it's the end of the day, and you want something warm that isn't caffeine-rich. that's usually when a good herbal tea comes into the picture.
but there's a difference between a mediocre drink and one that actually matches your expectations. this herbal tea recipe is about closing that gap.
the right water temperature, the right steep time, and the right tea bag – knowing how to make herbal tea well just needs your focus on a few things. get them right to turn something ordinary into something you actually look forward to.
let’s explore how.
what is herbal tea?
herbal tea is a drink made from plants that aren't camellia sinensis – the plant behind green, black and white tea. herbal tea comes from flowers, roots, bark, dried fruit, and leaves from plants that have nothing to do with a tea plant.
many people have drunk it without giving much thought to what it actually is. the fact is, real tea and herbal tea are quite different. herbal tea isn't tea in the botanical sense at all.
since every herb is different, they all brew differently. each one has its own steep time and temperature range. knowing how to prepare herbal tea well starts with understanding what you're working with. so, let's get into it – here's everything you'll need to know about how to make herbal tea at home.
how to make green tea the right way
a tea bag dropped into boiling water and fished out after two minutes isn't really doing justice to what's inside it. herbal tea recipes need a bit more than that – not much more, but enough to matter. here's how to prepare herbal tea the right way, step by step.
Total Servings:-
2
Preparation Time:-
2 Minutes
Cooking Times:-
5-10 minutes
Nutritional Value:-
2-5 calories, 0g fat, 0g carbs, 0g protein
Recipe Category:-
beverage
Cuisine:-
global
equipment:
• kettle
• 2 mugs
• teaspoon
• timer
ingredients
• 2 herbal tea bags
• 2.5 cup filtered water
• honey (optional)
• lemon(optional)
instructions
• heat the water
first thing to do when you start learning how to prepare herbal tea is to fill your kettle. then heat the water to around 90-95°c. avoid boiling the water for delicate herbs like chamomile or lemongrass. let your kettle sit for a minute or two after boiling – before you pour.
• place the tea bag
put one herbal tea bag into each mug. don't squeeze or squash it – the bag needs room for water to move through it evenly. teapigs tea bags are made with a bit more space inside them for exactly this reason – the herbs have room to unfurl. quality ingredients & packaging are crucial for any herbal tea recipe.
• pour and cover
pour the hot water slowly over the tea bag and cover the mug with a small plate. this step is important when you’re learning how to make green tea. you cover the mug to trap the steam and keep the volatile oils (the ones carrying most of the aroma and flavour) inside the cup rather than evaporating into the air.
• steep
leave it to steep for 5-7 minutes for a balanced drink. if you prefer something stronger, go up to 10 minutes. this is one of those details that's easy to forget when you're first learning how to make herbal tea.
• remove the tea bag
lift the tea bag out and lightly squeeze it against the side of the mug. that's enough to get some more flavour without over-extracting.
• sweeten and serve
at this point in the herbal tea recipe, you can add some honey. you can also add some lemon if you like. taste it first, though – gauge it and then add.
tips to make the best herbal tea at home
getting a good herbal tea recipe right comes down to a few details that usually get overlooked. especially when you’re learning how to make herbal tea for the first time.
start with water temperature. unlike green or white tea, herbal teas are robust enough to handle boiling water. cooler water does work too, but it takes significantly longer. cold brewing herbal teas needs 8-12 hours in the fridge to reach the same depth of flavour.
cover your mug while it steeps. the steam that escapes in those five to seven minutes carries the volatile oils. with them go the compounds responsible for most of the aroma and depth in the drink.
get these two right, and you'll notice the difference every time your herbal tea recipe is at work.
how to store homemade herbal tea
any herbal tea recipe worth making is worth storing properly. that said, brewed herbal tea is always best fresh. but it stays alright in the fridge for three to four days as long as it's handled right.
let it cool to room temperature before refrigerating. putting a hot brew straight into the fridge creates condensation inside the container, which dilutes the flavour and speeds up spoilage. once cooled, transfer it into a clean and airtight container – herbal tea absorbs surrounding smells easily, and an uncovered jug next to last night's leftovers may taste like it.
at room temperature, brewed tea is only good for four to six hours before the flavour starts to flatten.
faqs on herbal tea recipe
q. how do you make herbal tea at home?
a. making herbal tea at home is easy. place a tea bag in your mug. then, pour the water heated to around 93-100°c over it. lastly, cover the mug while it steeps. leave it for five to seven minutes, remove the bag and enjoy. water temperature and steep time are the core of any good herbal tea recipe.
q. how long should herbal tea be steeped?
a. most herbal teas need five to seven minutes to properly develop their flavour. if you want something stronger, steep closer to ten – but don't push past that. some herbs, especially peppermint, turn sharp and medicinal when left too long. a good herbal tea recipe always specifies a steep time for a reason. it’s one of the first things worth getting right when you're learning how to prepare herbal tea.
q. is herbal tea caffeine-free?
a. unlike black or green tea, herbal tea contains no caffeine. that's because it doesn't come from the camellia sinensis plant. that’s the only tea plant that naturally produces caffeine. herbal blends are made from flowers, roots and leaves that don't contain it. if you're cutting back on caffeine but still want something warm and tasty, explore our herbal tea range for some good options.
q. which herbs are best for homemade herbal tea?
a. the best herb really depends on what you want from the drink. some options are – chamomile, when you need to relax. peppermint, when you want something cooling. ginger, when it's cold, and you want something with a bit of heat in it. hibiscus is tart and tastes almost like a fruit drink.
