Herb/Flower Tea

Herbal tea has been imbibed nearly as long as written history extends. Also known as a tisane or herbal infusion, an herbal tea is simply the combination of boiling water and dried fruit, flower or herb. Documents have been recovered dating back to as early as Ancient Egypt that discuss the enjoyment and uses of herbal tea. Adagio Teas continues to sell the finest loose herbal tea you'll find, all caffeine-free and delicious! History of Herb Tea The two most popular types of tea in the world are black tea and herb tea. Black tea, what we commonly think of when someone mentions "tea", is made from the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis, a white-flowering evergreen bush about 3-5 feet high, native to China and India. Flavored tea and decaffeinated tea are simply variations of black tea. Flavored tea is black tea to which natural flavors have been added; and decaffeinated tea is black tea which has undergone a process to remove most of the caffeine that is naturally present in black tea leaves. Herb tea is made from many plants, using not just leaves, but also flowers, roots, bark and seeds. Unlike the limited flavor variations of black tea, herb tea exists in a kaleidoscope of distinctively different flavors, colors and aromas. Blending the flavors of different herbs results in an infinite variety of healthful taste sensations, and in fact, this kind of exploration is one of the most delightful pleasures to be found in the making of herb tea. Herb teas contain no caffeine at all. This lack of caffeine has helped to account for its mellow, soothing personality - and thus its growing popularity in today's hectic, high-pressured world. Herbs ... Old as Mankind As a cultural entity, herb tea is surrounded by more myth, legend and folklore than its Chinese cousin, black tea. The history of herbs is as old as mankind. Archaeologists believe that prehistoric people used herbal concoctions to treat physical complaints long before the dawn of written history. Throughout history, herbs have had their place in every civilization in the world, with their usage changing very little as the centuries passed. Ancient cultures wrote of the lavish use of herbs for medicine, food, beverages and dyes. Many European villages had resident herbalists; and many of these traditional remedies were brought to America. Today modern Americans are using more and more herbs in foods, beverages and the treatment of physical ailments. One of the most popular and enduring uses for herbs, of course, is the making of herb tea. The drinking of herb teas was widespread in Europe long before the arrival of black tea; and some of the perennial favorites such as chamomile, peppermint and rosehips have long been well known standards. Herb Farming ... A Cottage Industry Herb farming is still very much a cottage industry. And while some of the plants are cultivated on special herb farms, most of these farms are still small, homespun operations. A great many of the herbs used in making today's herb teas simply grow wild in the fields, forests and mountains. Because of their delicate and specialized nature, a few herbs can be harvested just as their flowers begin to bud, when the plant's natural juices are at their best and most concentrated. The parts of the plant that are picked depend on the type of plant and the usage intended - leaves, flowers, roots, bark and seed are all potential herb tea ingredients. As opposed to the elaborate wilting, rolling, fermenting and firing process used to manufacture black tea, the steps in preparing herb tea are extremely simple. After harvest, the herbs are dried by either spreading them on large screens or by tying them in bundles and hanging them upside down. This can be done indoors or outdoors in the shade - but it must be done quickly to retain the plants' natural oils and color, so vital to quality and flavor. Oven drying has been tried in some cases, but found to be less effective than natural drying in terms of preserving the natural oils and flavor. After drying, the herbs are bundled into large sacks and wooden chests for shipment to the herb tea maker. After that, it's time for the in-house processes of cleaning, milling, sifting and blending the herbs into the desired flavor combinations. The process of growing and making herbal tea is completely natural from start to finish - a fact that accounts for much of the herb tea's inherent goodness and flavor. The result is a gift of the earth that's as abundant and varied as life itself ... a pure, natural, healthful beverage, infinite in its taste and its ability to comfort and soothe