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An herbal tea, tisane, or ptisan is an herb
Herb

A herb is a plant that is valued for qualities such as medicinal properties, flavor, scent, or the like....
al infusion
Infusion

An infusion is the outcome of Wikt:steep plants with a desired flavour in water or edible oil.An infusion is very similar to a decoction but is used with herbs that are more volatile or dissolve readily in water, or release their active ingredients easily in oil....
 made from anything other than the leaves of the tea
Tea

Tea refers to the agricultural products of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the Camellia sinensis plant, prepared and cured by various methods....
 bush (Camellia sinensis
Camellia sinensis

Camellia sinensis, the tea plant, is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. It is of the genus Camellia , a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae....
). Originated from both China and Middle East.

English
English language

English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
 word "tisane" originated from the Greek
Ancient Greek

Ancient Greek is the historical stage in the development of the Greek language spanning across the Archaic Greece , Classical Greece , and Hellenistic civilization periods of ancient Greece and the classical antiquity....
 word pt?s??? (ptisane), a drink made from pearl barley
Pearl barley

Pearl barley is barley processed to remove its Husk and bran. Barley must have its fibrous outer hull removed before it can be eaten; pearl barley is taken a step further, polished to remove the nutritious bran layer....
. Strictly speaking, the name 'herbal teas' is a misnomer, as they are not made with real tea
Tea

Tea refers to the agricultural products of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the Camellia sinensis plant, prepared and cured by various methods....
 (Camellia sinensis
Camellia sinensis

Camellia sinensis, the tea plant, is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. It is of the genus Camellia , a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae....
), but by infusing other plants.






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An herbal tea, tisane, or ptisan is an herb
Herb

A herb is a plant that is valued for qualities such as medicinal properties, flavor, scent, or the like....
al infusion
Infusion

An infusion is the outcome of Wikt:steep plants with a desired flavour in water or edible oil.An infusion is very similar to a decoction but is used with herbs that are more volatile or dissolve readily in water, or release their active ingredients easily in oil....
 made from anything other than the leaves of the tea
Tea

Tea refers to the agricultural products of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the Camellia sinensis plant, prepared and cured by various methods....
 bush (Camellia sinensis
Camellia sinensis

Camellia sinensis, the tea plant, is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. It is of the genus Camellia , a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae....
). Originated from both China and Middle East.

Etymology

The English
English language

English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
 word "tisane" originated from the Greek
Ancient Greek

Ancient Greek is the historical stage in the development of the Greek language spanning across the Archaic Greece , Classical Greece , and Hellenistic civilization periods of ancient Greece and the classical antiquity....
 word pt?s??? (ptisane), a drink made from pearl barley
Pearl barley

Pearl barley is barley processed to remove its Husk and bran. Barley must have its fibrous outer hull removed before it can be eaten; pearl barley is taken a step further, polished to remove the nutritious bran layer....
. Strictly speaking, the name 'herbal teas' is a misnomer, as they are not made with real tea
Tea

Tea refers to the agricultural products of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the Camellia sinensis plant, prepared and cured by various methods....
 (Camellia sinensis
Camellia sinensis

Camellia sinensis, the tea plant, is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. It is of the genus Camellia , a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae....
), but by infusing other plants. In some countries (but not in the United States) the use of the word tea is legally restricted to infusions of Camellia sinensis
Camellia sinensis

Camellia sinensis, the tea plant, is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. It is of the genus Camellia , a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae....
 (the tea plant).

Composition

Herbal teas can be made with fresh or dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots, generally by pouring boiling water over the plant parts and letting them steep for a few minutes. Seeds and roots can also be boiled on a stove. The tisane is then strained, sweetened if so desired, and served. Many companies produce herbal tea bag
Tea bag

A tea bag is a small, porous paper, silk or nylon sealed bag containing tea leaf for brewing tea. The bag contains the tea leaves while the tea is brewed, making it easier to dispose of the leaves, and performing the same function as a tea infuser....
s for such infusions.

