How to make herbal tea and uses for herbal teasHerbal tea
One of the best ways to extract the medicinal properties of herbs is to make herbal tea that provides a helpful supplement to your daily diet. To get the best flavour use fresh herbs from your herb garden.
How to make herbal tea
You will need about five fresh leaves for each cup of boiled water. Use a few more or a few less, once you have decided on the taste you prefer. Place them on a clean piece of kitchen towel, lightly crush, and then add to a cup or teapot. Pour over the boiled water that has been cooled to just below boiling and cover.
Covering is especially important as this stops the essential oils, which are medicinally beneficial, evaporating off in the steam. Leave to brew for five minutes. Strain if necessary into a cup. Herb teas can be sweetened with honey to taste.
Herb teas to try:
- Chamomile tea, made from the flowers is lovely last thing at night to aid sleep.
- Dill seed tea is useful for calming griping pains.
- Peppermint leaf tea drunk after a meal aids digestion.
- Lemon balm tea made from the leaves is a mild anti-depressant and also relieves tiredness, headaches and reputedly restores the memory.
- Sage is very good to use as herbal tea when you have throat problems.
Examples of herbs used for specific purposes.
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Annual culinary herbs: basil, dill, summer savory.
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Perennial culinary herbs: mint, rosemary, thyme, tarragon.
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Herbs used for potpourri: lavender, lemon verbena.
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Herbs used for tea: mint, lemon verbena, cannabis, chamomile, bergamot, Hibiscus sabdariffa (for making karkade).
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Herbs used for other purposes: stevia for sweetening, feverfew for pest control in the garden.
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Camomile is great planted under garden benches and in pathways for its aroma when crushed underfoot, check out my Camomile lawn page
Aromatic herbs to spice teas and give them flavour. Allspice, Anise, Caraway, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, Coriander, Ginger,
Herbs that help sooth and prevent internal irritations, like stomach upset. Arrowroot, Borage, Coltsfoot, Comfrey root
Licorice root, Marshmallow leaves and root, Slippery elm bark,
Herbs to help
nerviness. Bugleweed. Catnip, Chamomile,Feverfew, Mullein, Paion Flower, Peppermint, Verbena.
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