No matter how my day has been, I can always have faith in the comforts of a hot beverage. Most of the time, this takes shape in a mug of coffee or tea, but sometimes (before bed, for example) it is better to enjoy something without caffeine. Or, perhaps you are hosting a tea party and would like options available for a friend who doesn’t like the taste of tea. I recommend everyone try some herbal teas; there is such a wide variety out there that I believe everyone can find one that suits their tastes. Besides, it is usually inexpensive, easy to make, and can provide a variety of health benefits. In this post, I will be talking about some of my favorite herbal teas.
Introduction: Herbal Teas vs Tisanes
The term “herbal tea” is something of a misnomer. The beverage the English-speaking world refers to as “tea” is made from a plant called Camellia sinensis, which naturally contains caffeine. Herbal tea does not actually contain any tea. Some people may prefer to use the term “tisane”, which can be used to describe any infusion of herbs and/or spices in water.
Chamomile
Chamomile tea is my favorite to drink right before bedtime. It is famous for its calming effects. I like to purchase “sleepytime tea” from the grocery store which contains mainly chamomile, mint and lemongrass.
Hibiscus
I’ll admit that I am somewhat biased against “fruity” teas. Usually, they contain a lot of cheap artificial fruit flavorings which make the tea smell good, but don’t provide the best flavor. Although hibiscus tea is made from a flower, not fruit, it naturally provides a tart and sweet flavor that complements fruit flavors very well. It is also a good source of Vitamin C and antioxidants. Hibiscus tea tastes best iced. You might enjoy it on a hot summer’s day with a squeeze of lime juice and some sliced strawberries.
Ginger
Ginger is great for relieving indigestion and nausea. I like to make my ginger tea by thinly slicing a piece of ginger root (with the skin peeled off) and boiling the slices in water for 10 minutes. It tastes lovely with some lemon juice and honey.
Chrysanthemum
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, chrysanthemum tea is thought to have a “cooling” effect on the body. Whether or not you practice Chinese medicine, I am sure you will find a glass of iced chrysanthemum tea refreshing on a hot day. You can buy boxes of chrysanthemum tea at an Asian grocery store, but these can contain a lot of sugar. If you want to try making your own, you can buy dried chrysanthemum flowers at an Asian grocery store. Here is a great recipe for making your own chrysanthemum tea using goji berries and Chinese rock sugar (you can use normal granulated white sugar if you don’t have rock sugar).
Rooibos
Confusingly, rooibos tea is often referred to as “red tea”. Actually, rooibos tea does not contain any tea at all. It is made from the rooibos plant that grows in South Africa, and is naturally caffeine-free. Like tea, it contains antioxidants, but it contains much less tannins than tea, which are the chemical compounds that give tea that bitter and astringent flavor. Rooibos has a caramel-y flavor which means it is complemented excellently by vanilla.
Barley
Barley tea is simply made from water and roasted barley grain. The roasted grains provide a malty and smoky flavor that goes nicely with milk. You can buy barley tea bags at an Asian specialty grocery store.
Very fascinating! From this list, the most appealing sounding to me is Hibiscus! Especially with summer coming up. I’ll have to try it!
What is your personal favorite tea with caffeine? Or do you dislike caffeinated drinks? I am unfortunately rather addicted to caffeine but I get mine through mostly chai lattes and fruity caffeinated water mixes ^-^’
Oh yes, I am a fellow caffeine addict! That is such a difficult question. I think the tea I drink the most is a strong black tea like a Darjeeling or Assam. I don’t like to add any milk or sugar to this. For sugary tea drinks I love matcha lattes and bubble tea. I have to say, though, I’ve been drinking more coffee than tea these days. I use instant coffee so it’s very easy, just mix with boiling water and lots of milk.
Oh goodness I have such a sweet tooth for Bubble Tea! There’s this little dessert cafe where I live that has the most delicious bubble tea, and I just love it!
As for coffee, I’ve only ever been able to handle it’s taste in one drink- a double chocolate mocha frappe ^-^” and that’s because the slight bitterness of the coffee was a nice accent to the hyper-sweet chocolate.
And as for the caffeinated teas you mentioned, I’ve never tried them, are they bitter? I’m a bit… weak willed when it comes to drinks and I usually go for super sweet alternatives ^-^”
I actually dislike bitter drinks as well, that’s why I can’t drink coffee unless it has copious amounts of milk in it. For the teas I described I find they aren’t bitter unless you oversteep them. Tea contains chemical compounds called tannins which are what give it bitterness/astringency. The longer you steep the tea, the more tannins are released. So generally for maximum flavor and minimum bitterness it’s best to use a large amount of tea leaf in hot water (212 F for black teas) and a shorter steeping time (4 minutes or so). And make sure you remove the tea leaves/teabag after it’s done steeping or else the tea will continue to taste more bitter. If you still find it’s too strong for your liking you can always add milk and/or sugar! Look up a recipe for Royal Milk Tea, the milk and sugar balance so well with strong black tea! I hope that helps, and hopefully I don’t come across as a know-it-all, I just get really excited on the subject of tea ^-^;;;
Thank you so much for the expertise! I’m excited to try this out!