Some Facts About Herbal Teas

Herbal teas usually include every part of the plant, from roots,seeds, berries, and flowers. Many teas`are associated with kitchen herbs, some are made from fresh herbs, while others are composed of dried plants. Take, for instance, basil,
marjoram, and anise, they are all herbs that we use in our cooking. Herbal teas are almost always aromatic, due to the oils that are`used in making the teas. I like to take my herbal tea with just a slice of lemon, or many prefer to take them just plain.

Pioneer women often used herbal teas as tonics, some farmers picked the wild herbs from the countryside and dried them through the winter months. Mint teas were often taken as remedies for stomach ailments, and are still used for this purpose, today. I did read that there was a tea called "Hamburger Tea" . This tea was a combination of senna, tartaric acid, coriander and other leaves, and was used as a laxative. I do not know if they use any of those ingredients in today's
laxative formulas.

When Europeans drink tea, it is generally a tisane, which is an herbal infusion. If you like chamomile tea, then you should visit Italy where they make a lovely tea from Asters, found on the hills. Rose hip tea is a favorite in Finland, and due to the wonderful rose gardens in Finland, there is always a supply of rose hips. If you are visiting Greece, you will likely receive chamomile tea, a mixture of herbs that is best taken with honey. When I was in France, I was offered apple, lime and mint teas.

I often wonder if the popularity of herbal teas, is due to our worry about caffeine. Almost everywhere you go, from large restaurants to the tiny cafe, you will find a selection of herbal teas. You will notice that many large tea companies are now selling their own brands of herbal teas, and a small cottage industry has opened up to provide a good living for those making and selling their own brands. Cranverry, almond, apple, and ginseng are among the more unusual herbal teas available.

Many people find that at first tasting, herbal teas are unpalatable, but as they continue to use them, they enjoy the unusual taste, and often then find, that regular tea has lost it's popularity.

To make your own herbal tea, it is best to use a well- rounded teaspoon of the herb for each cup of boiling water. Loose herbs can be found in the health food stores and speciality shops. The leaves of herbs should be infused just like regular tea. If using the root of a plant,boil for fifteen minutes before straining, but seeds and berries are best crushed in a mortar, then simmered in water for ten minutes, before they are strained, and always served, piping hot.

Try some of these flower teas: jasmine, chamomile, red clover, hibiscus, lavender, rose, yarrow. Their dried blossoms make wonderfully fragrant teas.

Whatever tea you decide to drink, try to take a quiet moment, relax, and inhale the aroma of your tea, and think of a shady lawn and a babbling brook, the warmth of the sun, and how precious life is.