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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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Adagio Teas began ten years ago with the desire to introduce customers to an
array of gourmet hand picked, whole leaf teas and herbals sourced directly from
growers around the world. When we started, many tea drinkers were accustomed to
having low quality bags filled with tea dust as their only option. It has been
our mission to bring tea lovers in all corners of the United States and Canada
fresh seasonal teas with abundant flavor and intoxicating aromas that will
delight them daily.

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