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When people think of herbal tea, many imagine grandma's home remedies and her natural pharmacy. Strictly speaking, herbal teas are not teas, as they are not brewed from the leaves of the tea plant Camellia Sinensis. However, in everyday language, "herbal tea" has become common when referring to herbal infusions. Tea lovers appreciate the diverse variety of infusions for any time of the day. Whether it's flowers, leaves, or roots, all herbal infusions are naturally caffeine-free.
Herbal Teas from Flowers
Herbal infusions from flowers are particularly aromatic and floral. Get to know some popular varieties:
Chamomile Tea
In ancient Egypt, chamomile was highly valued and even called the flower of the sun god due to its shape and color. Special plant oils give this flower a unique, gentle aroma with a hint of apple. At PAPER & TEA, we love the chamomile blossom and its gentleness on body and mind. Combined with orange, it creates a particularly refreshing golden-yellow tea in our ORANGE KISS N°825, bringing sunshine to your cup.
Hibiscus Tea
The hibiscus flower is not only eye-catchingly beautiful, but it also turns your tea into a rich red color. In our herbal tea blend TOP OF THE DAY N°814, it provides a vibrant, fresh flavor note along with a bright appearance. The refreshing aroma also makes it a perfect choice for a cold brew on hot summer days. Explore the wonderful tangy note of the pink flower with our RED HIBISCUS N°820 made from whole hibiscus flowers from Malawi.
Lavender Tea
The picturesque lavender fields in southern France are known for their impressive looks and magical fragrance. Lavender also releases its floral and calming aroma as an infusion. It is often prepared as a beverage in the evening before bedtime.
Rose Petal Tea
Considered as the queen of flowers, rose blossoms are a real eye-catcher as an infusion: they are a special feature in the culinary world. As rose water, the delicate blossom refines sweets in Iranian cuisine, and as a floral note, it is added to black or green tea. Our SACRED EMILY N°524 combines green jasmine tea and the finest black tea with the delicate, floral aroma of rose petals to create a unique tea blend.
Fresh Greenness in a Cup of Tea: Herbal Teas from Leaves
Mint
Mint refers to all plants of the Mentha genus. There are a variety of flavors, with around 30 known variants. As an infusion, Moroccan mint is particularly popular. Combined with green tea, it makes a traditional and delicious tea beverage from North Africa. For our herbal tea blend MOUNT OLYMPUS N°824, we refine unique Greek mountain tea with high-quality spearmint.
Peppermint Tea
Mint and peppermint are often used synonymously, but classic peppermint is just one of many mint variants. Its fiery freshness makes it an excellent hot or cold infusion and a popular ingredient in many blends. Our MINT JULEP N°715 is a green tea blend inspired by the refreshing cocktail classic with orange peel, peppermint, and enticing jasmine fragrance.
Rooibos
Strictly speaking, rooibos tea does not use leaves but the needles of the famous red bush. They turn the tea a deep rust-red. It grows exclusively in the Cederberg region of South Africa and is appreciated for its gentle, earthy, nutty flavor. The sweet, caramel-like aromas of rooibos can be enhanced by adding honey and milk to the tea. Our RED EARL N°826 with the addition of bergamot oil is a special rooibos variant, as is our unique GREEN ROOIBOS N°803, where the needles are treated like green tea before drying.
Lemon Balm
Monks grew lemon balm in their monastery gardens, and from there, it found its way into the world of herbal infusions. Lemon balm releases wonderful citric essential oils when rubbed in the hand, giving it its name. The natural power of lemon balm refreshes and creates a unique tea experience.
Nettle Tea
Nettle may be known to many as an unwelcome weed. However, this native plant has a long-standing place in the world of herbal medicine and healing infusions as a medicinal plant. Nettle tea tastes mild to spicy and pleasantly herbaceous.
Mate
A few years ago, mate was considered an exotic herbal infusion from South America and a real insider tip; today, it is a popular lifestyle drink. With a natural caffeine content comparable to coffee, mate is an exception among otherwise caffeine-free herbal teas. The natural energy booster is loved both as iced tea and as a warm pot of tea. Through a special roasting process, mate tea receives a smoky-sweet aroma reminiscent of dark chocolate.
Guayusa
Like mate tea, guayusa tea, which also steams from South America, contains caffeine and is therefore a welcome treat in the morning. The beverage brewed from the leaves of the guayusa plant is a delicious herbal tea with a pleasant, sweet-bitter note.
