You probably drink a mug of tea now and then, or even every single day, right? Tea is my drink of choice and I love it unsweetened with lemon. Drinking tea is a great choice for your health because tea leaves are packed with antioxidants, which fight free radical damage and ward off all sorts of health issues, including cancer and heart disease. It appears that a tisane is the new tea and you’ll be happy to give one a try. Of course, you should discuss this with your doctor beforehand to ensure that it’s a good choice for you.
Basically, a tisane is herbal tea that is used for medicinal purposes. A tisane is made by using herbs, spices or other plant parts to create a drink that can treat a variety of health issues. Bottom line – tisane is herbal tea, but instead of drinking it because you think it tastes good or because you want a hot drink, you consume it as a way to make yourself healthier.
What? But I just said it was herbal tea. While most people consider tisane a tea, it’s actually not. True tea, such as black or green teas, are made from the same plant. Tisane is made from herbs or other plant parts and is actually not a true tea made from real tea leaves. This distinction doesn’t really matter when it comes to the benefits of tisane so don’t worry because it won’t change things.
There are a couple of different types of tisane. The distinction comes from the part of the plant they are created from. You might have a leaf tisane, a flower tisane, a bark tisane, a root tisane, a fruit tisane or a seed or spice tisane. The one you choose is largely based on what condition you’re aiming to treat by drinking the tisane. However, personal preference probably plays a role as well.
When you see many kinds or herbal “tea,” what you’re actually seeing is something that could be used as a tisane. That includes everything from berries, peaches, caraway, fennel, ginger and cinnamon to chamomile, lavender, lemongrass, mint and caraway. Again, the one you want will vary depending on what you want to get out of it.
When you make a tisane, it’s important to make sure you brew the plant for long enough. This will ensure that you get the most out of the one you’ve chosen. Most tisanes should be steeped for at least 15 minutes to get the full effect. Usually, there are instructions on the package that can help guide you.
Many of the plants in a tisane can react negatively with aluminum, which can cause a toxic reaction. This can be dangerous so make sure you never steep your tisane in an aluminum pot or mug.
Now to perhaps the most important aspect of drinking tisanes. What can they do for your health? While you can certainly enjoy tisane for the pure pleasure of it, you can also use it for certain health issues. Tisane should never replace any prescribed medications or treatments, but can be used in conjunction with them, provided your doctor gives the OK. Things that a tisane might treat could be skin issues, digestive disturbances, menopause and other hormonal issues, stress relief and dental problems.
What’s your favorite tisane?