Best Herbal Tea Loose Leaf & Tea Bags
Herbal Tea has become a popular alternative to “regular” Tea for countless reasons. Sales in it have increased by 31% since 2012 in the UK alone. There are so many types to choose from, so many health benefits to their consumption, and so many places to buy them that it’s almost no surprise. But when quality is essential to you, it’s best to choose The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company.
What is Herbal Tea?
The term “Loose Herbal Tea” is a misnomer. This is because, technically, it isn’t a Tea in the conventional sense. The word should, by rights, be reserved for Green, White, Black and Oolong, all of which derive from the Camellia sinensis (Tea) plant.
Any infusion deemed to be a Herbal Tea is 100% void of these leaves. The correct term for them, though seldom used, is “Tisane.”
The industry has nevertheless adopted them as honorary members of the Tea family, which is quite an honour indeed. They come in many shapes and sizes, from leaves to roots to bark to flowers to spices.
The confusion doesn’t end there, however, as beverages made from fruits have their own classifications: Fruit Tea or Fruit Tisane. But we shall focus on the types of Herbal Tea, specifically, here.
Types of Herbal Tea
Loose Leaf Herbal Tea refers not to just one type but a vast multitude of varieties. It is an umbrella term of sorts. Naming them all would be all but impossible, although the most famous ones are, arguably, Peppermint, Camomile, Ginger, Hibiscus and Rooibos Tea.
These are the kinds that account for the majority of global Herbal Tea consumption today. But there are more. Thousands more.
Take Echinacea, Sage, Liquorice Root, Lemon Balm and Lemongrass Tea - all up-and-comer types becoming more widespread with each year. Another one considered trendy is Hemp Tea.
This comes from the Cannabis sativa plant and, while related to marijuana, doesn’t have the same psychoactive effects. From Bamboo to Ginseng, Strawberry Leaf to Cardamom Tea, the possibilities are almost endless.
Does Herbal Tea Have Caffeine?
Around sixty plants contain the stimulating chemical compound known as caffeine. Most notable among them are Tea from the Camellia sinensis plant, Coffee from the Coffea plant and Cocoa Beans (i.e. chocolate) from the Theobroma cacao tree.
Consuming any of these will lead to you receiving an energy boost from their caffeine content. But does Herbal Tea have caffeine?
The truth is that it depends. While almost all varieties are what we’d call Caffeine Free Herbal Tea, there are exceptions to the rule, rare though they might be. We stock one such example: Yerba Mate Tea.
This is the product of the Ilex Paraguariensis plant of South America. People say that it combines the energy boost of Coffee, the benefits of Tea and the endorphin buzz of chocolate - all three in one!
Calories in Herbal Tea
You know about Herbal Tea caffeine. Allow us now to move on to calories in Herbal Tea. Once again, it depends on the type you choose. Most have no more than two calories per serving.
Camomile and Peppermint Tea, meanwhile, have around 2.4 calories, which isn’t much of an increase. One of the most calorific options is Hibiscus Tea with 37 calories - and even that is relatively low.
Most remarkable, perhaps, is that these varieties and several others boost the metabolism of fat cells. This enables the body to burn fat quicker and more efficiently, leading to periods of exercise producing better and more noticeable results.
It is one of the numerous Herbal Tea benefits that come from frequent consumption. Which prompts the question: What else can it do?
Herbal Tea Benefits
Is Herbal Tea good for you? Absolutely. Each one has something unique, indeed extraordinary, to offer, be it taste, characteristics or, of course, Herbal Tea benefits. Almost all of them combat free radicals in the body, which come about from the natural, though often harmful process of oxidation.
The result is that the Tea reduces the risk of developing chronic conditions from heart disease to type-2 diabetes to cancer.
And that’s just the beginning. According to a 2013 study, for instance, volunteers with rheumatoid arthritis who consumed Turmeric Tea extract experienced less pain and increased mobility.
The American Heart Association (AHA), meanwhile, recommends three cups of Hibiscus Tea for reducing blood pressure. However, we’re still barely scratching the surface. It’s time to explore in greater detail.
Herbal Tea for Sleep
The best Herbal Tea for sleep is, unmistakably, Camomile Tea. The answers come from a 2011 study published in European Neuropsychopharmacology. The research found that its phytochemicals affect neurotransmitters in the brain, specifically serotonin and dopamine.
They also work with GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptors in the central nervous system to promote a state of calmness.