On the other hand, flavoured tea
Tea

Tea refers to the agricultural products of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the Camellia sinensis plant, prepared and cured by various methods....
s are prepared by adding other plants to an actual tea (black
Black tea

Black tea is a variety of tea that is more oxidization than the oolong, green tea, and White tea varieties.All four varieties are made from leaves of Camellia sinensis. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor and contains more caffeine than the less Redox teas....
, oolong, green
Green tea

'Green tea' is a type of tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis, that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan to the Middle East....
, yellow
Yellow tea

Yellow tea usually implies a special tea processed similarly to green tea, but with a slower drying phase, where the damp tea leaves are allowed to sit and yellow....
, or white tea
White tea

White tea is the uncured and unoxidized tea leaf. Like green tea, oolong tea and black tea, white tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant....
); for example, the popular Earl Grey tea
Earl Grey tea

Earl Grey tea is a tea blend with a distinctive flavour and aroma derived from the addition of oil extracted from the Peel of the bergamot orange, a fragrant citrus fruit....
 is black tea with bergamot
Bergamot orange

File:Dscf0545.jpgFile:Bergamotfruit.jpgThe bergamot is a small and roughly pear-shaped fragrant citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia. Today it is also commercially grown in Calabria, Italy....
, jasmine tea is Chinese tea with jasmine
Jasmine

Jasmine is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family ,with about 200 species, native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World....
 flowers, and genmaicha
Genmaicha

is the Japanese language name for green tea combined with Roasting brown rice. It is sometimes referred to colloquially as "popcorn tea" because a few grains of the rice pop during the roasting process and resemble popcorn....
 is a Japanese green tea with toasted rice.

Varieties

Varieties of herbal infusions include:
  • Anise
    Anise

    is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and southwest Asia known for its flavor that resembles licorice, fennel, and tarragon....
     tea, made from either the seeds or the leaves.
  • Artichoke
    Artichoke

    A globe artichoke is a partially edible perennial thistle originating in southern Europe around the Mediterranean.Artichoke may also refer to:...
     tea, with purported health benefits .
  • Roasted barley
    Barley

    Barley is an annual plant cereal grain derived from the grass Hordeum vulgare. It serves as a major animal feed crop, with smaller amounts used for malting and in health food, as well as the making of alcoholic beverages beer and whisky....
    , known in Japanese as mugicha
    Mugicha

    Roasted barley tea is a tisane made from roasted barley, which is popular in Japanese cuisine and Korean cuisine. It is also used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute in American cuisine....
     and Korean as bori cha. The roasted flavor can be reminiscent of coffee (without coffee's bitterness and caffeine). It is often drunk cold in the summer.
  • Bee Balm
  • Boldo
    Boldo

    Boldo is a tree native to the central region of Chile, occurring from 33 to 40? South Latitude. Together with litre, Soap bark tree, peumo, boll?n and other indigenous plants, it is a characteristic component of the sclerophyllous forest endemic to central Chile....
    , used in South America to calm upset stomachs.
  • Cannabis
    Cannabis

    Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa L., Cannabis indica Lam., and Cannabis ruderalis Janisch....
    , used in the preparation of Bhang
    Bhang

    Bhang is preparation from the leaves and flowers of the female Cannabis, consumed in the Indian subcontinent. It is consumed either as a beverage or smoked....
    .
  • Che Dang, very bitter tea made from Ilex causue leaves.
  • Cinnamon
    Cinnamon

    Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree 10?15 metres tall, belonging to the family Lauraceae, and is native to Sri Lanka.The leaf are ovate-oblong in shape, 7?18 cm long....
  • Catnip
    Nepeta

    Nepeta is a genus of about 250 species of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. The members of this group are known as catnip or catmint because of their famed effect on cats—nepeta pleasantly stimulates cats' Pheromone receptors, typically resulting in a temporarily induced Euphoria state....
     tea is used as a relaxant, sedative
    Sedative

