Collection: Herbal Tea

Your Definitive Guide to Herbal Tea

Sections

• What are Herbal Teas?
• Herbal Tea Health Benefits
• How to Infuse Loose Herbal Tea
• Buying Herbal Tea Online
• A Selection of Our Most Popular Herbal Teas
• FAQs

What are Herbal Teas?

Herbal teas have been consumed by people around the world for centuries, for enjoyment as well as for their health benefits. Evidence of the use of herbal infusions for medicinal purposes shows that herbal tea remedies were being used as long ago as Ancient Egyptian times.

In Europe, before teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant were known, herbal infusions made with flowers and plants were the only kinds of teas used for refreshment, and were more likely referred to as cordials or waters.

Today, people enjoy a vast range of herbal teas, and wherever they go are likely to find an array of herbal tea choices alongside coffee or regular tea. Also known as herb teas or tisanes, herbal teas are made with herbs, flowers, fruits, leaves, stalks, roots and seeds of plants, and are generally caffeine-free, making them good alternatives for those wishing to avoid caffeinated beverages.

So which is the best herbal tea for you? Below are some of the most popular herbal teas people buy, along with a selection of some of the more unusual varieties.

• Mint Tea comes in many varieties, though peppermint and spearmint are the best known. As well as containing vitamins and essential minerals, mint has antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains menthol, which can help alleviate airway congestion, and peppermint tea with honey may help soothe a sore throat. Mint is also often chosen for digestive problems such as indigestion, nausea or IBS, and some people find it helpful for headaches. Spearmint tends to have a more delicate flavour with a natural sweetness.

• Chamomile Tea is one of the most ancient herbs known and was revered by the Ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians for its healing effects. A member of the daisy family, chamomile contains chamazulene, a compound with anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. Its soothing nature can help settle a nervous stomach, and it is a great tea to wind down with at the end of the day. Its unique aroma is often likened to sweet apple blossom.

• Lemon Balm Tea is made from a perennial herb in the mint family. It is thought to help relieve stress and anxiety and may also support digestive issues such as stomach cramps and colic. Lemon Balm Tea is made from sun-dried lemon balm leaf pieces and yields citrus aromas and herbaceous lemon notes. It is often enjoyed at the end of the day.

• Rooibos Tea is grown in South Africa’s Cederberg Mountains and is also known as bush tea or redbush tea. It is made from the soft needle-like leaves of a broom-like shrub. Rooibos is a soothing drink that offers anti-allergenic, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. It is rich in vitamins and minerals, caffeine-free and low in tannins. It has a pleasant earthy, slightly nutty flavour and can be served on its own or with lemon, honey, milk or sugar, and also makes a good iced tea.

Herbal teas may be created from different parts of plants. For example, some are made from flower blossoms and petals, others from leaves, fruit peelings, roots, fruits or grasses.

As well as pure herbal teas, wonderful blends can also be created by mixing two or more varieties together, such as Harmony Herbal Tea, a blend of rose hip, anise, raspberry, nettle, liquorice, cardamom, rooibos, clove, calendula and safflower petals.

Herbal Tea Health Benefits

The health benefits of herbal teas have been recognised and appreciated for thousands of years. Most herbal teas and tisanes contain antioxidants to support immunity as well as vitamins and minerals, and some have particular properties that may be beneficial for a range of common health conditions.

• Chamomile Herbal Tea: May support relaxation and sleep, help with digestive problems, offer anti-inflammatory properties and assist with stress relief.

• Peppermint Herbal Tea: May help with headaches, digestive problems, airway congestion and stress relief.

• Nettle Herbal Tea: May support hay fever relief, act as a diuretic, provide anti-inflammatory properties and help with airway congestion.

• Dandelion Tea: May offer diuretic and detoxification properties.

• Rooibos Tea: May help with headaches, inflammation and digestive problems.

• Lemon Balm Tea: May support relaxation, sleep and digestive comfort.

• Hibiscus Herbal Tea: May help support healthy blood pressure.

• Rose Hips Herbal Tea: Offers anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in vitamin C.

• Liquorice Root Herbal Tea: May offer antiviral and antibacterial properties, digestive support and antispasmodic benefits.

• Dried Ginger Root Tea: May provide anti-inflammatory properties, digestive support and help with airway congestion.

• Organic Turmeric Chai Herbal Tea: May offer anti-inflammatory properties.

• Honeybush Tea: May offer expectorant properties for coughs and congestion.

• Lavender de Provence Herbal Tea: May help lift mood and support relaxation and sleep.

How to Infuse Loose Herbal Tea

How long you steep a herbal infusion depends on the nature of the herbal tea itself and on personal choice. There are various devices you can use to infuse loose herbal tea. A teapot is the most obvious choice, but if a single cup is required, a tea infuser is a good option. You can also make your own tea bags.

Infusing herbal tea in a glass teapot can be especially satisfying, as you can watch the delicate leaves, petals and buds gently unfurl in the water. The experience begins as soon as you spoon the tea into the pot, as some herbal teas release rich aromas the moment the pack is opened.

Freshly drawn water should be used, preferably filtered, especially in hard water areas. Once boiled, the water should be left to cool for a couple of minutes to prevent delicate leaves or petals from being scalded. Water used should be no hotter than 96°C to 100°C.

