I’ve branched out lately, as far as tea is concerned. I’ve added African Rooibos herbal tea to my tea palate and enjoy it immensely.
This isn’t my only change, I also moved and inherited a small backyard with a lush flower garden. See the picture for one of the sunflowers that was growing there.
It’s been a fun adventure identifying what was growing and bringing some organization to the untended garden. Some of the flowers have yet to be identified. Among the growth was also some basil, butter lettuce, sage and catnip. A little research reveals that herbal teas can be made from sage and catnip.
I haven’t tried that yet but it points out the fact that sometimes the source of your favorite herbal beverage could be in your own garden.
Until next time – happy steeping.
Rooibos herbal tea is made from the
Aspalathus linearis plant. The name “rooibos” is Afrikaans for “red bush”, a name this herbal tea is often called in different parts of the world. Aspalathus linearis is member of the legume family.
Originating in South Africa, it has been popular in that area for many generations. It has spread to other parts of the world as rooibos tea, bush tea, redbush tea, African red tea or red tea. Rooibos is grown only in a small area in the region of the Western Cape province of Africa.
Described as being naturally sweet with a nutty flavor, Rooibos is prepared by steeping just like black tea. Rooibos is capable of being steeped for long periods of time without becoming bitter.
Rooibos tea contains no caffeine and no added colors or preservatives, making it a natural beverage. Rooibos has been shown to aid in health problems such as insomnia, irritability, headaches, nervous tension, and hypertension. Traditional medicinal uses of rooibos in South Africa include alleviating infantile colic, allergies, asthma and dermatological problems.
Standard Disclaimer: If buying this product for its purported health benefits, buyer beware. Do you research before you assume the risk of consuming a product that could harm you. Natural does not always mean safe.
Until next time – happy steeping.
Many who are seeking a healthier lifestyle find themselves attracted to herbal teas or tisanes. There are many claims about the health benefits of herbal tea, among them are:
- A more calm, relaxed state of mind
- Supports heart health
- Aids with stomach and digestive problems
- Provides cleansing properties for the body
- Promotes energy and wellness
As with all herbal products due caution should be taken and due diligence should be done before accepting any health claims of these products. Herbal remedies sometimes help and sometimes do harm. So, Buyer Beware.
Warning aside, there is a body of data and several hundred years of experience in Chinese Medicine that herbal teas can contribute to better health and alleviate some health issues. Just practice due caution.
Until next time – happy steeping.
One of the growing trends in the steeped drink arena is herbal teas or tisanes. Herbal teas are fresh or dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots. The “tea” misnomer comes from the common steeping technique of the two drinks.
The main draw is the natural ingredients of the product and purported health benefits of consuming these teas. More on that in my next post.
A secondary benefit is the variety of ingredients produces a large number of taste possibilities. The variety of ingredient combinations guarantee an herbal tea to suit everyone’s taste. And likely quite a few hours of steeping enjoyment along the way.
Until next time – happy steeping.
Ahh, the aroma and taste of a good cup of tea.. Tea brewing is not in itself a difficult task, but a few tips might help improve the quality of your next cup.
- Store the tea properly in an airtight and waterproof container. This prevents the tea acquiring flavors from the environment around it and contamination by water.
- Start with fresh water each time. Previously boiled water has been de-aerated and will produce a substandard tea.
- If using a pot, preheat it to prevent heat loss when the tea is brewing.
- Pour the water right at the point of boiling, under boiling and over boiling the water can produce substandard tea.
- While most teas require boiling water for the infusion, some have more specific temperature requirements. Have a thermometer on hand for these teas.
- Time it. Infusion time can vary from tea to tea but a safe region is generally 3 – 5 minutes. Over brewing produces the bitter notes one tastes.
Until next time – happy brewing.
It’s my belief that all morning workers fall into one of two categories: the coffee drinks or the tea drinkers. Everybody needs a warm cup of morning energy to get their day started. As an exception to my own rule, I drink both beverages. It all depends on how awake I feel when I settle into my desk at work. Sometimes I begin the day with two cups of tea followed by a 10 am cup of coffee. And other days I have two cups of java and don’t even touch the tea.
My co-worker Stacey introduced me to herbal tea – what a delight! Since I started consuming this all-natural beverage, my preference for tea has definitely surpassed my liking for coffee. I can’t seem to get enough of this tea. Everyday has become a mini adventure as I sample a new flavor of tea with great expectations that almost always seem to be matched. Blackberry current is an exotic favorite as well as chi mint and raspberry aroma. If you ever stumble across this tea, I recommend that you try it!