Making herbal tea

Even though making tea is easy and everybody knows it I wanted to write something about it because there are some rules which maybe important but they don't need to be strictly followed.

Proper way to make tea

Proper way to make a tea would be to heat the water (in tea pot, some other pot, etc.) until it boiles. Meanwhile put the herbs in something made from china or glass. When the water boiles, pour it over the herbs, stir with a spoon and cover. Water can be heated in metal pots, but tea shouldn't be made in it. I don't know way.

This is good but doing so you'll have a lot of dishes to wash and that can be irritating if you often make tea.

My way of making tea

I put water to boil in a small metal pot. When  it boiles I remove it from fire, add herbs in it, stir it and cover with small plate. I don't wash my tea making equipment every time I make tea, I just rinse it with water and leave it for next time.

Sometimes I think that I should make tea in ceramic pot, but I never do.

Cover and strain

How ever you make your tea, it is important to cover it.

I strain my tea after 2 min if the herb is dry and if it's fresh after 30 seconds. That is a recepie from Maria Treben. Some people leave it for 5, 10 or 15 minutes. That is also good. Hip tea and lime have better taste if they are strained after 10-15 min.

Vitamin C and Hip

Hip tea is a very good source of vitamin C. In some cases heat destroys this vitamin, for example if you put lemon in very hot tea. With hip is different because the high temperature of the water doesn't destroy vitamin C.

To make tea put 1 teaspoon of hip (dry, chopped) in a cup of boiled water, stir it and cover. After 10 minutes strain it. You can sweeten it with honey, when the tea is warm, not too hot.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant, it prevents oxidation of LDL cholesterol („bad one“), because of this it is recommended for clogged arteries and cardiovascular diseases (angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, etc). It is good in combination with vitamin E.

Vitamin C is also recommended for asthma, bronchitis, infertility in men, cancer, etc. Some studies show that vitamin C prevents the growth of HIV virus.

Paprikas, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, coliflower, strawberries, spinach and citrus fruits are also recommended as a source of vitamin C.

Marjoram

Marjoram as a herbal remedy is used for troubles with stomach, bowles and bile. It also helps with nerve diseases, allergies and cold with coughs.

Marjoram is a well known spice for pasta, potatoes, wine and etc. can be planted in the garden or pot whether you want to use it as a cure or spice. It is rather easy to find and buy its seeds or small plants for planting.

For tea put 1 teaspoon in a cup of boiled water, stir and cover. After 2 minutes (or if you prefer 5 or 10 minutes) strain it. Some people recommend 2 tablespoons to leave for 5 minutes.

Natural tea or tea bags

Natural tea, tea in its original form, is always better than tea in tea bags (filters). Natural tea has more taste (better taste) and I think better effect than the tea in tea bags.

Many people are used to drinking tea from tea bags, because it seems easier or just don't know otherwise. I was one of those people and it was something new to me that you can put dry leaves that you picked or bought in boiling water and make tea.

Making tea from cut herbs may seem more work but once you get used to this proces it realy is easy and better. Herbs have better quality than in tea bags where sometimes you can find just herb dust.

If you make tea often, you don't need to wash your equipment every time you use it, just rinse it under water and leave it for next time. Try original tea and see the difference.