Tips for Brewing Herbal Tea

Herbal tea has not only been popular drink for centuries, being used for a variety of reasons, but brewing herbal tea has become an art in and of itself. In addition to the noted health benefits of the various herbal mixes, their pleasing flavor has kept people coming back time after time. It should be noted that herbal teas are not the same thing as "regular" teas. With regular teas, the primary steeping substance of the tea is comprised of the leaves of the tea plant, and the tea plant only. But with herbal teas, the various parts of other plants are used to form the steeping mixture. In addition to leaves, stems and roots, dried flowers, seeds and even dried pieces of fruit are used in the final tea mixture.

Popular herbal tea varieties include Echinacea, commonly used to alleviate cold symptoms, Kava, known for its calming properties, and Yerba Mate, a stimulating tea that is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to coffee. These are just a few of the varieties available, however, and many tea enthusiasts love discovering new blends. Because herbal teas are markedly different from regular tea, they must be brewed differently. Here are some tips that will make the brewing process produce a better result the next time you decide to brew up a batch of herbal tea.

Tea Balls

A tea ball is a small, meshed-metal device that is dropped into the cup used for steeping. Tea balls typically open up in their center and are filled with a loose-leaf herbal tea. They are then closed and allowed to steep. They have a small metal chain whereby the tea drinker can pull the ball in and out of the cup. A tea ball is usually a better choice for steeping tea for a number of reasons. It is reusable, and therefore cuts down on the amount of paper waste produced. Also, the amount of tea desired can be easier controlled. The tea ball can be stirred around in the water for easier mixing, as well. 

Brewing Infused Herbal Teas

Teas that are composed strictly from flowers or herbs are typically infused in a measure to protect certain oils that aid in flavor. In order to protect that flavor and brew an herbal infused tea correctly, you will want to place the tea mix into a teapot and gently pour boiling water over the mix. After this point, you will cover the teapot and let the steeping mix sit for about fifteen minutes. After this time has passed, use a strainer to pour the freshly brewed tea, either directly to the cup, or to a new container to limit extra steeping.

Brewing Root and Bark Teas

Teas that contain elements such as roots, bark and seeds need to be crushed prior to brewing in order to release the flavors. Using an implement such as a mortar and pestle or similarly blunt object, crush the tea mix until it is adequately pulverized. You will then place the mix in with the cold water, and bring it to a boil before filtering and serving.