Herbal Tea
Herbal tea is a broad category referring to a variety of beverages made up predominantly of herbal ingredients. This includes; peppermint, chamomile, hibiscus, lemon verbena, yerba mate, ginger and turmeric to name but a few.
Herbal teas tend not to contain leaves from the Camellia sinensis (Tea) plant, and as such, are not technically “Teas” in the conventional sense. Nevertheless, the worldwide tea industry has long adopted them as “honorary” Teas, with The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company being no exception.
Because these infusions do not contain tea leaves, most herbal teas likewise are caffeine-free. An exception to this rule is Yerba Mate, which is one of 60 plants to contain caffeine naturally. Many people choose this tea owing to its lack of caffeine, though many more drink these remarkable beverages because of their unique tastes.
Seldom do two ever taste the same, with most brews taking on the qualities of the plants from which they originate. As such, it is impossible to define these teas as a whole by particular flavour notes, though the term “herbaceous” is commonplace!
Also unique to individual teas, of a herbal nature, are their health benefits. For example, Camomile Tea improves sleeping patterns; Hibiscus Tea lowers blood pressure; Peppermint Tea treats halitosis, and Ginger Tea boosts the immune system. Most of these herbal teas contain an abundance of beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, meaning one can potentially improve their everyday way of life through the frequent consumption of one of these teas. However, it’s entirely down to you to find the tea that suits your lifestyle best. The choices are almost endless.
