Teatime Tuesday: Herbal Tea

 Teatime Tuesday: Herbal Tea

“Herbal tea” is a misnomer, as tea is only made from the Camillia Sinensis plant. The more appropriate term is tisane, which like tea should be infused with freshly boiled water. Infusion is a fancy term for the process of steeping (soaking) herbs until the water absorbs the oils and flavors. With a few exceptions most herbs are caffeine-free which is why some individuals prefer them over coffee or tea. Others drink herbal tisanes for their medicinal and healthful properties. Since ancient times infusions have been recognized as an excellent source of antioxidants.

The length of times the herbs should steep depends on the part of the plant being used:

• Roots and bark: 8 hours
• Leaves: 4 hours
• Flowers: 2 hours
• Seeds and fresh berries: 30 minutes or more

Once the required timeframe has elapsed, strain the liquid, wash the container, then pour the infusion

back into the container and store in the fridge for no more than 48 hours.

According to Tea and Herbal Infusion Europe (THIE), as many as 500 plants and 400 parts of plants are used for making herbal and fruit infusions. Some of the more popular contain:

• Cardamom: Great for helping with tummy aches and indigestion
• Ginger: Also great for indigestion, but also has excellent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties
• Lemon Balm, Valerian, and Chamomile: All effective for combatting insomnia and helping you get a good night’s rest.
• Echinacea: Thought to help with colds

Things to remember:

Herbs can be harmful if you ingest too much. Do your research to ensure you don’t combine the wrong herbs. Follow recipes from trusted sources and pay attention to any warnings given. Consult your doctor or herbalist before drinking infusions.

What are your favorite flavors?

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Shetland Sunset:

Bonded by a cause but an ocean apart, will their love survive a world war?

After months in Norway helping his cousins with their fishing business, American Askel Westgard seems trapped when the Germans invade until he has a chance to get back at the Occupiers as part of the Shetlandsgjengen, or Shetland gang, a group of fishermen who transport weapons and equipment from Shetland to Norway under cover of darkness. Unfortunately, the beautiful Norwegian woman he’s just met refuses to join him in safety. Will he ever see her again?

Distraught when the Germans overrun her beloved Norway, Tonje Bondevik refuses to take the occupation sitting down. She joins the fledgling resistance movement, deriving great satisfaction distributing the underground newspaper and performing acts of sabotage…until the day the Nazis come looking for her, and she must flee for her life. Perhaps she should have listened to the handsome Norwegian American when he offered to take her to Shetland.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4AWqJk

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbal_tea
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10144634/
https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-make-an-herbal-infusion-1762142
https://www.tea.co.uk/about-infusions

Photo Credits:

Peppermint: Pixabay/Conger Design

Sage: Pixabay/Conger Design

Teacup: Pixabay/Olga Kachor