sugar to taste. Simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and enjoy.
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