the art of a cup of tea

Herbal teas are delicious. They can be fruity, minty and everything in between. In addition to tasting great, they are also an excellent source of vitamins and can be healing, as well!

Herbal teas are delicious. They can be fruity, minty and everything in between. In addition to tasting great, they are also an excellent source of vitamins and can be healing, as well!

There’s something special about a cup of tea. Whether you are craving something to warm you up, or looking to give yourself a break, it’s the perfect beverage for you! Even the making of the tea is special. Maybe it’s because people have been enjoying tea since the beginning of time, or maybe it’s because it forces us to practice patience while we await a steeping cup of tea. The warmth, the aromas, the flavors – each cup is unique and special and just for you.

There are many kinds of teas, but today we are going to focus on herbal teas. You may enjoy a cup of herbal tea for the flavor – they are delicious! However, herbal teas also have some hidden benefits – they are nutritious, nurturing, and healing, too!

You may know, last year I went back to school to become a Master Herbalist. In Herbalism, we treat illnesses and ailments by using herbs. Some of the herbs would be unfamiliar to someone outside the world of herbalism – but many of the herbs used as treatments are right in your garden and in your kitchen!! These herbs have been healing people for thousands and thousands of years!

While Western Medicine focuses on using pharmaceuticals to treat SYMPTOMS of a diagnosis, herbalism uses plants to treat the CAUSE of the diagnosis – which is very often found in the digestive system or the nervous system – both of which benefit greatly from herbs. While this type of “medicine” is not overly common here in the United States, this is the primary type of medicine practiced in most of the world.

And at the heart of this type of “medicine” is a cup of tea.

So, what is a cup of tea? Technically, tea is an infusion – meaning you take an herb (typically either the leaves or the flowers) and infuse it with hot water. This herb could be right in your pantry cabinet – basil, thyme, sage, and rosemary are very often used for medicinal purposes! Out in your garden you may find some purple coneflowers – also known as echinacea purpurea – one of the best herbs for improving your immune system and fighting illness. Even scattered throughout your yard you may have lots of herbs (unless you are treating your yard to kill the “weeds”). In my yard in Tennessee, I have found close to 100 herbs, from violets to common plantain to dandelions – all considered weeds by many. These herbs have medicinal uses, but many also contain lots of vitamins, too.

Of course, you can also find lots of herbal teas right in your grocery store aisle! You will find single herb teas like chamomile, but you’ll also find lots of blends for different ailments, such as difficulty sleeping, gastrointestinal issues, nervousness and more.

Here’s a tip I learned from my schooling when you are brewing the teas purchased in the market. One of my instructor’s recipes were used to create many of the blends for one particular brand of teas, marketed as “medicinal.” She had partnered with this brand when they were launching because they had wanted to be an actual medicinal tea available in specialty food markets. They were going to be a different specialty tea by actually putting the proper amount of tea needed for a medicinal effect into each tea bag – unlike any of the brands that were available at that time. As time went on, as a cost cutting measure to expand into ALL the food markets and big box stores, the company decided to cut the amount of tea in a bag by half. So, she parted ways with the company, but they continue to use many of her recipes.

The recipes for these teas are top notch, and the medicinal effects can be very useful – as long as you use TWO tea bags and brew it properly – which I will discuss next.

How to properly brew a cup of tea

1) Bring your water to a boil, and then let it SIT for about a minute. You never water to use boiling water – water that hot will destroy many of the nutrients and constituents found in the herbs. 2) Pour the hot water over the tea. When I am using loose leaf tea, I use 1T of dried herb tea per mug of water. 3) Cover your cup with a small plate. This part is very important because it keeps the volatile oils in the cup, which are important for the healing effects. I don’t use a paper towel because that will absorb the oils 4) Steep for 20 minutes. Yup – a full 20 minutes 5) Enjoy!

Of course, if you are brewing your cup of tea simply for the pure enjoyment of it – not healing purposes – you don’t have to brew it for as long or cover it. Just brew how you like and enjoy it!!

And Step Six is possibly one of the most healing – and hardest to follow! When having a cup of tea, try and take a break. Sit and relax for a bit – even if only for the first few sips. Teas are often chosen over other herbal remedies specifically for this reason – it forces a person to slow down and take a breather. And that break itself can be very healing and nourishing!

It’s important to keep in mind that, just like essential oils, herbs are powerful and healing. I’m not suggesting someone go out and pick their purple coneflower and steep it! While herbs (and essential oils) are easily available to most of us, it’s important to know the effects of each herb on an individual. Even some of your kitchen herbs can have negative effects when used in the larger quantities required for brewing a cup of tea.

Here is a list of some of the most common herbal teas and blends and how they may be helpful. And, as always, be sure to check with your medical professional if you are unsure if one of these teas is ok for you to consume.

Chamomile – assists with calming, supports healthy digestion, promotes sleep (do not drink if you have a ragweed or aster allergy)

Ginger – promotes healthy digestion, may reduce nausea due to motion, helps with that over-full feeling after a big meal

Hibiscus – supports the cardiovascular system

Echinacea and/or Elderberry – promotes a strong immune system

Lemon Balm – calms the nervous system and promotes healthy digestion.

Hopefully you’re now inspired to try out a new herbal tea! One of my favorite tea suppliers is Mountain Rose Herbs. Their teas are organic (we don’t need any dangerous pesticides in our tea!!) and they use very fresh, high-quality herbs. I love their Blossoms of Health tea, Grateful Heart tea and their Evening Repose Tea. For any of the ladies in my stage of life, the Women’s Balancing Tea may be very helpful! And for new moms they offer a Nurse-Me Rhyme Tea to nourish both mom and baby. You can view the full line of teas by clicking HERE.

I hope you found the information in here to be helpful and that it inspires you to go and enjoy a cup of tea! Whether herbal, black, or green tea, you will benefit from the warmth of the tea and the break you take to enjoy it!

I’d love to hear from you and know your favorite kinds of tea. Also, if you are inspired to try a new tea, I’d love to know that, too!

xoxo, Kim

P.S. Here’s my required disclaimer! None of the information contained here is meant to be regarded as medical advice. Everything here is based on my own experiences, and I am sharing what has been true for me – not necessarily for anyone else. So please consult your medical professional before trying out any new teas.

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