    A sedative is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement.At higher doses it may result in slurred speech, staggering gait , poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes....
    , and to calm.
  • Cerasse, a bitter Jamaica
    Jamaica

    Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is about south of Cuba, and west of the island of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated....
    n herb
  • Chamomile
    German Chamomile

    Matricaria recutita or German chamomile, also spelled camomile, is an annual plant of the sunflower family Asteraceae. Synonyms are: Chamomilla chamomilla, Chamomilla recutita , Matricaria chamomilla, and Matricaria suaveolens....
     tea is used as a sedative
    Sedative

    A sedative is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement.At higher doses it may result in slurred speech, staggering gait , poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes....
    . In Beatrix Potter
    Beatrix Potter

    Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, mycology and Conservation movement who was best known for her many best-selling Children's literature that featured animal characters, such as Peter Rabbit....
    's The Tale of Peter Rabbit
    The Tale of Peter Rabbit

    The Tale of Peter Rabbit is the first in the series of children's books written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and is perhaps her best-known work....
    , Peter's mother gives him chamomile tea.
  • Chrysanthemum tea
    Chrysanthemum tea

    Chrysanthemum tea is a flower-based tisane made from chrysanthemum flowers of the species Chrysanthemum morifolium or Chrysanthemum indicum, which are most popular in East Asia....
    , made from dried flowers, is popular with Chinese Dim sum
    Dim sum

    Dim sum is the name for a Chinese cuisine which involves a wide range of light dishes served alongside Chinese tea. It is usually served in the mornings until noon time at Chinese restaurants and at specialty dim sum eateries where typical dishes are available throughout the day....
    .
  • Citrus
    Citrus

    Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, originating in tropical and subtropical southeast regions of the world....
     peel, including bergamot
    Bergamot orange

    File:Dscf0545.jpgFile:Bergamotfruit.jpgThe bergamot is a small and roughly pear-shaped fragrant citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia. Today it is also commercially grown in Calabria, Italy....
    , lemon
    Lemon

    The lemon is the common name for Citrus limon. The reproductive tissue surrounds the seed of the angiosperm lemon tree. The lemon is used for culinary and nonculinary purposes throughout the world....
     and orange
    Orange (fruit)

    An orange?specifically, the sweet orange?is the citrus Citrus sinensis and its fruit. The orange is a Hybrid of ancient cultivated origin, possibly between pomelo and tangerine ....
     peel.
  • Roasted corn
    Maize

    Maize , known as corn in some countries, is a cereal domesticated in Mesoamerica and subsequently spread throughout the American continents....
    , known in Korea as oksusu cha
    Oksusu cha

    Oksusu cha is a traditional Korean tisane made from boiled roasted Maize kernels. It contains no Camellia sinensis.To prepare oksusu cha, corn kernels are thoroughly dried and then roasted until they turn golden brown or brown....
  • Dandelion coffee
    Dandelion coffee

    Dandelion coffee is an infusion or herbal tea, and coffee substitute, made from the root of the dandelion plant. The roasted dandelion root pieces and the beverage have some resemblance to coffee in appearance and taste....
  • Dill
    Dill

    Dill is a short-lived perennial plant herbaceous. It is the sole species of the genus Anethum, though classified by some botanists in a related genus as Peucedanum graveolens C.B.Clarke....
     tea, often consumed to ease upset stomach.
  • Echinacea
    Echinacea

    Echinacea is a genus of nine species of herbaceous plants in the family Asteraceae commonly called Coneflower. All are strictly native to eastern and central North America....
     tea, often consumed to prevent or alleviate the cold
    Common cold

    Acute viral rhinopharyngitis, or acute coryza, usually known as the common cold, is a highly contagious, virus infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, primarily caused by picornaviruses or coronaviruses....
     or flu
    Influenza

    Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease that affects birds and mammals caused by RNA viruses of the biological family Orthomyxoviridae ....
     symptoms.
  • Essiac tea
    Essiac

