HERBAL TEAS

The Unique Qualities of Herbal Tea

Herbal tea has enjoyed a growth in popularity over recent years. The main attraction to herbal tea is the fact that most of them are naturally caffeine free and are very refreshing and invigorating. Also herbs are said to have a range of potential health benefits.

Herbal teas are prepared just like traditional tea and it is made by infusing almost any plant with hot water and steeped for around 5 to 10 min. All plant parts can be used including leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, roots and berries.

The main difference between traditional and herbal teas is that herbal teas do not contain caffeine and are not strictly teas at all.

Traditional teas (black tea, green tea, etc.) come from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, whereas tea infusions are called “tisanes” and come from a range of different plants.

Tisanes have long been associated with a wide range of health benefits thanks to their lack of caffeine and natural health giving benefits.

Harvesting and Production

Herbal tea can be made from either fresh or dried plants. It is a fairly simple process to grow and produce herbal tea; in fact, many people grow the required plants or flowers in their garden. However, producing a high-quality herbal tea takes a wealth of knowledge to strike the right subtle balance of flavour and taste.

It is also common practice to create herbal blends. Herbal blends are often created from ingredients such as peppermint, camomile, lemon grass, verbena, fennel, aniseed, liquorice root, cinnamon, black pepper, nettle and raspberry leaves.

Herbal blends are often produced with a specific purpose in mind such as calming, soothing or invigorating.

Herbal teas naturally support healthy living and wellness. With this in mind, you may wish to visit our Wellness and Ayurvedic Tea section to learn more about keeping your body in balance and harmony.

Infusions

There are a wide range of infusions to choose from including: -

• Herbal Infusions - Herbal infusions are remarkably pleasing to the palate. Flowers, leaves and other plant parts can all be used to create tantalisingly aromatic and mouth-wateringly delicious brews. Our range of herbal infusions includes invigorating blends to help kick-start your day, and soothing flavours to help you wind down. Enjoy a taster collection of our herbal teas, by ordering the Ronnefeldt Herbal Tea Selection or if you have already a favourite you may well choose from our wide choice of infusions below.
• Plain Infusions - Plain by name but not by nature, these herbal infusions allow you to enjoy their exquisite ingredients without distraction, just as nature intended. Take for example French Rose Tea, its delicate pink buds release a soothing, fragrant aroma and infuse into an emerald-green colour in the cup. Or take, Ronnefeldt Verbena with its distinct refreshing citrus taste and unmistakably zingy aroma to enliven your senses. If you’re in need of a boost, our classic Ronnefeldt Peppermint tea won’t disappoint: it comes with lots of refreshing menthol, that will revitalise and invigorate in equal measure. And then there are Ronnefeldt Camomile Blossoms, whose eye-catching yellow buds create a wonderfully tangy and aromatic tea that provides a real balm for the soul.
• Flavoured Infusions - Whatever the time, day or night, a flavoured herbal tea can be a treat to savour. If you want a post-alarm-clock pick-me-up, for example, you might want to try Ronnefeldt Morning Sun with its invigorating blend of refreshing herbs. Alternatively, you could awaken your taste buds with the zesty flavours of Ronnefeldt Ginger and Lemon.. At the other end of the day, a warming cup of Ronnefeldt Nightcap provides just the perfect way to unwind. Its calming herbal flavours help settle your mind, preparing you for a wonderful night’s sleep.

Types and Health Benefits of Herbal Tea

• Camomile – Can help calm an upset stomach or improve sleep
• Cinnamon – Can help reduce cholesterol levels
• Ginger – Can help to prevent nausea and vomiting
• Hibiscus – Can help relieve high blood pressure
• Lemongrass – Can help reduce stomach issues
• Peppermint – Can help improve digestion
• Rooibos – Can help relieve headaches
• Yerba Mate – Can help increase energy levels(NOTE: Yerba mate contains caffeine)

Peppermint Tea is one of the most popular herbal teas thanks not only to its taste but also its proven health benefits. Peppermint tea is naturally caffeine free and is beneficial due to its high concentration of menthol. It is soothing for the digestive system, alleviates bad breath and, as an antispasmodic, helps respiratory issues. It also happens to be delicious!

Camomile Tea is another highly popular herbal tea and is also naturally caffeine free. For the highest quality only flower heads are used that will infuse into a mild, sweet and aromatic drink. Lower grade chamomiles can be rather bitter. You can be rest assured that, here at Cup of tea, we have taken the time to source only the very finest chamomile teas.

Whichever herbal tea you decide to try out you will be rewarded with a unique taste experience!

How to Brew Herbal Tea

Herbal teas are made from the infusion of fresh or dried herbs, flowers, leaves, seeds or roots in hot water.

Preparation and storage are the same as traditional teas. However, brewing time is much longer for herbal teas, typically 5 to 10 minutes.

The standard process is as follows:

1. Boil some fresh water
2. Place the herbs in a tea strainer or infuser
3. Pour the hot water over the herbs
4. Steep the tea for the appropriate amount of time
5. Strain the tea
6. Sweeten the tea to taste
7. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Brewing Table

   Ranging from 1 level teaspoon to 2 heaped teaspoon

   5-10 minutes

   A wide range of colours including bright yellow, green, red and red/brown

NOTE: Please make sure to read the individual brewing instructions on each package of tea.

Our Herbal Tea favourites are below:

Ronnefeldt Camomile Blossoms     Ronnefeldt Peppermint     Ronnefeldt Ginger and Lemon

• Ronnefeldt Camomile Blossom – Pleasant and mild herbal tea made from whole chamomile flowers. The flowers are carefully processed to ensure they keep their typical slightly sweet and mildly flowery character and taste.
• Ronnefeldt Peppermint – Truly refreshing and invigorating Peppermint infusion, naturally caffeine free and delicious after any meal.
• Ronnefeldt Ginger and Lemon – Uplifting herbal blend with the natural warmth of ginger balanced perfectly by the cool freshness of lemon grass and rich mint aroma.