I started this post after reading an article concerning the vitamins soluble in water. Did that make a difference in my tea? Should I be concerned? After hopefully trying to find studies on the subject, I found that there wasn’t much written about the subject. Americans have minimal issues concerning the lack of vitamins B and C in the diet. We aren’t deficient in these vitamins. While we know that cooking methods in vegetables matter, it barely effects our tea.
Water is the best solvent for herbs. Hot or cold? 1 minute or 20? What is the best way to brew, steep or make tea to get the most nutrients from the herbs that you are using?
White tea– steep 1 minute. Green tea–steep 2 minutes. Black tea– steep 4 minutes. Chamomile tea — steep no longer than 2 minutes or it is bitter. Do you look on the back of your tea box, bag, or can? The Lemon ginger tea that I am drinking says to steep 3-5 minutes at 190 to 210 degrees. It all seems confusing. Should it be so confusing?
Image by congerdesign from Pixabay
I put peppermint or mint in everything I make. I don’t like the taste of many herbs, which is why I started studying aromatherapy. If I couldn’t stand a tea, how was I going to get my family to drink it? Heck, my grandkids won’t even taste honey!
So, when I brew something, if I don’t like the individual components or in this case, herbs. They don’t go in the blend.
Brewing tea ideas
Sore throat tea:
Sage (1 teaspoon dried) and ginger root (1/4 teaspoon dried).
Sweeten with a little honey if needed.
Bring water to a boil, simmer ginger for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat. Add sage and steep for 15 minutes.
Strain and sweeten if desired.
Tummy tea:
Equal parts peppermint, lemon balm and chamomile.
For one serving, use 1 teaspoon each for 8 ounces of water.
Steep 3-4 minutes.
Sleepy time tea:
Equal parts chamomile, skullcap, lemon balm and burdock.
For one serving: use 2-3 teaspoons of tea per 8 ounces of water.
Cover with boiling water and steep for up to 15 minutes.
Everyday tonic tea:
Peppermint, chamomile, lemon balm, oat tops, dandelion root, schisandra berries, orange peel.
For one serving use 1 teaspoon of tea per 8 ounces of water.
Cover with boiling water and steep for up to 15 minutes.
Happy Blending,
Crystal.
“May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”
PSALM 20:4