    Essiac or Essiac Tea is a blend of herbs used to make a tea that is believed by some and questioned by others to have cancer-treating properties....
    , a blended herbal tea.
  • Fennel
    Fennel

    Fennel is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum . It is a member of the family Apiaceae . It is a hardy, perennial plant, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaf....
     Traditional weightloss herb, good to ease visionary problems.
  • Gentian
    Gentian

    Gentiana is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Gentian family , tribe Gentianeae and monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With about 400 species, it is considered a large genus....
  • Ginger root
  • Ginseng
    Ginseng

    Ginseng refers to species within Panax, a genus of 11 species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, in the family Araliaceae....
  • Hawthorn
    Crataegus

    Hawthorn is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia and North America....
     Pu-er tea, to reduce bloodstream's fatty levels like cholesterol .
  • Hibiscus
    Hibiscus

    Scientific name:Hibiscus rosa-sinensisThe Genus Hibiscus comprises plants also commonly called hibiscus and less widely known as rosemallow....
     (often blended with rose hip
    Rose hip

    The rose hip and rose haw, is the pome fruit of the rose plant, that typically is red-to-orange, but might be dark purple-to-black in some species....
    ), a popular tea alternative in the Middle East which is drunk hot or cold. Hibiscus tea is also consumed in Okinawa, where the natives associate Hibiscus tea with longevity. (See also Roselle below.)
  • Honeybush
    Honeybush

    Honeybush , or 'Heuningbos' in Afrikaans, is commonly used to make an infusion in the same manner as tea. It grows only in a small area in the southwest of South Africa in the Langkloof area of the Eastern Cape and has many similarities with rooibos....
     is related to rooibos
    Rooibos

    Rooibos, , Afrikaans for "red bush"; biological classification Aspalathus linearis) is a Broom -like member of the Fabaceae family of plants....
     and grows in a similar area of South Africa
    South Africa

    The Republic of South Africa, also known by Official names of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa....
    , but tastes slightly sweeter.
  • Horehound
    Horehound

    Horehound is a common name applied to two related genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae:*Ballota*MarrubiumThe name is of unknown origin, but with the first part 'hore' derived from "hoary", "hairy"....
  • Jiaogulan
    Jiaogulan

    Gynostemma pentaphyllum, also called jiaogulan is an herbaceous vine of the family Cucurbitaceae indigenous to the southern reaches of China, southern Korea and Japan....
  • Kapor tea, dried leaves of fireweed.
  • Kava
    Kava

    Kava is an ancient crop of the western Pacific. Other names for kava include awa , 'ava , yaqona , and sakau . The word kava is used to refer both to the plant and the beverage produced from its roots....
     root, from the South Pacific, is popular for its effects in promoting talkativeness and relaxation.
  • Kuding
    Ku Ding Tea

    Ku Ding tea or Kuding cha is a particularly bitter-tasting Chinese cuisine tisane which due to their similarities in appearance is derived from several plant species....
    , a bitter tisane found in Chinese herbal medicine and used to thin blood and reduce blood pressure
  • Labrador tea
    Labrador tea

    Labrador tea, is a name commonly applied to two species: Ledum palustre and Ledum groenlandicum . In Labrador itself, Labrador Tea is also frequently called Indian Tea....
    , made from the shrub by the same name, found in the northern part of North America.
  • Lapacho
    Lapacho

    Lapacho or Taheebo is a herbal tea made from the inner bark of Pink Ip?, Tabebuia impetiginosa. It is also sold under more ambiguous and possibly misleading names like "Ipes", "Ip?", "Pau d'arco", "Ipe Roxo", or "Trumpet Bush"....
     (also known as Taheebo) is the inner-lining of the bark (or cambium) of the Red or Purple Lapacho Tree which grows in the Brazil
    Brazil

    Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the List of countries by population country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world....
    ian jungles. It is boiled to make an infusion with many and varied health benefits.
  • Lemon Balm
    Lemon balm

    Lemon balm , not to be confused with bee balm, Monarda species, is a perennial plant herb in the mentha family Lamiaceae, native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region....
  • Lemon grass
    Cymbopogon

    Cymbopogon is a genus of about 55 species of Poaceae, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Old World and Oceania. It is a tall perennial plant grass....
  • Licorice root
  • Lime blossom, dried flowers of lime tree
    Tilia

    Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees, native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, in Asia , Europe and eastern North America; it is not native to western North America....
     (Tilia in Latin
    Latin

    Latin is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Military history of the Roman Empire, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe....
    ).
  • Lotus flower
    Vietnamese lotus tea

    Vietnamese lotus tea is a type of green tea produced in Vietnam that has been flavored with the scent of Nelumbo nucifera. It is a specialty product of the Vietnamese tea industry and is consumed as part of celebratory events or festivals....
    , from the stamen
    Stamen

    The stamen is the male organ of a flower. Each stamen generally has a stalk called the filament , and, on top of the filament, an anther , and pollen sacs, called sporangium....
    s of Nelumbo nucifera
    Nelumbo nucifera

    Nelumbo nucifera, known by a number of names including Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, or simply lotus. Botanically, Nelumbo nucifera may also be referred to by its Synonym , Nelumbium speciosum or Nymphaea nelumbo. This plant is an aquatic perennial....
     (as in Vietnamese trà sen).
  • Mate
    Mate (beverage)

    Mate is an Infusion, containing stimulants including caffeine, prepared by steeping dried leaves of yerba mate / erva-mate in hot water. It is the national drink in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and drinking it is a common social practice in parts of Brazil, Chile, eastern Bolivia, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey....
     (or yerba mate) is a shrub grown mainly Argentina
    Argentina

    Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic , is a country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city....
    , Uruguay
    Uruguay

    Uruguay is a country located in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to 3.46 million people, of whom 1.7 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area....
     and Brazil
    Brazil

    Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the List of countries by population country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world....
     from which a caffeinated, tea-like brew is prepared.
  • Mate de coca (sometimes called "coca tea"), made from coca
    Coca

    Coca is a plant in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to north-western South America. The plant plays a significant role in traditional Andean culture....
     leaves. Authentic mate de coca contains very small amounts of cocaine
    Cocaine

    Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine....
     and . In some countries where coca is illegal, products marketed as "coca tea" are supposed to be decocainized, i.e., the pharmacologically active components have been removed.
  • Mint
    Mentha

    Mentha is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the Family Lamiaceae . Species within Mentha have a cosmopolitan distribution distribution across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America....
    , especially peppermint
    Peppermint

    Peppermint is a Hybrid Mentha, a cross between the watermint and spearmint . The plant, indigenous to Europe, is now widespread in cultivation throughout all regions of the world....
     (also mixed with green tea to make mint tea)
  • European mistletoe
    Mistletoe

    Mistletoe is the common name for a group of parasitic plant plants in the Order Santalales that grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub....
     (Viscum Album), (steep in cold water for 2-6 hours)
  • Mountain Tea, a very popular tea in the Balkans and other areas of the Mediterranean region. Made from a variety of the Sideritis syriaca plant which grows in warm climates above 3000 feet. The tea (or more properly tisane) has a reputation as a cure-all, but is specifically used against colds. Records of its use date back 2000 years.
  • Neem
    Neem

    Neem is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Pakistan growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions....
     leaf
  • Nettle
    Nettle

    Nettle is the common name for between 30-45 species of flowering plants of the genus Urtica in the family Urticaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution though mainly temperate distribution....
     leaf
  • Pennywort
    Pennywort

    Pennywort is a name given to several completely different plants around the world. In general they all have round leaves and a low-growing plant habit....
     leaf, in Southeast Asia
    Southeast Asia

