Even before Indian tea appeared in Russia, drinks made from local plants were popular among the people. Herbal teas not only taste good, but also have health benefits.
What herbs can you brew tea
Almost any medicinal plant can be used to make herbal tea. They use not only leaves and stems for a drink. Excellent teas are obtained, for example, from rose hips or wild berries. You can prepare tea from one plant or mix several components, getting a herbal collection with a surprisingly pleasant and original taste.
Depending on the state of health, traditional medicine recommends certain plants. For example, mint has a calming effect, hawthorn is good for the heart, and ginger has a beneficial effect on the digestive system. However, it should be remembered that herbs also have contraindications. Therefore, you should first consult with your doctor about the possibility of regular use of herbal teas.
The most popular in Russia were drinks made from meadowsweet, narrow-leaved fireweed, mint, chamomile, hawthorn. To keep as many nutrients as possible in the drink, you should know how to brew herbal tea correctly.
Herbal tea brewing rules
Making medicinal herbal teas requires the use of purified water. Tap water is often loaded with chlorine, iron, and gives the drink an unpleasant aftertaste. In addition, such water is not recommended for cooking. The best option is well or spring water.
Pure spring water does not need to be boiled. It is enough to heat it up to 80-85 degrees. If boiling water has become a habit, you must wait until the boiling water cools down to the specified temperature. For 200 ml of water, take a tablespoon of herbal collection.
You should adhere to a certain time when brewing a drink. So, inflorescences and leaves of plants are recommended to be brewed for 3 minutes. Seeds and tough leaves - about 5 minutes. The roots and bark of plants are kept for 10 minutes.
The container in which the herbs are brewed must be covered with a lid. Tea will contain much more nutrients if the bark, fruits and roots are pre-crushed. A teaspoon of natural honey would be a good addition to the drink.
In the old days, for the preparation of herbal tea, they used special dishes made of linden wood, which perfectly retained the warmth of the drink for a long time. Currently, clay or porcelain teapots are used to brew herbs. Metal teapots destroy the taste of tea and significantly reduce its valuable qualities.