Generally, herbal infusions may be steeped for between 2 and 10 minutes, but it is best to experiment to find the flavour and strength you prefer. Herbal teas made from roots, fibrous stalks or stems may need longer infusions than leaves and blossoms. Rooibos teas can be steeped for several minutes without becoming bitter. Some herbal teas require only a short infusion to impart flavour and fragrance while still providing nutritional benefit.

Some herbal teas have a natural sweetness, but they can also be sweetened with a little honey if desired. Many varieties work well as iced teas, especially those that produce an attractive colour when infused. On a hot day, iced herbal tea garnished with fresh mint or slices of lemon can be especially refreshing.

Buying Herbal Tea Online

Buying herbal tea online means you have a wider choice of herbal tea products than you are likely to find on any high street. If you are interested in herbal tea remedies, whether for immunity, sleep, digestion, detox or simple refreshment, there may well be a herbal tea suited to you.

If you are struggling to decide which one to buy, a herbal tea gift set can be a good option. A herbal selection pack might include teas such as Hibiscus Herbal Tea, Lemongrass and Mint Herbal Tea, Chrysanthemum Flowers Herbal Tea, Nettle Leaf Herbal Tea, Egyptian Chamomile Herbal Tea, Raspberry Leaf Tea, Bamboo Tea and Jasmine Flower Tea.

Herbal tea gift packs can also make a thoughtful present for a herbal tea lover.

A Selection of Our Most Popular Herbal Teas

Chamomile Herbal Tea

Chamomile is one of the most ancient herbs known and is an excellent ingredient for a calming herbal tea. A chamomile infusion reveals notes of apple and honey, and its soothing properties promote relaxation.

“Fresh chamomile flowers make the very best tea.”

Dandelion Herbal Tea

Dandelions have been used for their health and nutritional benefits for centuries in many cultures. They have cleansing and detoxifying properties and are natural diuretics. Dandelion herbal tea has a subtle sweet and grassy flavour with a slight astringency.

“Absolutely beautiful, lovely taste.”

Hibiscus Herbal Tea

A sharp and zesty herbal tea, bursting with slightly sweet, cranberry-like flavours. A hibiscus infusion reveals an attractive deep red colour, making it ideal as both an iced tea and a warming evening drink.

“Delicious - will continue to order more.”

Dried Ginger Root Tea

Ginger root has long been valued for a number of health-related uses, having anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and antimicrobial properties. It makes a warm and comforting brew and is often used for its positive effects on digestion.

“Beautiful soothing and healing tea. Many thanks.”

Nettle Herbal Tea

One of the best herbal teas for a detox, Nettle Herbal Tea is believed to have cleansing and purifying properties and is often considered beneficial for coughs and respiratory complaints. The light grassy flavour of nettle tea works well when blended with other teas, such as rooibos or fruit tisanes.

“Nettle tea is always very refreshing and this variety is very good, it also has the added advantage of slightly larger leaves so I get virtually no bits through the strainer.”

Jasmine Flower Tea

Made from aromatic jasmine flowers and petals sourced from Fujian Province in China, this jasmine herbal tea is mild and delicately flavoured and can be enjoyed at any time of day.

“I’ve been searching for original jasmine flower tea for a few years ever since one of my Chinese students gave me some and this is certainly the real thing.”

FAQs

What’s the best herbal tea to help me sleep?

As well as being caffeine-free, many herbal teas have relaxing and soothing properties conducive to a good night’s sleep. One of the best bedtime drinks is chamomile tea, as a soothing chamomile infusion can relax the mind and help with insomnia. Chamomile is also often used for digestive problems such as indigestion and acid reflux, which may also affect sleep.

Some people also drink lavender tea to help them sleep. Lemon balm is another aromatic herbal tea that is thought to offer calming and mildly sedative effects.

Will herbal tea help me lose weight?

Most herbal teas are virtually calorie-free and contain no added sugar, making them good alternatives to sweetened drinks or those with added milk when trying to lose weight. Rooibos tea is sometimes considered a good herbal tea for weight loss, as studies have suggested it may increase levels of leptin, a hormone that helps reduce appetite.

Is it safe to drink herbal tea during pregnancy?

It is important for pregnant women to stay hydrated and to limit or avoid caffeine during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Herbal teas and tisanes are generally naturally caffeine-free and contain vitamins and minerals, so they may seem like good alternatives. However, opinions differ on certain herbal teas during pregnancy, and some should be avoided completely or at least during the first trimester.

Raspberry leaf tea, for instance, has long been recommended for women in late pregnancy, no earlier than 32 weeks, as it is thought to help prepare the uterus for labour. Nettle tea has also often been suggested during pregnancy, but sometimes with a caution not to drink it during the first trimester.

Herbal teas often considered safe during pregnancy include the following.

• Rooibos Tea - a soothing drink that is antioxidant-rich, caffeine-free and low in tannins
• Peppermint Tea - often used for indigestion and nausea
• Ginger Tea - commonly used to help alleviate morning sickness
• Honeybush Tea - similar to rooibos, but with a natural sweetness
• Lemon Balm Tea - may help with relaxation and sleep

According to NHS guidelines, pregnant women should drink no more than 4 cups of herbal tea a day. If you are unsure, it is best to ask your midwife or GP for advice. It may also be sensible to vary the type of herbal tea you drink during the day so you are not having too much of any one variety.