    Southeast Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India and north of Australia....
  • Red raspberry
    Raspberry

    The raspberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the subgenus Rubus#Scientific classification of the genus Rubus; the name also applies to these plants themselves....
     leaf
  • Scorched rice
    Rice

    Rice is a staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in tropical Latin America, and East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, making it the second-most consumed cereal grain, after maize....
    , known as hyeonmi cha
    Hyeonmi cha

    Hyeonmi cha is a tisane made from roasted brown rice.To make hyeonmi cha, brown rice is washed, then roasted in a pot. Then water is poured into the pot, brought to a boil, and then simmered for approximately ten minutes....
     in Korea
  • Rooibos
    Rooibos

    Rooibos, , Afrikaans for "red bush"; biological classification Aspalathus linearis) is a Broom -like member of the Fabaceae family of plants....
     (Red Bush) is a reddish plant used to make an infusion and grown in South Africa
    South Africa

    The Republic of South Africa, also known by Official names of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa....
    . In the US it is sometimes called red tea. It has many of the antioxidant
    Antioxidant

    An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the Redox of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent....
     benefits of green tea
    Green tea

    'Green tea' is a type of tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis, that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan to the Middle East....
    , but because it does not come from tea leaves, it has no caffeine
    Caffeine

    Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a psychoactive stimulant drug and a mild diuretic. Caffeine was discovered by a German chemist, Friedrich Ferdinand Runge, in 1819....
    .
  • Rose hip
    Rose hip

    The rose hip and rose haw, is the pome fruit of the rose plant, that typically is red-to-orange, but might be dark purple-to-black in some species....
     (often blended with hibiscus
    Hibiscus

    Scientific name:Hibiscus rosa-sinensisThe Genus Hibiscus comprises plants also commonly called hibiscus and less widely known as rosemallow....
    )
  • Roselle
    Roselle (plant)

    The Roselle is a species of hibiscus native to the Old World tropics. It is an annual or perennial herb or woody-based subshrub, growing to 2?2.5 m tall....
     petals (species of Hibiscus; aka Bissap, Dah, etc.), consumed in the Sahel
    Sahel

    File:Sahel Map-Africa rough.pngFile:AT0713 map.pngThe Sahel or Sahel Belt is a semi-arid tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregion in Africa, which forms the transition between the Sahara to the north and the slightly less arid savanna belt to the south, known as the Sudan ....
     and elsewhere.
  • Rosemary
    Rosemary

    Rosemary is a woody, perennial plant herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaf. It is native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which also includes many other herbs....
     Memory herb.
  • Sage
    Common sage

    Salvia officinalis is a small perennial evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers. It is native to the Mediterranean region and commonly grown as a kitchen and medicinal herb or as an ornamental garden plant....
  • Sassafras
    Sassafras

    Sassafras is a genus of three species of deciduous trees in the family Lauraceae, native to eastern North America and eastern Asia.Sassafras trees grow from 15?35 m tall and 70?150 cm in diameter, with many slender branches, and smooth, orange-brown bark....
  • Skullcap
    Scutellaria barbata

    Scutellaria barbata is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. Other names include ban zhi lian , scullcap or skullcap, barbat skullcap, skute barbata, or herba scutellariae barbatae....
  • Sobacha
    Soba

    File:Preparing Soba 06 cutting.jpg is a type of thin Japanese cuisine noodle made from buckwheat flour. It is served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth as a noodle soup....
  • Staghorn Sumac
    Sumac

    Sumac is any one of approximately 250 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera, in the family Anacardiaceae. The dried berries of some species are ground to produce a tangy purple spice....
  • Stevia
    Stevia

    Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of Herbaceous plants and shrubs in the sunflower family , native to subtropical and tropical South America and Central America....
     can be used to make herbal tea, or as a sweetener in other tisanes.
  • Sugarcane
    Sugarcane

    Sugarcane is a genus of 6 to 37 species of tall perennial plant Poaceae , native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Old World. They have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar and measure 2 to 6 meters tall....
     drink, in Asia
  • Thyme
    Thyme

