Herbal Tea is tea that is made without the Camellia sinensis (tea plant) leaves.
Over the centuries, cultures have brewed, steeped, and strained many different flowers, herbs, and spices to create "tea", and enjoyed it for its medicinal and meditative qualities.
At Teablee, we are always experimenting with different types of herbal teas that many never have considered.
Recently, we discovered that the new spring tips of Douglas Fir Trees (an evergreen conifer found in the Pacific Northwest of the United States) can be dried, then steeped and enjoyed. The flavor is lively, mild, and refreshing. It is listed here as an entry.
Below is a list of what we consider to be the top 3 unique herbal teas, with health benefits and steeping instructions.
Spring Tips of Douglas Fir Trees
Spring Tips of Douglas Fir Trees
The fresh young tips of the Douglas Fir Tree can be dried and steeped hot or cold, and consumed. The needles are high in Vitamin C and the tannin found in the resin of the needles is said to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Where to Find: Your own backyard if you are fortunate to live in the Pacific Northwest.
Be sure to pick just the young spring tips that appear between the months of March and April. You can set the needles out on parchment paper and let them air dry, or oven dry them for 3 hours at the lowest temperature. Once dry, place in a large basket tea infuser strainer and add boiling water.
How to steep: Let the needles steep for 10 minutes for full flavor to be released.
Add a touch of organic raw honey for sweetness, if desired, or raw cane sugar.
Juniper Ridge, based in Oakland, California, sells a wonderful variety of wild harvested Douglas Fir Spring Tip Tea in unbleached tea sachels, 20 per tin.
Greek Mountain Tea (also known as Ironwort)
Greek Mountain Tea (Sideritis scardica) has at the literal Greek translation of “he who is made of iron.”
Its name might be attributed to its ancient medicinal uses by the Greeks and surrounding areas, as it has been widely used by native Greeks for centuries to treat common ailments such as the cold and flu, as well as aid in digestion.
More recently, the chemical properties of the Sideritis plant have been used by German pharmaceutical companies in the production of medicines to treat Alzheimer’s disease and anxiety disorders such as ADHD.
How to Steep:
First, it’s very important to find Greek mountain tea that is sourced ethically and cut properly.
Never purchase wild-collected or shredded Greek Mountain Tea, as wild-collection is illegal in Greece, and shredding the blossoms of the plant destroys its beneficial qualities.
For brew-in-mug loose tea strainers: Fill the basket near the top with the dry blossom tips then pour boiling filtered water over the top. Let the tea steep for a full 4-5 minutes before drinking. This allows for the full flavors and beneficial properties of the tea to fully release.
For French Coffee/Tea Press: Fill with approximately 1/2 cup of dry blossom tips then fill with boiling water and let it steep for a full 4-5 minutes before pressing and drinking.
Add a touch of organic raw honey for sweetness, if desired, or raw cane sugar.
Where to Find: Organic, ethically sourced Premium Greek Mountain Tea is on sale now exclusively here through our website. This tea was hand selected by our staff and comes directly from Sparta, Greece and is some of the best Greek Mountain Tea found anywhere in the World.
3. Dandelion Tea
Greek Mountain Tea (Sideritis scardica) has at the literal Greek translation of “he who is made of iron.”
Its name might be attributed to its ancient medicinal uses by the Greeks and surrounding areas, as it has been widely used by native Greeks for centuries to treat common ailments such as the cold and flu, as well as aid in digestion.
More recently, the chemical properties of the Sideritis plant have been used by German pharmaceutical companies in the production of medicines to treat Alzheimer’s disease and anxiety disorders such as ADHD.
How to Steep:
First, it’s very important to find Greek mountain tea that is sourced ethically and cut properly.
Never purchase wild-collected or shredded Greek Mountain Tea, as wild-collection is illegal in Greece, and shredding the blossoms of the plant destroys its beneficial qualities.
For brew-in-mug loose tea strainers: Fill the basket near the top with the dry blossom tips then pour boiling filtered water over the top. Let the tea steep for a full 4-5 minutes before drinking. This allows for the full flavors and beneficial properties of the tea to fully release.
For French Coffee/Tea Press: Fill with approximately 1/2 cup of dry blossom tips then fill with boiling water and let it steep for a full 4-5 minutes before pressing and drinking.
Add a touch of organic raw honey for sweetness, if desired, or raw cane sugar.
Where to Find: Organic, ethically sourced Premium Greek Mountain Tea is on sale now exclusively here through our website. This tea was hand selected by our staff and comes directly from Sparta, Greece and is some of the best Greek Mountain Tea found anywhere in the World.
3. Dandelion Tea
Dandelions are a lawn-owners worst enemy, but when it comes to providing numerous health benefits, dandelions are hard to beat. Both the flower and the stem are completely edible, and as long as you do not treat your yard with pesticides or herbicides, you may harvest them freely.
Dandelion Tea is beneficial for the auto-immune system, weight loss, liver health, water retention, and contains vitamins K, B, C, as well as the minerals potassium, and zinc.
How to steep: Pick fresh yellow buds and wash. Place in a large infuser strainer basket and add boiling water. Steep for 2-3 minutes. Add a touch of organic honey for sweetness.
Where to find: Common in backyards and front yards where lush green grass is abundant. Be sure you are picking dandelions that have not been sprayed with herbicides or other chemicals! If you are in doubt, don't pick!