Guest Author - Rebecca Lee Graf
Herbal teas are some of the most popular drinks around the world. Anytime you put a tea cup to your lips, you are reaping the benefits of herbs. With the wide variety of types of herbs, there are even more types of herbal teas.
What makes up a tea? Open up a packet and you will find dried leaves, bark, and flower petals. Most of the tea drinkers around the world would be surprised at what all they find in their afternoon tea. Tea is basically mixtures of herbs.
Here is an example of what makes up one package of tea that can be found on the store shelves:
Hibiscus
Rosehips
Roasted chicory
Orange Peel
Blackberry Leaves
Black Raspberries
Cranberries
All the items listed above are flowers, fruits, and herbs. Dried bits of nature are combined and mixed to create a delightful drink.
Walk the aisle of a grocery store and you can find dozens of types of herbal teas. Health food stores are also loaded with them. If you have an herb garden, then you also have herbal teas right at your fingertips.
Look at the list above again of the tea ingredients. Many people have hibiscus growing in their garden or next to their porch. If you have roses, you have rosehips which can be harvested. Chicory is an herb that many grow in their gardens. Orange Peel is easily gotten in the spice aisle or right from a fresh orange in your fruit basket. Blackberry bushes can be found in the wild or growing in a section of your garden. Cranberries can be gotten fresh or dried from stores or local farmers. Herbal teas can be found in your own backyard.
These ingredients are just a small portion of the other items found in herbal teas. Chamomile, raspberries, dandelions, roses, mint, lemongrass, fruit of any kind, lavender, lemon verbena, hyssop are just a few of the herbs in addition to the list above that can be used in teas.
Research each of the herbs in your garden and see if they can be used in teas and what they are best combined with. Remember that not all herbs can be ingested. Be smart when making your own herbal teas and have fun experimenting with different mixtures. You will be surprised how easy it is to enjoy your own herbal tea blend.
