HOW TO BREW HERBAL TEA PROPERLY

How to Brew a Loose Leaf Herbal Tea in a Teapot?

·         To brew loose leaf tea using a standard teapot, first, fill your stove top or electric tea kettle with cold water and bring it to a boil.

·         While the water is heating up, place your desired amount of loose leaf tea into the teapot. If you’re not using the blend I’ve outlined above, ginger root is delicious to include in a loose leaf tea for stimulating warmth and better circulation. Because of ginger’s sharpness and intensity, I like to combine it with an herb that can lift up and sweeten the flavor, such as jasmine or linden. Linden leaves and flowers are very calming and add lovely flavor to many of my herbal tea blends.

·          A good rule of thumb is to use one teaspoon of loose leaf tea per 8 ounces of water.

Once the water has reached the boiling point, pour the hot water into the teapot over the tea leaves.
Cover the teapot with a lid and let the tea sit for a steep time of about 3–5 minutes. The longer it steeps, the stronger the flavor of the tea.
When the desired steeping time has passed, use a strainer to pour the tea into your cup, leaving the loose leaves behind in the teapot. Serve and enjoy!


How to Make a Single Serving of Herbal Tea?

·         If a whole pot of tea is too much and you would prefer to make a single serving of tea, the single serving process is pretty much the same!

·         While the water in your stove top or electric tea kettle is coming to a boil (which is the optimal water temperature), place your desired amount of loose leaf tea into a strainer and set it over your mug. If you don’t have a strainer, you can also use a tea ball or a paper tea filter as a tea infuser. This method is also the best if you are using prepared tea bags.

·         Once the water has boiled, pour it over the tea leaves in the strainer and let the tea steep for 5-10 minutes.

When the tea is done steeping, remove the strainer or tea ball and discard or compost the tea leaves. If you used a paper tea filter or prepared tea bag, simply lift it out of the mug and compost it.

Steeping your tea outside in the sun makes for a delightfully subtle herbal tea.

How to Make a Sun-Infused Herbal Tea in a Glass Container?

·         Making sun-infused tea is a simple and easy way to brew herbal tea without the need for heat or electricity. By using the sun’s rays to gently heat the water, the tea is able to steep slowly and release its full flavor and therapeutic properties. Also, sun-infused teas are often more mellow with a less bitter taste than teas made with hot water, which can sometimes cause the delicate flavors of the herbs to become over-extracted or burnt.

·         To make a sun-infused loose leaf herbal tea, start by selecting your desired container. Sun tea can be made in a variety of vessels, including airtight glass jars, pitchers, and bottles. It is best to use clear glass so that the sunlight can penetrate and warm the herbs.
Next, choose your loose leaf herbs. You can choose a single herb or a combination of herbs. In addition to the tea blend I shared above, some of my favorite herbs for sun tea include peppermint, spearmint, or any other members of the mint family, as they are refreshing and energizing. I also love to add rose petals to my sun teas. Rose petals are moisturizing and add a lovely, delicate flavor to your tea blend, supporting the throat and helping to ease a cough.
Then, fill a large mason jar with cold water, leaving about an inch of room at the top for the tea leaves to expand.
Add your desired amount of loose leaf tea to the water, using about 1–2 tablespoons of herbs per 16 ounces of water.

·         Once you have added the tea leaves, tightly seal the jar or container with a lid and place it in a sunny location, preferably outside. Make sure the jar is in a spot where it will receive direct sunlight for several hours. Leave the jar to steep for a brew time of 3–4 hours or overnight, until the tea has reached your desired strength.

·         After the tea has steeped, remove the jar from the sunlight and strain out the tea leaves using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Optionally, you can sweeten the tea with raw honey or another sweetener, and add ice or refrigerate until chilled.
Sun-infused herbal tea is a refreshing and healthy way to enjoy the benefits of herbs while utilizing the power of the sun.

·         Sun-infused teas made with fresh herbs should be consumed within 2–3 days and stored in the refrigerator. Those made with dried herbs can last up to 1 week if stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. However, it’s always best to use your senses to determine if a tea has gone bad. If the tea has an off smell, flavor, or appearance, it’s best to discard it.