Many people would like
to try making herbal tea,
but feel intimidated by the rows
of jars at the natural health store.
This is natural.
Anyone would be overwhelmed.
This article aims to dispel some
of the mystery surrounding herbs,
so that you can make tea with confidence.
The first thing
you will want to make herbal tea
is a tea pot and a tea ball of some kind,
the bigger the better.
Then you'll want some herbs.
Now you can make tea.
No mucking around
with tea bags will be necessary.
You can make much better tea yourself,
out of fresh and dried herbs
that you harvest or buy.
Why Not Tea Bags?
The tea you make yourself out of fresh,
whole ingredients will have far more taste
than the anemic stuff often found
in herbal tea bags.
And because your own ingredients
are not as finely ground,
they will be more nourishing
to your body and give you
greater medicinal benefit.
I guarantee that if you try this at home,
you will buy a lot fewer tea bags in the future.
Choosing Herbs
There are a number
of ways and reasons to enjoy herbal tea.
You can take your tea as a simple,
with just a single herb infused
in boiling water.
Simples are especially effective
when you have an acute condition,
like a headache or stomach disturbance,
in which case you might drink
just one herb in infusion.
When drinking tea
for pleasure or general health,
it's ok to blend different herbs.
You can choose herbs for their taste, color,
medicinal effect, or nutritional value.
Use your nose, imagination, and herb guide
to help you choose herbs for different effects.
As you'll see, there's a lot of variety.
Here are some herbs and their uses:
Herbs that are tasty:
mint, chamomile, hibiscus, lemon verbena
Herbs that add spice:
scented leaf geranium, hibiscus,
rose blossoms, orange and lemon peel
Herbs that are relaxing:
chamomile, skullcap, oat straw,
lemon balm, linden flowers,
valerian (sedative)
Herbs that are medicinal:
mint, sage, thyme, burdock, dandelion,
chickweed, echinacea, st. john's wort,
red clover, licorice root,
juniper berries, ginger, lady's mantle
See the recipes that follow
for some examples of how to blend herbs
for a number of different purposes.
Sample Tea Recipes
Except as noted, all recipes
are for a pot of tea.
Tonic Tea
3 slices fresh ginger
(spicy, warming, immune tonic)
1 tsp. mint (sweet, digestive)
1 tbsp. chamomile (sweet, relaxant)
1 tsp. nettles (green, system/kidney tonic)
3 slices burdock Root (woody, system/liver tonic)
1 tbsp. red clover (sweet, blood cleanser)
1 tsp. rose hips (sour, vitamin c)
Steep for 5-15 minutes for a balanced,
healthful tea.
Best drunk over the period of a few months,
for maximum effectiveness as a tonic.
One cup a day is good.
Exotic Spice Tea
This one is nice for tea parties.
4 rose blossoms (spicy, fragrance)
1 tsp. hibiscus flowers (sour, pink color)
1 tsp. orange rind (sweet, spicy)
3 slices fresh ginger
(spicy, warming, headache calmer)
1 tsp. clover (sweet, cool)
1 clove (spicy, warming)
2 leaves fresh scented leaf geranium
(spicy, balancing)
1 tsp. lemon balm (green, relaxing)
Steep for 5-10 minutes and enjoy
with a teaspoon of honey.
Calming, Sedative Tea
This tea can be made truly sedative
by adding valerian,
but best to start
slow and see how it affects you.
4-5 linden flowers (sweet, relaxing)
1 tsp. chamomile (sweet, mildly sedative)
1 tsp. skullcap (bitter, mildly sedative)
1 tsp. mint (sweet, spicy)
2 leaves fresh scented leaf geranium
(spicy, balancing)
1 tsp. lemon balm (green, relaxing)
Again, steep 5-10 minutes and sweeten
with honey if desired.
Cold and Flu Tea
(especially with runny nose)
This recipe makes one mug.
3 slices fresh ginger
(spicy, warming, immune balancing)
5-10 leaves chopped sage
(spicy, antihistamine)
2-3 springs fresh thyme
(spicy, antibiotic, antiviral)
1 tbsp. honey
(sweet, simple sugar)
Juice of half a lemon
(sour, vitamin c)
A dash of cayenne pepper
(hot, immune enhancing)
[optional]
This mug of hot grog will make you feel
stronger while it gives you a break
from cold symptoms.
I hope this helps you get a feel
for working with herbs to make tea.
Herbal teas are tasty,
healthful, and a lot of fun.
Nearly all herbs are safe in low doses,
so you can feel free to experiment provided
you're willing to invest
in an herbal guide or two, to guide you
on your way.
Here's to homemade herbal tea!!!!
eriess
04252002
A Pain Spell
Dealing-with-Pain Spell
Gypsy Wisdom
Health Herbal Powder Potion
horse radish
Migraines
Mood Stone
Nutritive Herbs
OAK
Pain Spells
Pain Spells
Peppermint Lotion
St. John's Wort
Sinuses
Willow Bark
Draconian
© 2000-2007 Cosby Creek Web Design
