Herbal teas are a popular beverage, even though they are not technically tea. They originate from traditional herbal remedies, so let’s talk a little bit about finding a good one. Good (herbal) teas are easy to differentiate because true teas like green tea, oolong tea, and black tea must come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal teas can be made from flowers, roots, or fruits as well. Some of them have natural healing properties! The best way to get the most out of your herbal teas is to make sure you choose high-quality ingredients and stick with the ones that don’t contain any additives like sugar or artificial flavorings for optimal taste and benefit! I find that I have learned a lot about different teas, tea cultures from around the world, and in particular about the history of tea, just from reading the product pages of Ehsans och Pappas Tehus in Sweden. We’ll discuss some of the best in this article.
Chamomile
Chamomile tea is most commonly known for its calming effects. Two studies have examined the effects of chamomile tea or extract on sleep problems in humans.
Add tea to chamomile flowers in a container. Next, add about a cup of cool water to the mixture. Cover the container with a lid and place it in the fridge for up to 12 hours; give it time to steep. Strain contents from the container through a sieve or cheesecloth into another bowl or beverage dispenser. You may use honey instead of sugar if you prefer sweetened tea, but you’ll want to add it after your drink is prepared (and ideally while it’s still hot) and leave it at that—whipping cream and other additions will only dilute the effects of chamomile!
Peppermint
Peppermint tea is one of the most popular herbal teas in the world (7Trusted Source) and is commonly used to support digestive tract health (7Trusted Source). Many people find it soothing, as it has antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that may be beneficial to human health (7Trusted Source). However, there’s not a lot of evidence showing these effects in humans. For example, one study found that peppermint oil preparations can help soothe indigestion.
Ginger
Ginger tea is a delicious hot drink favored by many people from different cultures and countries. It is used to avert nausea, particularly in early pregnancy. Ginger tea has also been found to ease symptoms that occur due to motion sickness and for treating nausea caused by cancer treatments. In addition, it has been discovered that ginger can help fight inflammation and other serious chronic health conditions such as cancer and heart disease. It induces relaxation of smooth muscles and has a positive influence on lipid levels. There is also evidence that it may be used for the treatment of stomach ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders like indigestion or constipation.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a tropical flowering plant in the mallow family. It is also known as roselle, sorrel, and Jamaica flower. The flower has a deep-red color and has a tart flavor. Some people drink it for the health benefits associated with it.
Nevertheless, hibiscus tea seems to have a positive effect on high blood pressure. In fact, many studies have found that hibiscus tea reduced high blood pressure in most individuals but mostly only for those who suffer from mild hypertension or pre-hypertension (30Trusted Source). One study has also found that taking hibiscus tea extract for six weeks significantly decreased oxidative stress in male soccer players (32Trusted Source). However, it’s important not to combine drinking hibiscus tea if you’re taking hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic medication, as the two interact with each other and may cause one to experience adverse side effects when taken concurrently. Hibiscus tea will also likely shorten the effects of aspirin so it is advised needs to be taken 3–4 hours apart for maximum effectiveness.
Echinacea
Echinacea tea has become extremely popular as a remedy for common colds. Certain studies appear to show that this beverage can shorten the duration of the common cold by anywhere from 3 to 5 days, lessen the severity of its symptoms, or even aid in preventing it together (33Trusted Source).
