EZ HERBS & the Austin School of Herbal Studies
Sharing the wisdom of the plants         

Stay Cool – Drink Refreshing Iced Herbal Teas

Are you looking for a delicious and relaxing way to receive the healthy benefits from herbs?  Discover how easy it is to benefit from common herbs for health, relaxation and well-being by drinking herbal infusions and decoctions! 

The fresh plant or high quality dried herbs are the best ingredients for these two different types of medicinal teas.  The first is a MEDICINAL INFUSION that is made from the leaves and flowers, the soft parts of the herb.  The second type of tea, a MEDICINAL DECOCTION, is made using the roots, stems or berries, the hard parts, of the herb. Medicinal teas are brewed with hot water and commonly drunk as a warm tea.  However, the health benefits/ medicinal qualities are gained at any temperature, so give them a try at room temperature or iced.  In preparation, ALWAYS use stainless steel, glass or ceramic kettle/ pot.  Copper and aluminum can negatively affect the quality of the herbs.

Here’s how you create a tea:

Creating a Medicinal Infusion:

·        Use a tea kettle or large stainless pot to heat the water.

·        In a separate teapot, measure and add your fresh herbs (2 teaspoons per cup water) and place in a teapot.  If you are using dried herbs, use 1 teaspoon per cup of water.

·        Pour the desired amount of water over the herbs, cover the teapot and let infuse, or steep, for at least 20 minutes.

·        If you do not have a teapot, place the desired amount of cold water in a pot.  Add your measured herbs and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and infuse, covered, for at least 20 minutes

·        Strain and enjoy!

Note:  Many herbs can infuse longer, even overnight for a stronger medicinal tea.

Others, like Chamomile, may require a shorter infusion time according to taste and desired strength.

One of my favorite summertime iced herbal teas is a combination of Lemon Balm, Melissa officinales, Lemongrass, Aloysia triphylla and Lemon Verbena, Cymbogpoon citrates .The lemony herb that I use most frequently is Melissa. This easily grown perennial is best as a tea to calm night-time headaches and nervous tension. A member of the mint family, Lemon Balm is used to treat upset stomach, flatulence and colic. A strong infusion of Lemon Balm can also be used to treat oral herpes. Lemongrass is often used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking and is delicious in soups, curries and stir-fries.  Lemongrass has anti-oxidant properties, assists the digestive system and has even been reported to reduce cholesterol in some people. Lemon Verbena is a sweet, wonderfully tasting herb helpful in flavoring any fruit salad, fish and even cookies.  Lemon Verbena is also a digestive aid, can strengthen and tone the nervous system and has some anti-spasmodic properties

Enjoy drinking herbal teas as a safe and easy way to effectively receive the many medicinal benefits of the plants. Imbibing an herbal tea once or twice a day will provide you with a variety of vitamins and minerals while acting as a preventive for continued good health.

Try some of EZ Herbs Teas today: http://www.ezherbs.net/teas.htm    ENJOY!!