Tea is one of the widely consumed drinks in the world. It is not just because of the lovely aroma and taste but also the numerous health benefits that it contains. While there are quite a few tea blends available in the market, you can make your herbal tea at home to keep yourself, fit & healthy plus also build your immunity. With spices, herbs and even herbal flowers blended together, we bring to you our round up of six herbal tea recipes that you can try at home.
Lime & Mint Herbal Tea
A simple herbal tea recipe that helps fight cold & enhances your overall immunity with a dose of much needed vitamins & vitamin c in particular.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of water, or as needed
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 3 leaves fresh mint
Directions:
Bring water to a boil in a pot; stir in honey, cumin, ginger, lime zest, lime juice, and mint. Cook and stir until flavors are infused, about 2 minutes.
Licorice Rose Tea
With the goodness of licorice and rose, add this herbal recipe to your daily routine as it helps in combating stress and anxiety related issues and also helps strengthen one’s gut.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon cut licorice root (heaped)
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 5 cardamom pods
- Good sprinkle of dried rose petals
- 400ml (1 3/4 cups) water
Directions:
You can make this tea in a teapot or a saucepan. Use a pestle & mortar to crush the licorice root down further. Crush the fennel seeds and cardamom pods. If you don’t have a pestle & mortar then just crush down with a sharp heavy knife. Boil some water and put everything together (except the rose petals) in a teapot (or boil together in a saucepan). Let everything infuse for up to 10 minutes – add the rose petals a minute before you serve. Use a tea strainer to pour.
Sage Herbal Tea
A naturally caffeine-free drink, sage herbal tea can be enjoyed hot or iced anytime day or night, without causing the wakefulness that caffeine induces. Consuming a cup of sage tea can be a relaxing way to end your day, or a calm way to start your morning.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 cup fresh sage leaves (roughly 45 leaves)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions:
Gather the ingredients. Bring the water to a boil. Keep water at a simmer and add the sage leaves, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir well. Allow to steep for 20 to 30 minutes, or to taste, stirring occasionally. Then strain out the sage leaves and lemon zest. Serve hot or chilled with ice.
Spiced Turmeric Tea
Filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, this spiced turmeric tea is a natural healer and keeps cold, flu or any other radicals at bay.
Ingredients:
- 500 ml (2 cups) water
- 1/2 teaspoon carom seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated turmeric or 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
- 2 cloves optional
- 1/2 inch stick of cinnamon (optional)
- 1-2 petals of star anise (optional)
- 1/2 roundel or to taste palm jaggery (or any other type) (optional) * see note
Directions:
Crush the pepper coarsely using a mortar & pestle. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan and add all the ingredients to it. You can add the jaggery to the whole mixture or leave it out and add it only for those who prefer it. Reduce the heat and let everything simmer together for 5 minutes or till the mixture reduces a little. Strain into cups and serve hot.
Herbal Tea For Digestion
Soothe your gut with this herbal tea that is made with herbs and spices that helps in aiding digestion and improving the gut health.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons fennel seeds
- 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
- 2 tablespoons fenugreek seeds
- 1 tablespoon dried ginger pieces
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
Directions:
Make the blend: Start by mixing all the herbs. Store this in a jar in your pantry or tea cupboard.
Brew a cup: To make a cup of tea, add 1 teaspoon of the tea mix for each cup of water to a pot. So, for 3 cups of tea, add 3 cups of water and 3 teaspoons of the tea mix.
Bring to a simmer, reduce to a boil and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes. Strain out the seeds, sweeten to taste, and enjoy!
Kashayam
A traditional Indian herbal tea recipe that has been handed down from generations to generations, Kashayam is filled with goodness to heal your body & mind. Filled with spices and herbs, this herbal tea helps improve one’s immunity & keep cold, flu & any other radicals at bay.
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp grated ginger – 3 tbsp
- 1 tsp pepper – 1 tsp
- 1 tsp cumin – 1 tsp
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 Cloves
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1tsp raisins
- Basil or tulsi leaves
- Tender neem leaves
- Jaggery (optional)
- ¼ tsp Salt
Directions:
Heat 3 cups of water in a saucepan. Add cinnamon, cloves and allow to boil. Add grated ginger and stir. Add pepper, cumin and allow to boil. Add turmeric pwd, salt, raisins, jaggery (optional) and stir. Add fresh tender neem leaves and basil leaves. Let the kashayam boil for 6 to 8 mins in low flame. Turn off the flame. Cover with lid and let the kashayam cool for 10 mins so the flavors get well infused. Strain the kashayam in cups. Healthy kashayam is ready.