Herbal Teas from Roots: What makes them special
In addition to flowers and leaves, roots of certain plants are also steeped and enjoyed as herbal tea with a special intensity of flavor.
Ginger Tea
Ginger root, when prepared as tea, exudes a distinctive warmth and pleasant spiciness. Ginger gives our PURE PRANA N°809 an aromatic fresh kick. Inspired by the philosophy of yoga, this tea blend ensures well-being and true wellness moments.
Valerian Tea
Valerian root, when steeped, develops a green pine aroma and woody, complex notes. On its own, the tea is more for mature palates, but in herbal blends, it is a popular component, especially in combination with lavender blossom for a harmonious evening tea composition.
Sustainable Cultivation & Harvesting of Herbal Tea
Strictly speaking, herbal teas are not tea varieties since traditionally tea refers to the tea plant Camellia Sinensis. However, infusions from herbs, whether native or from distant continents, are commonly referred to as tea.
Traditional Methods of Tea Cultivation
Only infusions of the tea plant Camellia Sinensis are referred to as tea. The tea plant is mainly cultivated in India, China, Japan, or Taiwan. Depending on the time of harvest and different oxidation and drying methods, the complex, delicious tea varieties we cherish are produced.
Herbal Tea Cultivation
The cultivation of herbal tea is as diverse as the herbs and their flavors themselves. Some grow as flowers like lavender or hibiscus, others as bushes like mint, and for some, such as ginger, the root is harvested and enjoyed. What they share with their tea sister, the Camellia Sinensis, is that careful and organic cultivation and harvesting bring about an unparalleled taste experience in your cup. At PAPER & TEA, we pay the same attention to our herbal infusions and herbal tea blends as we do to our pure and blended teas, ensuring the highest quality and meticulous processing.
Prepare Your Hot Cup
Herbal tea can give you a soothing, caffeine-free break. There is a perfect herbal tea blend for every time of day and mood. Here are some tips for preparation.
The right Water Temperature & Steeping Time
You may have heard that herbal teas should be steeped at 100°C. Why is that? Unlike real teas, herbal infusions are not additionally treated with heat during processing to preserve their valuable essential oils. Therefore, bacteria and germs can still be present in the herbs. To brew a safe herbal infusion, you sterilize your tea thoroughly with 100°C hot water.
Herbal infusions are relatively uncomplicated when it comes to steeping time compared to real teas. You can let an herbal tea steep for 10 minutes. They contain few tannins and do not become bitter quickly if steeped too long. Be sure to let your herbal infusion steep with the lid on so that the valuable aromas and essential oils can fully develop.
Different Methods of Herbal Tea Preparation
Many know the classic herbal infusion in grandma's teapot. Fresh or dried herbal tea is placed in a tea strainer and poured over with hot water. After the steeping time, the strainer is removed, and the tea is ready to enjoy. A contemporary variant of this classic is our SUMO TEA POT. The glass pot is neutral in taste, and you can enjoy all types of tea from it.
Are you familiar with the French Press method? Many know the French Press from coffee preparation, but it is also excellent for herbal tea! After the desired steeping time, you press down the strainer and enjoy a steaming warm herbal tea from the same pot. With the PAPER & TEA CYLINDER POT in both small and large variant, you can prepare herbal tea in a modern and uncomplicated way. The strainer is attached to the lid, giving your herbal tea enough space to fully unfold its aroma in the warm water.
What Makes the Difference - Creative Recipes with Herbal Tea
Herbal tea is not only a delight to our taste buds but also inspires our creativity and DIY projects. Whether in the kitchen for cooking and baking with dried rose or lavender blossoms or creating your own herbal tea blends, there are numerous inspirations.
Creating Your Own Tea Blend Delights
The beautiful thing about herbs is that you don't always have to buy them. You may receive fresh herbs from the garden of your friends, or you can grow mint and other herbs on your own balcony. If you want to create individual herbal tea blends to suit your personal tastes and experiment with combinations, make sure to use organic quality and properly dry the herbs before mixing. Lay them out in a dry place and let them dry for several days, avoiding direct sunlight. Alternatively, spread your precious flowers and leaves on a baking sheet and dry them at the oven's lowest setting. Make sure the leaves and flowers are completely dried, or they can create mold later! If they make a rustling noise and crumble easily, you can store them and gift your herbal tea blends.
