How to make herbal tea, perfectly

How to make herbal tea follows. Specifically addressed is the process of assuring the herb tea you prepare is chosen & steeped correctly.
Three sources of tea

* You can make tea with dried herbs. This is essentially what is contained in the prepackaged tea bags in common use. Dried herbs are more concentrated as they contain only about ¼ - 1/5 of the water in fresh herbs.

* You can use fresh herbs. I think fresh herbs have better flavor & are smoother than dried herbs. I like putting fresh herbs in cold teas for extra flavor and value. For example, I like to put fresh mint leaves in iced pekoe tea. When using fresh herbs, you will need to use four times as much plant as when using dried herbs.

* You can even use opened capsules of powdered herbs. Just pour into hot water. Doesn’t sound too appetizing but actually tastes pretty good. Also, this method assures you get what you expect as most products would be standardized.

Two types of teas

When learning how to make herbal tea the right way, be aware of the difference between the two ways to steep tea.

* Infusions are what we typically think of as tea. Using prepared tea bags calls for infusion. Normally, the tea is steeped for between 3 - 20 minutes to extract the medicinal parts of the tea. The water does not need to continue boiling while the tea is steeping. Infusions are used for leafs and flower material which give up their properties fairly easily.

The leafy parts of peppermint, chamomile and sage are examples of herbs that release their properties easily.

* Decoctions call for gently simmering the herb for 10 - 20 minutes. Decoctions are normally used for roots and twigs because it is more difficult to extract the beneficial parts from them.

Directions for making a great cup of herbal tea

Generally, barks, roots, seeds and berries are reluctant to give up their goods. Decoctions work best for those parts.

Herb tea requires about 1 - 2 tsps of dried herb per cup of tea. Quadruple the amount for fresh herbs.

Cover tea while steeping even for infusions, to keep the water as hot as possible for as long as possible. This helps in extracting the maximim amount of goodness.

If herb has bitter parts, like the tannins in pekoe tea, I suggest you not stir herb or tea bag while steeping or the bitter part will be released into your tea. Gently strain and enjoy.

Strain plant material before serving.

Home made tea bags

Yep, many health food stores sell tea bags that you can fill yourself. Think of how convenient that is. Imagine the possibilities when it comes to mixing herbs for flavor and performance specifically tailored to your needs. Also, don’t hesitate to ask staff for recommendations on how to make herbal tea just right.

Keeping teas fresh

Be sure to store dried teas in airtight containers away from heat and light. Ideally use opaque glass or ceramic containers. Fill to the top to minimize the oxygen in the container. As you use the herb, add cotton to stop oxygen from entering.

Aromatic herbs such as sage and thyme keep for about a year. Nonaromatic herbs can keep longer.

Brewed tea should be drunk within 3 days and refrigerated.

Don’t hesitate to use suggestions above as guidelines. You should experiment a little to suit your needs and tastes. You’re not mixing dangerous chemicals so have fun.

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