Herbal tea, also known as ptisan, is made from dried flowers, seeds, plant roots, and spices, and does not contain actual tea leaves. It can be prepared in the same way as tea and can be used for various purposes, such as invigoration or calming. However, caution should be taken as some herbs can cause unwanted side effects or interact with medications.
Simply put, herbal tea is a fancy word for “herbal tea”. In fact, herbal tea (also “ptisan”) is the better and more accurate term because most herbal “teas” by definition do not contain actual leaves from the tea bush. Typically, they’re made by mixing any number of dried flowers, such as chamomile or jasmine flowers; seeds; plant roots; and spices, like cinnamon – the combination possibilities are endless.
The word herbal tea comes from the Greek word ptisane, which refers to crushed barley, a reference to a drink made from crushed pearl barley. Today, this takes the form of British barley water, a derivative herbal tea.
Whether it’s tossing a handful of chamomile flowers into a pot of hot water to make a tummy tuck or concocting an elaborate concoction of herbs selected for phytonutrient nuances, herbal teas have been popular staples in the kitchen and nursing home for centuries.
Since they don’t contain any real “tea leaves”, herbal teas do not contain caffeine. Herbal teas usually consist of fresh or dried plant components such as leaves, flowers, crushed seeds, roots, hips, fruit or stems. The plants and herbs used in herbal teas can be selected for flavor or homeopathic properties, or a combination of both. Culinary herbs such as rosemary, mint, sage and thyme are frequent components of herbal tea.
Herbal teas are prepared in much the same way as teas. Near-boiling water is poured over the plant material in a vessel such as a teapot or cup and allowed to steep until the desired concentration is reached. This usually takes about five minutes. If desired, permeable muslin or paper tea bags or metal balls or teaspoons may be used. Otherwise, the herbal tea can be strained before serving. The herbal tea can be sweetened if preferred and can be served hot or cold, over ice.
Herbal teas can be prepared from one type of plant or herb or a combination of several complementary components, depending on the desired result and flavour. A good rule of thumb is that one teaspoon of dried herbs equals one tablespoon of fresh herbs. Some common goals and their complementary herbal teas include:
To invigorate: rosemary, rose hips, lemon verbena, peppermint, borage
To calm: chamomile, lavender, basil, dill, orange peel
To relieve a sore throat or cold: elderberry, rose hips, peppermint, sage, cayenne pepper
To cure cough: thyme, rose petals, eucalyptus, linden, licorice
To soothe an upset stomach: ginger, peppermint, lemon balm, chamomile
To relieve headaches: rosemary, willow bark, peppermint
It should be noted that all herbs and many plants contain substances that can cause unwanted side effects or interact with medications. Some can even cause more serious problems, like liver damage. Anyone interested in experiencing the health-promoting properties of herbal tea should only do so with the advice of a healthcare professional.
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