Herbal Tea

Infusions or decoctions, herbal tea may be called either. The names come from the preparatory procedures that essentially comprise 'soaking'-leaves and the flowers and 'boiling'-roots, stems and fruits, the herb(s) in hot water. They fit in well for other beverages and unlike just the taste or the flavor.

Herbal teas bring forth a fair amount of benefits that people often seek through surgical or non-surgical methods. However, an overnight benefit cannot be expected from singular herbs; except for a few like incontinence or dysuria treated with caltrop. Any degree of such disorders is curable with caltrop within 24 hours or Aloe Vera; the latter in known to cure diarrhea within a few hours. It will take an appropriate combination.

Unlike pharmaceutical medications that fight the symptoms alone, Herbs strengthen the system from the insides while fighting the symptoms; and we all know multi-tasking takes more time. That applies to anything from hemato-cardiac unrests or neural fusses or even the bone and joint unhinges.

It's not that herbs are always the sweet-smelling froo-froo goodies; sometimes they are as bitter and pungent as Hell itself. A perfect example is the Che Dang; an extremely bitter tea made from the Ilex cause leaves. But they comprise enough goodies to let go off, so an easy way was devised to blunt the bitterly experiences. Herbal tea was born to take care of some of them. The process is simple: pour some boiling water on crushed herb, allow steeping for some time and the drink is ready.

There are two choices: First is, buying it from herbal tea stores and next, growing it in a tea herb garden. Indoors or outdoors, designated or non-designated, it entirely depends on the planter. However, there also stays a third choice present; befriending someone with an herbal tea garden or making someone start a herb garden. You may often get free supplies besides what you buy from the person.

Growing and harvesting herbs - contrary to what commercial producers claim - is something easier done than said? Fennel from a homegrown herb garden shall brew as good as its commercial variety; of course, it won't look as good. Just put in a few hours every week and a quarter of the money you'd spend to buy the OTC herbal teas, your herb garden at home will be ready.

However, to derive the most of the herbs, they need harvesting early in the day, during the end of the season, just before frost sets in. The perfect time is in the cool of the morning, when the dew has dried but the herbs still lush from it. The active ingredients in the herbs reach their peak this time, just before blooming. You are; however, not supposed to tear/crush them for storing; this shall make the essential oils and other beneficial stuff to get wasted. They must be crushed only before the boiling water is poured.

Crushed herbs require a teaspoonful (flattened; not heaped) to make a cup of (any) herbal tea with the strength and the flavor balanced. For fresh leaves, it comes up to 3 teaspoonfuls a cup. Lemon Basil is a good choice to start with; gradually, Chamomile and Fennel could be added as experience grows. Mint and rosemary or lavender is wonderful herbs to plant if you want to make herbal teas a staple for your guests. A little tip here: whether a tea tastes good or bad depends on the combination of the herbs. If the combination smells good, it shall taste good as well. The teas supposed to be taken cold taste much better if a tenth is fruit juice; that way, you'll also learn to make the herbal punch.