Herbal Tea for Weight Loss
It is somewhat more challenging to determine the best Herbal Tea for weight loss. There are so many options, each accompanied by irrefutable evidence.
A good one would be Lemon Verbena Tea, as proven by a study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology. It discovered that the infusion reduced overall muscle damage while participants worked out, enabling them to go the extra mile.
Herbal Tea Pregnancy
You can drink Herbal Tea while pregnant so long as you pick the type carefully and monitor your intake. When you reach the third trimester (and not before), we recommend Raspberry Leaf Tea Pregnancy Benefits.
This is because it lowers the chance of your running past 41 weeks of pregnancy. Preliminary evidence (emphasis on “preliminary”) even indicates that it might help induce labour.
Herbal Tea for Anxiety
The best Herbal Tea for panic attacks, anxiety and mild depression is one known as the “calming herb.” It is called Lemon Balm Tea - not to be confused with Lemon Verbena.
One study involving eighteen healthy participants established that a 600-mg dose improved adverse mood effects of stress. Additionally, the extract increased the volunteers’ speed of mathematical processing with no reduction in accuracy.
Herbal Tea for Constipation
Constipation is a common condition whereby an individual has difficulty passing stool. Most medical experts characterise it as defecating fewer than three times a week. The best Tea for constipation is, similar to weight loss, difficult to pin down definitively.
Peppermint Tea contains high levels of menthol, though, which has a soothing effect on the stomach while moving stool through the intestines.
Herbal Tea for Acid Reflux
Selecting a Herbal Tea for digestion, particularly concerning acid reflux, is far more clear-cut: Ginger Tea Benefits is seemingly the most efficient. The reason is its phenolic compounds, which can relieve gastrointestinal irritation and lessen gastric contractions.
Its anti-inflammatory properties, too, benefit the gastrointestinal tract. And then there are its calmative properties to ease the process along.
Herbal Tea for Bloating
We remain broadly on the topic of digestion, having moved onto its after-effects. The Herbal Tea for gas and bloating you’ll want most is Dandelion Root Tea. This is according to a 2011 study published in Neurogastroenterology and Motility.
The researchers noted that it increased gastric motility by up to 37%, which refers to the rate that food passes through the stomach and, in turn, relieves bloating.
Best Herbal Tea for Sore Throats
An antibacterial Herbal Tea worth considering for sore throats is Liquorice Root Tea. A small study examined participants having a breathing tube inserted into their windpipe before surgery.
After its removal, the breathing tube caused a postoperative sore throat (POST). However, scientists found that gargling Liquorice Tea solution for 1-15 minutes before surgery reduced symptoms.
Best Herbal Tea for Headaches and Migraines
We’ve established that Turmeric Tea supports those with rheumatoid arthritis. But did you know it also helps, tea for headaches? A 2017 Iranian study can explain how and why.
Scientists used a combination of curcumin - an active compound within it - and omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment. This reduced the production of protein tumour necrosis factor (TNF), which in turn prevented neuroinflammation and pain.
Herbal Tea for Erectile Dysfunction
Would you believe the benefits of drinking Herbal Tea extend to those with erectile dysfunction? Korean Ginseng Tea has long been recognised as a treatment for impotence in men. The evidence derives from a 2002 study published in the Journal of Urology. Researchers concluded that a 900-mg dose, taken three times daily, dramatically improved erectile dysfunction symptoms.
Best Herbal Tea for Heart Health
Looking after your heart is, perhaps, one of the most critical things you can do for your health. Milk Thistle Tea could lend a hand, according to a 2006 study. It concluded that those drinking the Tea had lower “bad” LDL cholesterol than those receiving a placebo. There is also the possibility of it reducing blood pressure similar to Hibiscus Tea. And, on a side note, people consider it a useful Detox Tea.
How to Make Herbal Tea
Brewing Herbal Tea is relatively straightforward in most instances except for Lapacho Tea, which, traditionally, requires a little more work. The guide below will show you the easiest method. You’ll need either a Tea Filter or Infuser before getting started. Once you have one of these two items to hand, both of which we stock, then you can follow the instructions here:
1, Put Loose Tea in a Filter or Infuser (both available here).
2, Place the Tea-filled accessory in a cup.
3, Boil water and pour it over the Tea.
4, Allow it to steep for 5-10 minutes.
How to Serve: Consider honey or lemon. Alternatively, serve without additions.
