Part 2 of the Herb Series
Teas and Vinegars
To get the most from your herbal tea you'll want to know a few things. If your tea is made from leaves, fruits, seeds and/or flowers an infusion is the best way to go to really draw out the most benefits. First you can either use a tea bag that you fill yourself, a french press, or a regular teapot and strainer. Typically you will use a teaspoon of dried or a tablespoon fresh of herbs to cup of water depending on your herbs and taste buds. Boil fresh water. Pour the boiled water over your herbs and cover immediately. Allow to steep about 20 minutes. This can vary. Some herbs, such as chamomile may take only 10 minutes. Some herbs can be left in all day. If you do not wish to "cook" your herbs in this way you can make sun tea by putting the herbs in a clear glass jar with the water and placing in the sun. Be sure you have a lid of course. This may be served hot or iced. Remember that the longer you let it steep, the stronger it will be.
You may want to use your roots, nuts, or barks for your tea. This is accomplished by decoction (with the exception of valerian. Valerian should be infused with one of the above methods.) Put your plant material in cold water and place over a low heat. Slowly bring to a boil and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes with a tight fitting lid.
If you are making a preparation that contains both leaves and roots you could simmer your roots and then add your leaves when you take it off the heat. If your preparation is already blended you would simmer some and then add some more after taking it off the heat.
Another great way to use herbs is in an herbal vinegar. The vinegar can then be used in salad dressing, cooking, or even as a hair rinse depending on the herbs you use. You may use fresh or dried herbs. If using fresh herbs you will want to be sure to let them gently wilt in a shaded warm spot during the day to let some of the water evaporate. Either way you will then chop your herb and put them into a clean glass jar. You will want to put enough herbs in to fill the jar Then pour your vinegar over the herbs being sure you cover the herbs completely. Place your jar in a warm, dark place for 2- 6 weeks. The longer you leave them the stronger the finished product. Shake your herbs daily. After the 2-6 weeks strain the herbs out using a fine mesh cheese cloth or cotton muslin cloth. Be sure to squeeze all of the liquid out. Store in a glass container that is labeled with the date and herbs used.
Any time you put herbs into any container you want to be sure to label and date the container. This is really important. Even if you just have a jar of lavender flowers you want to go ahead and label the jar. If you have a pre-blended tea mixture label it with every herb in order of volume. You will forget how you blended the herbs and may want to make more. Just label EVERYTHING! Trust me. I've figured I would remember what was in what jar when I was in a hurry and later I wished I hadn't hurried.
The only thing I would add is that technically these are tisanes not teas. Tea is the camilla sinensis plant - good old black, green, and white tea. That might help someone in their Googling. :)
ReplyDeleteLeigh, thanks for the addition! The term "herbal tea" is just simple and familiar. You can go to the grocery store and buy "herbal tea" and a lot of people use it. If infused or decocted it will give better results. When I've used unfamiliar terms I've noticed that some start to think that I'm talking about something that is difficult to do themselves. Really it isn't! Everyone can mix their own herbs with a little guidance to start. But it is true that the proper terms are helpful if one is going to do further research, which I hope they do. :)
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