    Thyme is a well known herb; in common usage the name may refer to* any or all members of the plant genus Thymus ,* common thyme, Thymus vulgaris, and some other species that are used as culinary herbs or for medicinal purposes....
     Antiseptic, used in lysterine.
  • Tulsi
    Tulsi

    Ocimum tenuiflorum is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is an erect, much branched subshrub 30-60cm tall, with simple opposite green or purple leaves that are strongly scented, and hairy stems....
  • Uncaria tomentosa
    Uncaria tomentosa

    Uncaria tomentosa is a woody vine found in the tropical jungles of South and Central America, which derives its name from its claw-shaped thorns....
    , commonly known as Cats Claw
  • Valerian
    Valerian (plant)

    Valerian is a hardy perennial plant flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers. The flowers are in bloom in the northern hemisphere from June to September....
     Sedative.
  • Verbena (Vervains)
    Verbena

    Verbena is a genus in the family Verbenaceae. It contains about 250 species of annual plant and perennial plant herbaceous or semi-woody flowering plants....
  • Vetiver
    Vetiver

    Vetiver - Chrysopogon zizanioides is a perennial grass of the Poaceae family, native to India. The name comes from Tamil language. In western and northern India, it is popularly known as khus, giving the earlier English names cuscus, cuss cuss, kuss-kuss grass, etc....
  • Roasted wheat
    Wheat

    Wheat , is a worldwide cultivated Poaceae from the Levant region of the Middle East. Globally, after maize, wheat is the second most-produced food among the cereal just above rice....
     is used in Postum
    Postum

    Postum was a powdered roasted grain beverage sold by the Kraft Foods company as a coffee substitute. The caffeine-free beverage mix was created by company founder C....
    , a coffee substitute.
  • Wong Logat a medicinal tea with several herbs
  • Wax gourd in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
  • Woodruff
    Woodruff

    Woodruff is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Rubiaceae, native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia. It grows to 30-50 cm long, often lying flat on the ground or supported by other plants....
  • Yarrow
    Yarrow

    Achillea millefolium or Yarrow is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere....
  • Yerba Mate
    Yerba mate

    Yerba mate , Ilex paraguariensis, is a species of holly native to subtropical South America in Argentina, southern Chile, eastern Paraguay, western Uruguay and southern Brazil....
     Popular in South America. Scientific name Ilex paraguariensis.
  • Yuen Kut Lam Kam Wo Tea Composed of thirty Chinese herbs, made in Hong Kong
    Hong Kong

    Hong Kong , officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located in Southern China in East Asia, bordering the province of Guangdong to the north and facing the South China Sea to the east, west and south....
    .
  • Tan Ngan Lo Medicated Tea
    Tan Ngan Lo Medicated Tea

    The Tan Ngan Lo medicated tea is a herbal concoction formulated by a Chinese immigrant from mainland China in the early 20th century. Initially, it was prepared as a Chinese herbal treatment for family members to invigorate their body from heat and lethargy due to strenuous physical labors and exposure to scorching sun....
     a herbal concoction formulated by a Chinese immigrant from mainland China in the early 20th century, made in Malaysia
    Malaysia

    Malaysia is a federation that consists of States of Malaysia in Southeast Asia with a total landmass of . The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government....
    .


[Sri Lankan] Serendib anti diabetic tea

Medicinal concerns


Herbal teas are often consumed for their physical or medicinal effects, especially for their stimulant
Stimulant

Stimulant drugs are drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness. They usually have increased side-effects with increased effectiveness, and the more powerful variants are therefore often prescription medicines or illegal drugs....
, relaxant
Muscle relaxant

A muscle relaxant is a drug which affects skeletal muscle function and decreases the muscle tone. It may be used to alleviate symptoms such as muscle spasms, pain, and hyperreflexia....
 or sedative
Sedative

A sedative is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement.At higher doses it may result in slurred speech, staggering gait , poor judgment, and slow, uncertain reflexes....
 properties. The medicinal effects of certain herbs are discussed under herbalism
Herbalism

Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy....
. The medicinal benefits of specific herbs are often anecdotal or controversial, and in the United States and elsewhere, makers of herbal teas are not allowed to make unsubstantiated claims about the medicinal effects of their products.

