Herbal and fruit infused teas are a healthy way of complimenting your wellness regime. Dating back to the 3rd century A.D. in China in a written text by Hua T’o, infused tea was a natural method of reducing and preventing illness. For example, tea infused with peppermint is said to relieve you of stomach ailments, while chamomile decreases anxiety and calms you down. There are even infused tea recipes that can help boost immunity, which is on everyone’s mind during these COVID-19 times.
The herbs and fruit you use in your tea are soothing and flavorful. Depending on your needs, you have many options from which to choose. You can even come up with your decoction (the proper name for infused teas) according to your illness or taste.
Here are 5 healthy infused tea recipes that can help you get and stay well to make it easy for you.
Chamomile Herbal Tea
Since chamomile has a variety of bioactive phytochemicals, it’s not only great for reducing anxiety and having a calming effect it can also “help in improving cardiovascular illnesses, spark the immune system, and give some cancer protection,” according to a 2011 study. There are many great chamomile infused tea recipes available. Here’s one that will help you get your health back on track.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons fresh chamomile flowers
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 apples cut into thin slices
- Honey
Directions:
- Wash the chamomile flowers with cool water.
- Warm the teapot.
- Put the apple slices in the pot, mashing them with a wooden spoon.
- Put the chamomile flowers in the pot, and pour in the 2 cups of boiling water.
- Cover and steep for 3-5 minutes.
- Strain.
- Add honey to taste.
Chamomile also blends well with raspberries, mangoes, and oranges.
Fruit-Infused Black Tea
Robust and aromatic, black tea has many health benefits, including increased alertness and energy, antioxidants, including polyphenols and catechins, possible anti-cancer effects, better heart health, improved metabolism, and digestive health.
Ingredients:
- 1 Black tea bag
- ½ cup fruit
- Boiling water
Directions:
- Put the black tea bag into a one-quart Mason jar.
- Put half a cup of fruit chunks into the jar.
- Put boiling water to the top of the jar.
- Let steep for 3 minutes.
- Take the teabag out.
- Cover the jar.
- Let steep for 10 minutes. Strain.
- Serve hot or cold.
Since black tea is potent and rich, use sweet, flavorful fruit, such as oranges, watermelon, and raspberries.
Fruit-Infused Green Tea
Green tea is touted as being a metabolism booster, thus causing weight loss. Other possible health benefits include improved brain function, decreased risk of some cancers, anti-aging effects on the brain, diminished bad breath, type 2 diabetes prevention, and cardiovascular disease prevention.
Ingredients:
- Two green tea bags
- ½ cup chopped fresh fruit
- Boiling water
Directions:
- Add two green tea bags to a one-quart Mason jar.
- Add ½ cup chopped fresh fruit.
- Fill the jar to the top with boiling water.
- Steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain.
- Serve hot or over ice.
Fruits that fuse well with green tea are peaches, blueberries, and mango.
Sun Tea
Choosing any tea or fruit that you’re in the mood for, sun tea can offer a wide range of health benefits, depending on what you prefer. The key to sun tea is in the method of making it. By filling a one-quart Mason jar with water, filling it with your tea and fruit, and placing it in the sun to steep, you’ll create an infusion tea that will delight your palate.
Ingredients:
- 2 tea bags (your choice of flavor)
- ½ cup of fresh fruit (chopped)
- Cold water
Directions:
- Put the two tea bags in a glass Mason jar.
- Put ½ cup of fruit.
- Pour the cold water to the top of the jar and cover.
- Let steep in the sun for two hours, or to your taste.
One problem with steeping tea in the sun is that bacteria can easily grow. To avoid this, prepare your jar by sterilizing it.
CBD-Infused Herbal Tea
CBD has a whole range of health benefits, including anti-anxiety, pain relief, and anti-seizure. A regular regime of CBD-infused herbal tea is a tasty treat that can help you stay healthy.
Ingredients:
- 1-2 drops of CBD oil or a crushed CBD pill
- Boiled water
Directions:
Add a drop or two of CBD oil or crush a CBD pill to boiled water. The best CBD pills are those that are gentle and pure. Alternatively, you can also use THC gummies to get health benefits.
Keep in mind that the ingredients used in herbal and fruit-infused teas are all a matter of preference. Besides herbs and fruit, you can also choose to use roots, flowers, leaves, and seeds, depending on what health benefits you need to address. You can also select ingredients according to the taste. No matter how you make your herbal or fruit-infused tea, you’ll see that your health substantially improves if consumed consistently.
