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People
have used herbal teas for centuries, first for medicinal use, and later
for enjoyment as tasty and refreshing beverages. Not all herbs are
suitable for making tea, so become informed on each particular herb before
ingesting a tea made from it.
The steps involved in making both enjoyable beverages and medicinal teas
are pretty much the same. The major difference is that when making
medicinal teas, more attention should be paid to covering the water pot
as much as possible to entrap the beneficial properties of the herb. While
the aroma of the tea is part of the enjoyment for making beverages, there
should be no aroma when making teas for medicinal uses.
Having said that, making a pot of herbal tea is actually an easy, enjoyable
thing to do. Bring cool water to a boil, and then rinse a non-metal
container with some of the water. Metal containers can interfere with
the purity of the tea. Add 2 tablespoons of fresh, or 1 tablespoon
of dried herb (or crushed seed) to the pot for each cup of water, plus an
extra 2 tablespoons of fresh or 1 tablespoon of dried "for the pot." (For
iced tea, increase to 3 tablespoons of fresh and 2 tablespoons of dried
herb to allow for watering down by melting ice).
Therefore, if making 2 cups of hot tea, you would use 6 tablespoons of fresh
herb or 3 tablespoons of dried.
Put the herbs in the non-metal pot, and pour the boiling water over the
herbs. Let them steep, covered, for about 5 minutes. This
is not an exact time, and you should check at varying intervals to find
the right strength for your purposes. Strain the herbs out of the
water when the desired strength is reached. Garnish with herb
sprigs, honey, or citrus fruits.
Below is a chart containing some ideas for herb blends that can be used
in teas. This is a starting point, but you can certainly experiment
with different combinations on your own.
Anise,
Marjoram, Lemon Verbena |
Angelica, Clove,
Orange Peel, Nutmeg |
Elderberry,
Lemon Balm,
Spearmint |
Anise,
Chamomile |
Lemon Verbena,
Borage |
Beebalm, Ginger |
Lemongrass,
Savory,
Scented Geranium |
Lemongrass,
Rosemary,
Thyme |
Chamomile,
Horehound |
Chicory,
Ginseng,
Cinnamon |
Chamomile,
Valerian |
Basil,
Lemongrass,
Lemon Verbena, Lemon
Thyme |
Ginger, Pennyroyal,
Peppermint |
Chamomile,
Apple Mint |
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