Learn multiple ways how to make an herbal infusion so you can enjoy a fresh cup of herbal tea. Infuse it hot, cold, by the sun or the moon!
Today I want to talk about herbs, and how to drink them. Herbs have amazing health benefits, and can be beneficial for almost all health conditions. The act of drinking herbs in tea form also has a therapeutic effect on our body.
Some people may feel very intimidated with using loose leaf herbs to make a tea. Naturally, people gravitate to buying bags of tea from the grocery store. I myself, am guilty of that as well. I want to show you multiple ways to make an herbal infusion, so you can enjoy an endless possibility of herbal creations.
WHAT IS AN HERBAL INFUSION?
An herbal infusion is the process of steeping a plant in water. Steeping is a way to extract the nutrients and aromas from the plant so that you can enjoy the medicinal qualities of the plant. Typically, an herbal infusion is done with the more delicate part of the plant, such as leaves and flowers. This is done as to not destroy the delicate nature of the plant. Woody parts of plants, such as the bark and roots, are best extracted using a decoction, also known as boiling the plant. I will explain the process in more detail in another blog post, so keep your eye out.
The amount of herbs and the length of infusion depends on the herb itself, as well as the temperature of the water. For example, black and green tea gets extremely bitter when infused at longer lengths of time, and can be extremely strong if you use too much. Since we are extracting the medicinal qualities out of an herb, we want a strong cup of tea. This generally means we use more herbs at longer periods of time, than typical green and black tea.
Here are some ways to make an herbal infusion.
MAKING A HOT HERBAL INFUSION
This is one of the most common ways of making tea. Most herbs are extracted well from hot water, and thus work great as an herbal extraction. The ratio of tea to water is about 1-2 tablespoon per cup of water. Feel free to experiment with this, as some teas you may want stronger or weaker.
- To make a large batch, start with a quart mason jar (32 ounces) and add 4 to 6 tablespoon of dried herbs (single herb or mixed).
- Pour boiling water over the herbs and fill the jar to the top. Let the herbs steep anywhere between 30 and 45 minutes. The longer it steeps, the stronger it will taste.
- Strain the herbs and enjoy!
MAKING A COLD HERBAL INFUSION
Cold herbal infusion are great for fresh flower herbs such as lavender, rose petals, and yarrow. It also works great very aromatic herbs, fresh or dry, such as peppermint and lemon balm. Mucilaginous herbs like marshmallow root and slippy elm also work best with a cold infusion. It is a gentler way to extract the herbs and can preserve more of their aromas and oils. The process is similar to that of a hot infusion, except you use cold water instead of hot and infuse it longer.
- Fill a quart (32 ounces) mason jar with 4 to 6 tablespoon of fresh or dried herbs.
- Pour cold water over the herbs and fill the jar to the top. Let the herbs steep on your counter for 6-8 hours or over night.
- Strain the herbs and enjoy!
INFUSING HERBS WITH THE SUN OR MOON
This is personally my favorite way to make an herbal infusion. The extraction utilizes the sun or moon to help pull out the nutrients from the herbs, as well as gain some of the energetic elements from the sun or moon. They are both extremely easy, and in turn make an extremely tasty tea. I personally love sun infused hibiscus and rose hip tea in the hot summer months. Lemon balm, mint, elderflowers, nettles, and calendula also make great teas.
To Make a Sun Infusion
- Fill a quart (32 ounces) mason jar with 4 to 6 tablespoon of fresh or dried herbs.
- Pour cold water over the herbs, fill the jar to the top, and put the lid on. Let the herbs steep outside in direct sunlight for several hours.
- Strain the herbs and enjoy!
To Make a Lunar Infusion
- On a full moon, fill a large bowl with 4 to 6 tablespoon of fresh or dried herbs.
- Pour cold water over the herbs and fill the bowl to the top. Let the herbs steep outside in direct moonlight throughout the night.
- Strain the herbs the next morning and enjoy!
If you aren’t growing all herbs imaginable in your backyard, you’ll have to find another source for all of your herbs. I personally love using Mountain Rose Herbs or going to my local Natural Grocers store’s bulk herbs. You can also ask around at your local health food store to see if they carry medicinal herbs in their bulk section.
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