Herbal Teas – How & Why You Should Try Them
Herbal Teas have been around for thousands of years and are believed to have originated in Ancient China and/or Ancient Egypt, where they were consumed for medicinal purposes.
The technical name, or term, for herbal tea is “Tisane” and some believe the more commonly known “Herbal Tea” is misleading as not all herbal teas contain Tea leaves.
Herbal tea can be a blend of several different herbs and botanicals such as fruits, roots and leaves, or it can be brewed from a single botanical depending on the properties intended to be consumed. Some herbal teas taste a bit odd to most people; but can be sweetened with some honey, nicer tasting herbs, lemon juice, bee pollen, stevia or other natural sweeteners.
Naturally caffeine-free, herbal teas are beneficial for our health not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. Chamomile tea, for example, will help you relax and is a wonderful bedtime tea to help you sleep, but it is also loaded with antioxidants and healing benefits which can assist in lowering the risk of several diseases and also aids in digestion.
As with all natural therapies, particularly those which are taken internally, like herbal teas, it is strongly recommended that you speak with your GP before taking any herbal remedies or teas. Some herbs can react with prescription medications, like the popular St. Johns Wort for example, which although is wonderful for treating depression – can and does react badly with many medications taken for the same prescription.
Once you have researched your herbs to suit your ailment, (and checked with your medical practitioner for safety) you can start preparing your herbal teas.
I always suggest that people purchase pre-blended herbal teas or use pre-existing recipes rather than creating their own – particularly when the intention is to treat an illness or ailment.
Of course if you are simply creating herbal tea blends for taste, as long as the botanicals are safe to consume and you’re not taking any regular medications you should be fine to experiment a little.
Preparing a Herbal Tea:
If your herbal tea only consists of one herb, such as chamomile tea or peppermint tea, you’ll just need to add enough of your herb to make however many cups per brew. As a general guide, I’ve found that if I don’t have a tea strainer and I’m brewing directly into my mug, then 2 teaspoons seems to be enough for my tastebuds – you may decide you prefer less or more.
Boil your water and pour over your herbs, allow this to steep for a few minutes and strain the herbs out before sipping on your tea.
A wonderful way to experience herbal tea is to breathe in the aroma of your tea before sipping and allow the tea and its’ aroma to embrace your mind and heart.
When preparing a herbal tea which has several different botanicals in the recipe, mix them all together and if possible, allow this mix to rest in an airtight container for at least 24 hours before brewing your tea as above. This allows the botanicals in your blend to infuse and produces a wonderful and magickal herbal tea blend.
Some herbs which make wonderful teas on their own:
Peppermint, Lemon balm, Lemon Myrtle, Chamomile, Rose Petals, Basil, Red Clover, Green Tea Leaves, Rooibus, Honeybush, Dandelion.
And a few wonderful recipes I have tried myself & recommend:
~ Lyllith Xx
I offer a huge selection of herbs, along with pre-made herbal teas in the online store – https://lyllithsemporium.com.au/collections/kitchen-witch
*This article was originally written for Mystic Tribe Magazine, April 2019 Issue
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