Herbal Tea Recipes

Herbal tea is nowhere related to the tea forms that we generally consume. Its only similarity with the regular tea is that the herbal tea is brewed in a similar manner. Herbal tea is actually an extract that is obtained from various dried seeds, leaves, barks, flowers, fruits, nuts and grasses having one or the other healing properties. The reason for the popularity of herbal tea is that they do not contain the smallest hint of caffeine as compared to the regular types of tea.

Benefits of Herbal Tea
Herbal tea usually contains one or many herbal ingredients, which have several therapeutic functions. Herbal tea helps in relaxation, improves heart health and the immune system, and cleans the body's toxic matter. It also acts as an antioxidant and energy booster. It is effective for losing weight as well as getting a good night's sleep.

There are numerous herbal tea ingredients or herbs used, each having significance of its very own. The commonly used herbal tea ingredients are:

• Cinnamon: It helps in healthy blood circulation and digestion.
• Ginseng: It maintains the vitality of the body.
• Chamomile: It is anti inflammatory and has antiseptic properties.
• Parsley: It helps in the proper functioning of the kidney. It also acts as a diuretic.
• Lemon Grass: It has calming and relaxing properties.
• Ginger Root: It provides relief to people suffering from lung congestion, nausea, indigestion and arthritis.
• Pepper Mint: It acts as a stress buster.
• Hawthorne: It improves heart health and blood circulation.
• Rose Hips: It is rich in Vitamin C and acts as a tonic for the kidney, liver and blood.
• Slippery Elm: It relieves stomach cramps and various gastrointestinal problems.
• Allspice: It relieves common cold as well as stomach problems

Herbal Tea Recipes: Ingredients
As stated earlier, herbal tea is made of many ingredients that helps in curing various medical conditions. This actually makes it easy for you to select the desired set of herbs and try some homemade herbal tea recipes. Given below are some of the combination of various herbs that work as a great therapeutic blend for curing various medical conditions.

Herbal Tea Recipe for Nausea
1/2 teaspoon of ginger root (dried)+1 teaspoon of Chamomile flowers+1/2 teaspoon of Clove blossoms.

Herbal Tea Recipe for Insomnia
1 1/2 ounce of vervain leaves (dried)+1/2 ounce of Spearmint+1 ounce Chamomile

Herbal Tea Recipe for Flu and Cough
1 ounce blackberry leaves+1 ounce linden flowers+1 ounce elder flowers+1 ounce of peppermint leaves

Herbal Tea Recipe for Upset Stomach
1 1/2 ounce of mullein flowers+2 ounce of malva flowers

Herbal Tea Recipe for Migraine
1 ounce valerian leaves+1/2 ounce of juniper berries+1 2/3 ounce of St. John's wort+1 ounce of linden flowers

Herbal Tea Recipes: Procedure

• Always use fresh water to make the herbal tea and prepare the herbal tea in clean cookware of cast iron, glass or stainless steel (other than aluminum).
• In the boiling water, add the given amount of the desired herbs. Cover the container and let the herbs steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Never over-steep the herbs as it might have an adverse affect on the flavor as well as effect of the herbs.
• You can also add lemon and honey to enhance the flavor and aroma of your herbal tea.
• Strain the herbal tea with the help of a regular tea strainer.

Herbal Iced Tea Recipes
Iced tea is a very popular beverage, especially in the summer season. You can add ice to your herbal tea and make tempting herbal iced tea recipes. Here is one herbal tea recipe using lemon.
Ingredients

• 1 fresh lemon
• 2 cups of boiling water
• 3 teaspoons of blended Spearmint and peppermint (you can also try ginger flavor)
• Ice Cubes and honey

Procedure
Peel the lemon in a continuous spiral using fruit peeler and place the peel in a large vessel. Add boiling water on the lemon peel and the herbs. Cover the vessel and steep it up for 10 minutes. Now add honey for the sweet flavor and cool the mixture in a covered container. Before serving, remove the lemon peel, strain the mixture and serve by adding ice cubes.

Herbal iced tea recipes are so many, available in numerous combination that make you feel the freshness of the real tea without experiencing its harmful effects. So, when are you trying out herbal tea recipe on your own?