Two Ways to Brew Your Own Herbal Tea

Herbal teas has the power to soothe a sore throat, lower your blood pressure, and relax your mind. They can improve digestion and even boost your immune system. The prepackaged tea bags with directions make it fast and easy to enjoy, but when herbal tea is made with fresh herbs and brewed by a practiced hand, the aroma and flavor alone can revitalize the spirit. Ready to try brewing your own herbal tea? Learn to brew tea using these two methods - infusion and decoction - and with a little practice, you’ll be turning all those herb seeds, petals, flowers, and roots into the perfect cup of tea in no time. The method you use will depend on the type of tea you brew, but always use a covered container for either method ; that will help preserve the beneficial oils in the tea.

Infusion

The infusion method works by steeping herb petals, flowers and leaves in boiling water, gently releasing the natural oils without damaging them.

Wrap freshly harvested herb leaves in a clean cloth and gently crush them to release the aromatic oils. Then warm up your teapot by rinsing it with boiling water, and add three teaspoons of freshly picked herbs. Pour one cup of boiling water over the herbs, and let the tea steep for at least five minutes. Some herbal tea brewers let their tea steep for a day or more, which can make for one really strong cup of herbal tea. But if it’s too strong, you can always add more boiling water to dilute the potency.

Decoction

 This method is ideal for making tea from herbs whose oils are more difficult to release. Roots, seeds and bark are simmered for several seconds and the result is a powerful herbal tea that often keeps longer than tea brewed with the infusion method. 

 When decocting herb seeds, use a mortar and pestle, rolling pin, or wood mallet to pulverize the seeds and release their natural oils. Over high heat, bring two cups of water to a boil. Then add one tablespoon of crushed seeds, reduce heat, and let the tea simmer for up to ten minutes. Strain and enjoy!

Ready to grow your own herbal tea garden? Try these ten famously tasty herb varieties! 

Lavender

Sage

Basil

Mint

Rosemary

Lemon Verbena

Chamomile

Calendula

Lemon Balm

Anise Hyssop