The in's and out's of making a 'tea.'
When the word 'tea' is used, it can mean all kinds of things. Black tea, herbal tea, green tea, chai tea - ultimately, it is a drink made by soaking a tea bag in water.
Did you know there is an actual tea plant though? It is called Camellia sinensis. (It is not the source of tea tree oil. That is a different plant altogether.) The leaves of this tea plant are processed in different ways to make different teas, namely black, green, and oolong but there are others. The process uses oxidation, where more oxidation turns the leaves black for black tea and much less oxidation is used for green tea.
So even though there is actual tea from a tea plant, when most people use the word 'tea' they are really referring to HERBAL INFUSIONS. Steeping herbs in water to make a 'tea.'
To make an herbal infusion, start by boiling water. Distilled water for herbal infusions is best as the water is hungry, meaning it pulls the constituents, or active ingredients, out of the herb better than other waters.
While the water is heating up, get your herbs ready. Whether you are using a mug, a quart jar, or a French press, the typical measurement is 1 teaspoon herb per 1 cup water. I like my tea strong so I almost always use 2 teaspoons per cup for drinking. The French press allows you to just put loose herbs in the container but mugs and jars require a tea ball or reusable tea bag. Herbal infusions can be made with fresh or dried herbs.
Once the water starts to boil, turn off the heat and let the bubbles subside. This way you are using just boiled water, not actively boiling water. Now, pour the just boiled water over the herbs and cover. I use a small plate or large jar lid over my mugs, anything that can effectively keep the steam and heat in while the herbs steep.
Let sit for 10-15 minutes. Remove the lid, and the tea ball/bag (or pour from French press), and add raw honey, if you need to sweeten it. The more you use herbal infusions without a sweetener, the less you'll feel it is needed. As you get to know different herbs, the less you will want other flavors to interfere with tasting the herbs.
A similar process is used when using blends, such as In With The Good, Out With The Bad, Nourish, or Take Me Away, in foot baths or bathtubs. Run hot water over a reusable bath-sized tea bag. After 10-15 minutes soak your feet or whole body in the herbal infusion.
Herbal infusions are a wonderful, nutritious, healing and relaxing way to extract the multitude of benefits the plants all around us offer. The plants are calling to you. Are you listening?
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