Organic Herbal Teas

Though referred to as herbal tea, herbal teas are not strictly speaking tea, as they aren’t made from the Camellia Sinensis plant. The word ‘tea’ in their name relates more to the process of brewing and drinking the beverage, which is done in the same way as regular tea.

Also called ‘herbal infusions’ or ‘tisanes’, herbal teas come in numerous varieties, and may contain an array of ingredients including herbs, spices, petals, roots and other plant materials which are steeped in water to draw out flavours.

Sometimes herbal teas mix a variety of ingredients together, and sometimes include only one ingredient, like mint, lemon balm, and lemongrass. They may also include roots like turmeric and ginger.

Fruit teas also often come under the umbrella of ‘herbal teas’, and these include things like dried berries, citrus rind, and petals.

Herbal teas generally don’t contain caffeine, which is why many people choose them over regular tea or coffee.

In regards to health benefits, it really depends on the particular herbal tea you choose. Ginger tea, for example, is said to help with an upset stomach, and also has anti-inflammatory benefits. The same goes for chamomile tea, with the added advantage of potentially aiding sleep and reducing anxiety.

With any herbal concoction or individual herbal ingredient, there’s usually a benefit and a possible side-effect, depending on your own constitution and sensitivities. So it’s important to do a little research on any herbal tea you choose, and check that it won’t interfere with any medication you may be taking, or exacerbate any health condition you may have. (Pregnant women, or those with heart problems or high blood pressure should always be cautious when choosing which kind of tea to drink.)

To get the most benefit from herbal teas, it’s also important to ensure you drink products that use fresh and high-quality ingredients.

How drinking herbal tea daily impacts you will depend on the particular herbal tea you choose, as different ingredients have different effects on the body.

It also depends on the quantity of tea you consume. In most cases, if you enjoy just one cup of herbal tea, it’s unlikely to have a significant impact on your body. If you drink a large quantity of a particular type of herbal tea, you may experience benefits, or even side-effects, so make sure you research the ingredients in your tea of choice.

If you are switching from daily coffee drinking to herbal teas, you will most likely notice yourself feeling a little calmer on a day-to-day basis than you would if you were drinking coffee, due to the absence of caffeine in herbal teas.

Chamomile, peppermint, and ginger teas are all said to have the ability to settle the stomach. Hibiscus tea is said to have antiviral effects, and a positive effect on high blood pressure. Echinacea is widely believed to boost the immune system, and sage tea may improve brain function.

There are numerous other herbal teas with reported health benefits. We at Tea Tonic believe that the best thing to do is drink any tea in moderation, so try a few different herbal teas and change them up.

Any time of day is the perfect time to drink herbal tea. As they don’t contain caffeine, herbal teas shouldn’t keep you awake at night, so are perfect to drink after dinner. And if you choose chamomile tea, it may even help you fall asleep.

To get you started in the morning, something like lemongrass, lemon balm or peppermint will awaken your taste buds and taste nice and fresh. For any other time of the day, teas like rooibos, ginger, and hibiscus are warming options.

Remember, you don’t have to drink herbal teas hot, so if you fancy something cool in the morning or in the afternoon when you need a pep up, try drinking your herbal teas cold. You may need to prepare them ahead of time, but it’s well worth it.