What Should You Know About Herbal Teas?

Lemon Balm Tea

© Ugur Akinci

Herbal tea, as paradoxical as it seems, is a tea-drink made from the leaves, dried fruit, roots and flowers of a wide variety of herbs and plants except the original tea plant, Camellia sinensis.

A true herbal tea does not have any caffeine (but it can contain other powerful stimulants as well as sedatives).

There are probably as many herbal tea varieties as there are plants and flowers on this planet.

Add to that the astronomical number of herbal fusions and blends that you can buy and enjoy… That's why we won’t attempt to give a comprehensive list of herbal teas here.

But some of the better known ones are chamomile, jasmine, mint, peppermint, anise, and linden teas.

One feature of herbal teas is their frequently claimed medicinal qualities. That's why herbal teas require knowledge and study since drinking the wrong herbal combination can have serious health consequences for special segments of the population like the children, pregnant women, and the elderly.

However, most of these alleged qualities are anecdotal in nature. In countries like the United States, companies who sell herbal teas are forbidden from making any claims that they cannot substantiate through scientific double-control experiments.

Organic Ginger Tea

Some herbal teas actually do have proven and acute side effects that consumers should aware of. Read the topic What are the side effects of herbal teas?

Herbal tea is sometimes referred to as “tisane” or “ptisan” as well, which means “a drink made from pearl barley” in Greek.

Some of the better known herbal teas are:

• Linden Tea -- My grandmother used to brew us some linden tea every time we had a cough or soar throat and it seemed to work. It’s made by seeping dried linden leaves and flowers in a cup of hot water and letting in steep for about 5 minutes. It has a great smooth taste and goes down better with a teaspoonful of honey mixed in.
• Chamomile Tea -- Chamomile tea has a sedative effect.
• Hibiscus Tea -- It is very popular in the Middle East and Japan. It’s drunk either hot or cold and believed to contribute to a long life span.
• Mint and Peppermint Tea -- A very popular herbal tea either drunk as is or mixed with green tea.
• Ginseng Tea -- Made from Ginseng root and very popular in Japan and China. Those who swear by Ginseng attribute almost miraculous powers to this plant including extra energy, vitality and stamina.
• Ginger Tea -- Made from ginger root and is believed to help relieve nausea and vomiting.
• Roasted Barley and Roasted Wheat Tea -- Used as coffee-substitute in Japan and Korea.
• Lemon Grass Tea -- As the name suggests, a slightly sour and tart drink with an invigorating effect.
• Rose Hip Tea -- An excellent source of Vitamin C.