How To Infuse Tea
Making herbal tea is incredibly easy but can be daunting if you’re new to the worlds of tea or herbs.
Many people don’t realize that herbal medicine needs to be steeped differently than a cup of black or green tea, and they end up making a less potent tea by mistake. While black or green tea have very short steeping times (intended to decrease bitterness), herbal teas are generally meant to be steeped for much longer, with less concern as to whether or not they become bitter.
If the herbs you are consuming are primarily leaves, stems, or flowers, then steeping as a tea is a perfect option. If the herbs that you are using are primarily roots, barks, or seeds, a decoction will produce a more powerful medicine. Follow this link to learn how to make a decoction.
To make a herbal tea you will need a vessel to steep the tea in, something to strain your herbs with (such as a tea ball or a teacup with a built-in strainer), and water that has reached boiling temperature.
In general, 1-2 tsp is a good quantity of dried herbs to use per 250ml of water.
Put your herbs in the tea strainer and place the tea strainer in your vessel of choice, then add the hot water. Allow the herbs to infuse for at least 15 minutes, although you can leave them in for as long as you would like. When you’re ready to drink your tea, simply remove the strainer full of herbs and enjoy!
Once your infusion has been prepared you can store it in a sealed jar in the fridge. Herbal tea will keep fresh for several days so don’t be afraid to make a bit extra.
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