While most herbal teas are safe for regular consumption, some herbs have toxic
Toxin

A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms. For a toxic substance not produced by living organisms, "toxicant" is the more appropriate term, and "toxics" is an acceptable plural....
 or allergenic
Allergy

Allergy is a Disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy. Allergic reactions occur to Natural environmental substances known as allergens; these reactions are Acquired disorder, predictable and rapid....
 effects. Among the greatest causes of concern are:

  • Comfrey
    Comfrey

    For the place, see Comfrey, MinnesotaComfrey is an important herb in organic gardening, having many medicinal and fertilizer uses....
    , which contains alkaloids that can cause permanent liver
    Liver

    The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals; it has a wide range of functions, a few of which are detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion....
     damage with chronic use.
  • Lobelia
    Lobelia

    Lobelia is a genus of flowering plant comprising 360?400 species, with a cosmopolitan distribution distribution primarily in tropical to warm temperate regions of the world, a few species extending into cooler temperate regions....
    , which contains toxins similar in effect to nicotine
    Nicotine

    Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants which constitutes approximately 0.6?3.0% of dry weight of tobacco, with biosynthesis taking place in the roots, and accumulating in the leaves....
    .


Herbal teas can also have different effects from person to person, and this is further compounded by the problem of potential misidentification. The deadly foxglove, for example, can be mistaken for the much more benign (but still relatively hepatotoxic) comfrey
Comfrey

For the place, see Comfrey, MinnesotaComfrey is an important herb in organic gardening, having many medicinal and fertilizer uses....
.

The UK currently does not require natural products such as herbs to have any evidence concerning their efficacy, but does treat them technically as food stuff and require that they are safe for consumption.

Popularity


In different countries

In Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....
, herbal teas such as karkade are very popular. They are served in ahwa's.
In China
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
, Traditional Chinese Medicine approach is used in formulating natural herbal teas and they are very popular in enhancing health and addressing core issues within the body; e.g. formulated recipes like hawthorn plus wulong / pu-er can address the high fat level in body's bloodstream.

In popular culture

Herbal tea, along with hot chocolate
Hot chocolate

Hot chocolate is a warm beverage that typically consists of shaved chocolate or cocoa, heated milk or water, and sugar. While hot chocolate is generally thought of as a drink consumed for pleasure, recent studies have suggested that hot chocolate possesses health benefits due to antioxidants that can be found in cacao....
, was the favorite drink of Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie

Agatha Mary Clarissa, Lady Mallowan, Order of the British Empire , commonly known as Agatha Christie, was an English people crime writer of novels, short stories and Play ....
's sleuth, Hercule Poirot
Hercule Poirot

Hercule Poirot is a fictional character Belgium detective created by Agatha Christie. Along with Miss Marple, Poirot is one of Christie's most famous and long-lived characters, appearing in 33 novels and 51 short stories that were published between 1920 and 1975 and set in the same era....
. In numerous stories, Poirot brews a tisane in order to recover from wet weather or to soothe his 'little grey cells.'

See also

  • Tea
    Tea

    Tea refers to the agricultural products of the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the Camellia sinensis plant, prepared and cured by various methods....
  • Coffee
    Coffee

    Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, of the Coffea. Caffeinated coffee has a stimulating effect in humans....
  • Herbalism
    Herbalism

    Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy....
  • Yerba maté
    Yerba mate

    Yerba mate , Ilex paraguariensis, is a species of holly native to subtropical South America in Argentina, southern Chile, eastern Paraguay, western Uruguay and southern Brazil....