Herbal tea is good for you , you could already read that in one of my previous blogs. Each herb has certain healing properties that are good for specific ailments.
But did you know that the herbal teas in the supermarket often do not contain tea leaves? It is therefore simply a decoction of fruit, plants or vegetables and usually contains few healthy substances. They are also full of unhealthy additives (such as aromas, so that you like the taste better, and they therefore sell more.)
If you want to get the benefits of healthy, natural ingredients, it is better to make your favorite herbal tea yourself. But how do you start now? I collected useful tips with which you can make your own healthy tea in 1-2-3.
- How to dry herbs
- How to make herbal tea yourself
- Surprising herbal tea combinations
- My favorite herbal tea infusion
Dry herbs and fruit in a dehydrator, oven or herb dryer
Do you also have a lot of beautiful flowers and herbs in the garden? Pick it up, because nature is full of flavor! This way you also immediately stock up for the winter and enjoy homemade herbal tea all year round.
Drying fruit or herbs ensures that all nutrients are preserved and therefore you can enjoy them for a long time. Drying herbs and fruit is actually very simple and it can be done in 3 ways: in a dehydrator (also called food dryer), in the oven, or on a herb dryer.
In the dehydrator
A dehydrator blows warm air from top to bottom. If you buy a dehydrator, make sure it has enough racks. This way you can dry much more in one go and that also saves some time.
Tip: the slices of fruit should be thin enough and cut evenly, because then they dry much faster. How long this takes depends on the type of fruit and the environment in which it happens. In a humid environment, the process will take longer.
If the fruit is dry, break it into smaller pieces and store it in a closed jar where light and air cannot reach it. This way you can keep it for at least 1 year.
In the oven
Don't have a dehydrator? No problem, you can also dry fruit and herbs in the oven. This is actually super simple: preheat the oven to 50°C hot air. Then let the slices of fruit dry (this can take about 2 to 6 hours, depending on the type of fruit.)
To the spice dryer
Do you have tasty herbs in your garden? Cut off the branches or tops and use string to tie 5 branches together. Then hang them upside down on a herb dryer, preferably in a dark room. The warmer, the faster these herbs will dry and then they will retain much more flavor. It can take up to 2 weeks for them to be ready.
So there are plenty of ways to dry fruits and herbs. After drying, it is best to store them in a dry place, in sealed jars that cannot get air.
How to make your own herbal tea
If you make herbal tea yourself, you can experiment. There are so many surprising combinations that are packed with healthy substances.
Bring water to a boil, meanwhile put the herbs in a teapot (here it is best to choose a teapot with a sieve). Do you like to take your favorite tea to work? Then our bamboo cup with removable sieve is super handy. Pour the water over the fruit or herbs and let it steep for about 5 to 10 minutes. This depends on the strength you like.
For one teapot (3 to 4 cups) you need 6 dl of water and about 20 grams of dried herbs.
Surprising herbal tea combinations (fruit and herbs)
Thyme and orange
Thyme has antibacterial and antifungal properties. The orange provides a delicious, fresh taste. This tea works great with a cold, because it relieves an annoying cough. In addition, it strengthens your immune system because it is full of vitamins.
Ginger & lemon
Do you feel a flu coming on? Then ginger and lemon is the ultimate combination. Ginger is packed with minerals, antioxidants and vitamins. The spicy taste provides a warming effect, and with every sip you warm up. So this is the perfect fall drink! Add some honey for extra sweetness.
Tip: if you use citrus fruits, it is best to choose unsprayed or organic products. The peel absorbs pesticides, and you obviously don't want this in your cup of tea…
Chamomile, lavender and lime blossom
Do you suffer from stress and would you like to relax? Then you can use chamomile, lavender and lime blossom. The scent of lavender has a relaxing effect and chamomile has been known as a sleep tea for centuries. Do you think this will give you a good night's sleep?
In this blog you can read more about the types of herbs and their health benefits
My favorite tea infusion
There are so many different combinations, but my favorite infusion contains white tea with rose petals, orange, strawberries, blueberries, apple and mint. Through experimentation I discovered that this combination is really delicious. The rose petals are packed with vitamins and it provides a soft floral taste. Blueberries contain a lot of antioxidants and the apple, mint, strawberry and lemon provide a fresh taste.
Ingredients (for 1 pot of tea)
- 4.5 grams of orange
- 3 grams of apple
- 3.5 grams of strawberries
- 6 grams of rose petals
- 8 grams white tea (loose tea)
- 0.5 grams of mint
You choose the quantities yourself, this is just an example. Experiment with different combinations and quantities to find out which one you like best. Getting a pack of herbal tea in the supermarket may be easier, making your own herbal tea is much tastier, healthier and more fun!
Next week I will share a delicious recipe for waffles with matcha, stay tuned!
Greetings
Ronny
