Herbal teas are fantastic! They’re packed with amazing plant-based antioxidants called polyphenols, which can help fight off stress in your body and boost your long-term health. 

 

Beyond just general wellness, specific herbs offer their own special perks. Cinnamon and ginger are great for keeping your metabolism humming and blood sugar stable, while rosemary and sage can actually give your brain a little boost! And let’s not forget how wonderful they smell – those lovely aromas in herbal teas can really make you feel more alert and less stressed.

 

Tea is one of the oldest forms of medicine, having been around long before capsules or tinctures (which are alcohol extracts) and your body absorbs it really easily. Some medicinal herbs have a strong, bitter taste, but herbs like cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum and cassia), cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) can actually do a fantastic job of masking those bitter tastes. 

 

Making your own herbal teas is simple. If you can, use organic, loose-leaf herbs or even grow them yourself at home.. If you’re new to this, mint or rosemary are easy to grow and a great place to start. The trick to a good blend is having one main herb and then adding others for both flavor and extra health benefits. You could try chamomile, meadowsweet, lemon balm, cinnamon, mint, thyme, rosemary, calendula, or elderflower.

 

The basic method of preparing a herbal tea is:

• Pick and wash a few sprigs of your chosen plant(s), or measure out a tablespoon of dried herbs per person
• Take a teapot or cafetiere (or use a mug with a plate on top) and place your herbs inside.
• Fill your pot with just-boiled water, stir, and leave to steep for 5-15 minutes.
• Pour the tea into a cup, through a strainer.
• Enjoy the drink as is, or add sugar or honey to taste.

Many herbal teas are also delicious chilled, especially in warmer weather – just make it as normal, allow to cool, and refrigerate. You can even freeze herbal tea into ice cubes! For example, hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) and schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) tea cubes are fantastic to add to your water bottle for a quick, refreshing boost on those busy days.