How to Make Herbal Tea
After water, herbal tea is the most popular beverage in the world. It's easy to prepare, caffeine-free, and has a lot of health benefits. If you're wondering how to make the perfect cup, check out our quick 5 step guide below.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
Your favourite loose leaf herbal tea
An infuser teapot, or fine mesh strainer, french press, or tea ball
Fresh, filtered water
Sweetener and Lemon (optional)
QUICK 5 STEP GUIDE: 'HOW TO MAKE HERBAL TEA'
1. Choose a high quality loose leaf herbal tea.
2. Infuse one heaped tablespoon of the loose tea into 500ml of boiled water 100°C (212°F). (You can double the amount of loose tea, like in the video for a big teapot)
3. Let your tea steep, covered for 8-10 minutes, no need to do anything, just sit back and relax!
4. Pour using a fine mesh kitchen strainer, if you don't have a tea ball or a teapot with an infuser.
5. Add honey and lemon, or sugar and milk, or simply drink it as it is. However you like it!
STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR TEA
When it comes to making herbal tea, the first step is choosing your tea. There are many different types of teas available on the market today and you want to choose a high quality loose leaf herbal tea from a reputable online store or your local health store.
Choose a tea that tastes good to you and offers the specific benefits you are looking for.
You can also choose to make your own herbal teas at home from your garden such as rosemary, mint or lemon balm.
STEP 2: CHOOSING THE QUANTITY
Now it's time to decide how much tea you want to make! We recommend one heaped tablespoon of herbs per 500ml of boiled water (you can double the amount of loose tea, like in the video for a big teapot). This is a good rule of thumb, but as each tea can be different, feel free to play around with the amount of tea until you find your ideal strength.
STEP 3: BOIL THE WATER
Boil fresh water to 100°C (212°F). Green tea is best slightly cooler at 80°C.
If the water is too hot, it can cause the herbs to taste bitter and if it's too cool, your tea may lack flavour, as it may not pull the full flavour from out of the herbs.
STEP 4: LET IT STEEP
Let your tea steep for 8-10 minutes, no need to do anything, just sit back and relax!
The longer you let it steep, the stronger the tea will be. Be careful not to leave it steep too long as some types of herbal tea can start to taste bitter. If you want an even stronger taste, it's better to add more loose tea to the same quantity of water at the beginning.
STEP 5: STRAIN
Depending on what method you use to make your herbal tea here are some tips:
Tea strainer ball - cover the cup while the tea is steeping and simply uncover and remove the ball when ready.
Teapot with infuser - this method is straightforward, steep with the lid on and simply pour when it's ready. If you don't finish the tea in one sitting and plan to drink it throughout the day, remove the infuser to stop the remaining tea from tasting bitter.
If you do not have a strainer ball or a teapot with an infuser, simple pour the water directly on the herbs in a cup and transfer into another cup with a fine mesh kitchen strainer when it's ready to be poured.
STEP 6: ADD HONEY OR LEMON OR SIMPLY DRINK AS IT IS
Natural honey is a great way to add sweetness to herbal tea. Instead of honey, sugar, maple syrup or stevia are all good alternatives. You can also add lemon to your cup of herbal tea if you like. Lemon is a great way to add flavour to tea but it has many health benefits as well. Lemons contain vitamins A and C which help fight off infections, boost your immune system and keep your skin healthy! Some people like to add milk to their cup, it's all about how you like it!
However you like yours..
Herbal tea is a great way to get more hydration and nutrients in your diet. It's also a good alternative to coffee, soda or alcohol. You can drink herbal tea whenever you want: morning, afternoon or night -- it's a comforting drink that can perk you up when you're tired or calm you down when things are stressful.
Conclusion
So, now you know how to make the perfect cup of tea, enjoy! Don’t forget, the key is quality, you should always use organic herbs when possible. If you're looking to try some new, interesting teas check out our collection.