Step into the realm of sweet aromas, herbal remedies and therapeutic benefits.
Herbal teas, or Tisane as they are sometimes known, are an infusion of herbs, spices, plant extracts and hot water. By combining the powerful properties and benefits of your infused ingredients, you can create some potent healing blends.
Let’s explore the health benefits of different ingredients, and how they can soothe and support your wellbeing.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile belongs to the same plant group as the daisy or sunflower, and is a popular additive in herbal remedies to soothe the nervous system to promote sleep. It has been used in traditional medicine for many thousands of years across Rome, Egypt and Greece to treat upset stomachs and soothe anxiety.
Chamomile remains just as popular today, and is widely used as a home remedy to treat fevers, colds, IBS symptoms, nausea and much more. Chamomile tea is also promoted as a great drink before bed, as it helps the mind to relax and unwind in preparation for sleep.
To make chamomile tea, steep a tea bag in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. You can add honey or lemon if you want a stronger flavour, but it’s important to let your tea cool down to a drinkable temperature to avoid scalding.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea comes with plenty of benefits too. It acts as a digestive aid, helping to reduce bloating and is also a powerful aromatic that can help to clear airways and sinuses, if you’re feeling under the weather, as well as its minty smell.
Being caffeine-free, this herbal blend is also perfect for just before bed, helping you to get warm and cosy, and ultimately relax.
Peppermint can also give you a mental boost, helping you to focus. This is from the ‘rush’ you can get from the strong minty taste, making you more alert. We would recommend adjusting the dose of leaves between drinking the tea to waken up, or prepare for sleep.
To make peppermint tea, simply add several peppermint leaves to hot water and strain them out after steeping for a few minutes. Again, leave the tea to cool down before attempting to drink it. You can also make spearmint tea, using spearmint leaves, that has a slightly different taste, depending on your preference.
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea can be a spicy alternative, if you’re looking to put some fire in your belly. One of the most well-known benefits of ginger is its aid in reducing nausea. It can also help to alleviate vomiting, and is a great hang-over cure.
Ginger is also a potent anti-inflammatory, and can alleviate the symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and psoriasis. It is also great for supporting blood sugar regulation, helping to move sugar from the blood into cells and improving diabetes control.
To make ginger tea from the root, we recommend peeling the ginger and slicing it into sections and adding it to boiling water in a saucepan or simmer pot. Simmer for around 15 minutes before straining the root out and allowing your ginger tea to cool. You can add sweetness to your tea by adding honey, or make it warm and spicy by adding some cinnamon or turmeric.
Specialty Herbal Teas for Health Goals
You can take your tea drinking journey one step further, why not try some specialty teas to help boost your wellbeing, from soothing lavender to detoxifying milk thistle, explore a range of options below.
Detoxifying Herbal Teas
Detoxifying herbal tea blends have some great benefits on both your mental and physical well being. For maximum impact, it is recommended to drink your tea 15-20 minutes before a meal, to maximise the nutrient absorption. These blends can help to bolster your immune system to fight against sickness (see here for our blog on Antioxidants), help to cleanse your bloodstream of impurities, or even help to manage weight by increasing metabolism. Let’s dive in…
Dandelion Root Tea
There are two different types of dandelion tea, one is made from the leaves of the dandelion, and the other is from the root. You can make this blend yourself at home, using the dandelions you are sure to have in your garden (as long as you can verify their cleanliness).
One of the more popular uses for dandelion tea is to help relieve bloating, as a diuretic it increases urine production, and thus relieves some of the pressure caused by the bladder during times of discomfort. It also helps to detoxify the liver; studies show this is because the dandelion helps to increase the flow of bile in your liver.
To make this wonder-blend, make sure that your lawn has not been chemically treated – if you are foraging your own. For the flowers and leaves, simply wash them thoroughly and steep them in boiling water for up to 20 minutes before draining.
For the root, you also need to wash them thoroughly, before chopping them into fine pieces and roasting them on a high heat for 2 hours. You can then add 1-2 teaspoons of the mixture to hot water. Make sure you allow your tea to cool.
Milk Thistle Tea
Milk thistle is another great option to promote liver health. It can help to manage ongoing liver problems, as the silymarin compound in the plant may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. It also has potential anti-diabetic effects, similar to dandelion root, in helping to improve insulin sensitivity. Although studies have been conducted on the milk thistle plant, there have not been studies on milk thistle tea.
Very simple to make, you can steep your shop-bought tea bags, or loose leaf tea in hot water, before straining and enjoying.
Stress relief
Whether you’ve had a tough day at work, or are looking to get a good night’s sleep, there are many tea blends that can help you to relax and unwind.
Lavender Tea
The lavender plant has long been used in aromatherapy to promote relaxation, and soothing the nervous system. There are studies to suggest that lavender stimulates certain brain areas that help to boost mood and soothe anxiety. Found commonly in essential oil, lavender leaves a pleasant, sweet smell, and the calming effect of lavender can also promote a better sleep, by helping you to unwind and relax.
Lavender tea can be a great substitute for your evening cuppa, and to make it you just need to add a small teaspoon of flower buds to your hot water and allow it to infuse. After 2-5 minutes, strain out the buds and enjoy your warm, soothing brew.
Lemon Balm Tea
From the mint family, lemon balm is a lemon-scented herb used to flavour foods. It has also been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to treat a variety of different ailments, such as digestive issues. While little to no research has been carried out on lemon balm in tea, there are significant benefits to the consumption of the plant.
Studies conducted on lemon balm demonstrate it has potential to be effective in treating conditions such as cramps, insomnia and anxiety – based on results from lemon balm supplements, such as can be found here. It is also a powerful antioxidant, and may be helpful to those with diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.
To make lemon balm tea at home, simply remove the leaves from the stems and wash them, before allowing them to dry on parchment paper. In this form they can be stored for up to several months! Add the dried leaves to boiled water and allow the tea to steep for a few minutes – you can add sugar or honey to this recipe if you want a sweeter result.
Energising Blends
If you’re looking for a helping energy boost, without the caffeine, then try some energy-boosting herbal tea blends. These can be perfect for giving you a gentle boost during the day but don’t come with the crash after!
Ginseng
Used in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years, Ginseng was highly sought-after as being a sacred ‘cure-all’ ingredient. It has since become a popular supplement to support cognitive function and alertness – but can also be enjoyed in a tasty tea!
To make this brain-boosting brew, add some hot water to a slice or two of fresh ginseng, and allow to steep until cool enough to drink. The taste is quite divisive as it has a bitter earthy taste, so it’s very popular to add a sweetener such as honey to the recipe.
Rooibos Tea
Pronounced ‘roy-buhs’, Rooibos tea is a southern African tea, packed with antioxidants and a great, caffeine-free alternative to traditional black teas. Being an antioxidant, the tea helps your body to fight against free-radicals, reducing the impacts of their presence in the body. Rooibos tea is also far lower in tannins – a compound which can interfere with nutrient processing, and also stain your teeth – than black teas.
To make this tasty, low-tannin tea, simply add your teabag, or a teaspoon of loose leaves, to hot water. The longer you allow this tea to steep, the more compounds are able to infuse and the stronger the flavour becomes.
Embrace the world of herbal teas for a delightful journey into natural wellness. From the calming chamomile to the invigorating ginger, herbal teas offer a range of health benefits. Specialty blends like dandelion root and lavender provide targeted support, while ginseng and rooibos offer a gentle energy lift. With their diverse flavours and holistic benefits, herbal teas are a great way to nourish your body on a regular basis. So, brew a cup today and savour the goodness of herbal teas for a healthier, happier you.