
01/07/2023
Herb Tip :: Making Tea
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Herbal teas are such an incredible way to take your medicine. Here are some tips to make sure you get the most out of your herbal tea infusions!
+ Let it steep :: To draw the medicinal parts out of a plant, the herb needs to sit in the boiled water for at least 10 minutes. Leave your herbs steep for at least this long, and if your tea gets cold, simply heat it back up again on the stove top
+ Leave the lid on :: A lot of our aromatic plants (Lavender, Tulsi, Ginger) contain volatile oils. Volatile oils are important medicinal constituents, and they are lost in the steam that rises out of your brew. If you are steeping your tea, be sure to cover your saucepan or pot with a lid. If you have your herbs in a cup, cover it with a little saucer while your tea cools, so as not to lose those precious oils! This is why tea pots are great!
+ Boil your roots :: if you are having a ‘root tea’ (Ginger, Burdock, Dandelion), simply steeping them in hot water won’t draw out the constituents. It is best to boil the roots for 5 - 10 minutes, this is called a short decoction. If it reduces and tastes a bit strong, just top up with plain water
+ Experiment :: Experimenting with herbal teas is a great way to get to know your plants. Take some of your favourite herbs and throw them into your tea pot! You can try a single herb and tune in to the way it makes you feel, or make a concoction and see how the flavours play off each other - it's lots of fun making your own herbal witches brew!
Some of our favourite combos are
- Tulsi + Cinnamon
- Ginger + Elderberry + Lemongrass
- Hibiscus + Nettle + Lemon Balm
What are your favourite combinations?