BASIC RECIPE: TEA | Itzafitlife

1-t dried herb or 2-t fresh herbs

1-cup boiling water

Pour the boiling water over the herb and leave it to steep for five to ten minutes. Strain the tea and it is ready to drink.

1-oz dried herb

1-pt boiling water

Pour the boiling water over the herb and leave it to steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and it is ready to drink.

It is important not to steep herbal teas for too long. Lengthy steeping can extract excessive quantities of tannin and the action of the herb may alter dramatically. For example, rosemary tea, when steeped for five to ten minutes, is a mild soporific, but left for too long it can have quite the opposite effect
To preserve the delicate flavor and active constituents, the herbs used in teas must be perfectly fresh or carefully dried
Choose a teapot that is made from ceramic, porcelain, china, earthenware, glass, or enamel. Metal can interfere with the active constituents of the herbs and produce a metallic taste
Endeavor to drink three cups of herb tea every day. Choose herbs that are corrective for some imbalance in your body
Drink the tea after meals rather than before. This avoids diluting your gastric juice and interfering with the digestion
Use honey as a sweetener if needed and a slice of lemon. Herb teas are usually enjoyed without milk or creamer. You can add milk if you prefer but it tends to mask the delicate flavors of the herbs
Herb teas can be served iced in the summer. Steep to the desired flavor, which can be a little stronger than in hot tea, as the ice will dilute the flavor somewhat. Cool in the refrigerator and add ice before serving. These make delightfully refreshing drinks on a hot summer's day
Ice cubes can be made from strained tea or add flowers such as borage and violets to the water before freezing