Tea Time

Teas are really the most effective and cost efficient way to get your desired dose of herbs ~ but how do you make a good tea? There are a couple of ways and they depend on the herb itself.

If you are trying to make tea out of a flower or the leaf part of the herb, then the best way is to infuse the herb into the water simply by pouring hot or boiling water over the herb and steeping (letting it soak) for 15 to 30 minutes.

For seeds and thicker leaves, you'll want to use a light decoction by simmering the piece(s) in the water for 5 minutes and then steeping it for 15-30 minutes.

When you're using the root of the plant or it's bark, you'll need to simmer it for anywhere from 15 minutes to a full hour to create the decoction of the herb.

Tea tastes are also trial and error, as some of the herbs that you are using may not taste very good ~ so you'll want to keep some sweeter herbs on hand such as: mint, cinnamon, fennel or stevia to add sweetness and make the tea more drinkable.

When you're first making teas, you may want to stick to recipes or recommendations and then tailor them to your own taste. Of course, you could also buy the teas already made in handy tea bags or loose in tins; however, they can be pretty pricey. Why buy them if you can grow them? Just spend a little time experimenting and smelling and tasting ~ that's part of the fun!