The heat and humidity of summer have arrived making this the perfect time to look at refreshing and healthy herbal tea blends. Although iced tea is very popular in the summer, too much caffeine can be dehydrating, it may increase anxiety, and it can cause insomnia. Herbal teas, on the other hand, are caffeine-free plus many herbs have wellness benefits that can help you feel good all summer long.
Why drink herbal tea in the summer?
- Herbal teas are hydrating and can help replace fluids lost from sweating
- Many herbs have cooling properties providing relief on hot days
- Many herbs are high in antioxidants, always a good thing to add to your diet
- Certain herbs may support better digestion
It's time to put down those excess caffeine drinks, not to mention any sugary summer beverages, and choose delicious, nourishing herbal blends instead. But first, here the health benefits of just a few of the top herbs to add to your summer wellness beverage blends:
- Peppermint - A delicious and fragrant herb, it is supportive for digestion, energy levels, and even for reducing headaches.
- Hibiscus - This vitamin C-rich herb is both tart and refreshing. Plus it has antioxidant properties, can help lower blood pressure, and has been shown to improve cholesterol levels.
- Lemongrass - With its bright citrusy flavor, lemongrass is a perfect summertime flavor. Another highly antioxidant herb, it can also support good digestion.
- Rose - Flavorful and also highly antioxidant, compounds in rose tea can reduce stress.
- Lavender - Soothing and relaxing, studies have shown drinking lavender tea can reduce fatigue and improve mood.
If you're a DIY-minded person, many of these herbs are easy to grow at home. Otherwise, you can buy bulk herbs online, my preferred source is Mountain Rose Herbs. When making herbal blends everything is measured in parts. So if one part equals 1/2 cup then 2 parts is 1 cup. You do not need to feel that one part is one cup unless you plan to make a large quantity of the tea blend.
I suggest making a small amount to begin with and adjusting the amounts to your personal preference. I also recommend storing your blends in glass jars labeled with the blend name. I encourage you to also put the formula for the herbal tea blend on the label. This will make it easy to refill the jar when you run low.
Refreshing Herbal Tea Blends
Ingredients
- Minty Lemonade Herbal Tea
2 parts peppermint
1 part lemongrass
1 part hibiscus
- Lavender Rose Iced Tea
2 parts lavender
1 part rose petals
1 part lemon verbena
- Ginger Peach Detox
2 parts ginger root
1 part peach leaves
1 part dandelion root
- Citrus Mint Cooler
2 parts peppermint
1 part lemon peel
1 part orange peel
- Berry Hibiscus Refresher
2 parts hibiscus
1 part strawberry leaves
1 part raspberry leaves
Instructions
- Add the dried herbs to the French press
- Pour the boiling water over the herbs
- Put the lid on the French press with the plunger up
- Allow the herbs to steep for 5-7 minutes
- After steeping, slowly press down the plunger to strain out the herbs
- Pour the hot herbal tea concentrate into a heat-proof pitcher
- Add ice cubes to the pitcher until it's full
- Stir well and add sweetener if desired
- Serve over ice and enjoy!
How to infuse herbal tea blends
The two primary methods for making an herbal iced tea are to use either a French press or an infusion filter. Please make sure that whichever method you use is dedicated to tea. If the device is used for coffee the strong oils will stick, making your tea blends less-than-pleasant.
Making Herbal Iced Tea with a French Press
Ingredients
- 4-6 tablespoons of dried herbal tea blend
- 4 cups of boiling water
- Ice cubes
- Sweetener like honey or sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Add the dried herbs to the French press
- Pour the boiling water over the herbs
- Put the lid on the French press with the plunger up
- Allow the herbs to steep for 5-7 minutes
- After steeping, slowly press down the plunger to strain out the herbs
- Pour the hot herbal tea concentrate into a heat-proof pitcher
- Add ice cubes to the pitcher until it's full
- Stir well and add sweetener if desired
- Serve over ice and enjoy!
Making Herbal Iced Tea by Infusion
Ingredients
- 2-4 tablespoons of dried herbal tea blend
- 4 cups of boiling water
- Ice cubes
- Sweetener like honey or sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Pour the room temperature or cool water over the herbs
- Pour the boiling water over the herbs and let sit 20-30 minutes
- After infusing remove the herbs and the filter
- Pour the herbal tea concentrate into a large pitcher
- Add ice cubes to fill the pitcher
- Stir well and add sweetener if desired
- Serve over ice and enjoy!
Notes
Note: Adjust the amount of the herbs based on your desired potency/flavor. You can also garnish your herbal tea blend with fresh fruit, fresh mint leaves, or fresh citrus slices for extra flavor.
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