Herbal Tea

plants · beverages · wellness

Not actually tea. Despite its name, herbal tea isn't made from the tea plant at all. Real tea comes from one specific plant, but herbal tea can be made from any herb, flower, spice, or plant material you steep in hot water.

Ancient drink tradition. People have been making herbal drinks for thousands of years across many cultures. Many of these recipes were passed down through families and used both for taste and to help with feeling better when sick.

Plants and flowers. Herbal teas can be made from leaves like mint and chamomile, roots like ginger, flowers like hibiscus, or even bark and seeds. Each plant brings its own flavor and has been used in different ways around the world.

Infusion and decoction. There are two main ways to make herbal tea: infusion means pouring hot water over plants and letting them soak, while decoction means boiling harder plant parts like roots or bark for longer to extract their flavor.

Folk medicine roots. Many herbs used in tea have been part of traditional medicine practices for centuries, though modern science is still studying which ones truly help with different health needs.