Popularly, drinks that are made with herbs placed in boiling water are called “teas”, however, only one type of plant produces true tea. Tea is a drink prepared from the plant Camellia sinensis, which can give rise to green tea, black tea, yellow tea or red tea, for example, depending on when the plant is harvested.
All other preparations that are not made with Camellia sinensis They are actually called infusions or decoctions. Infusions are made using the most fragile parts of the plant, such as the leaves or flowers, while decoctions are prepared with the hardest parts, such as the bark or roots. Depending on whether it is an infusion or decoction, the time and method of preparation also vary.
See below how to correctly prepare a tea, infusion or decoction:
1. How to prepare tea
Teas are always prepared with the plant Camellia sinensis which gives rise to green, black, yellow, blue or oolong teas, white tea and the so-called dark tea, also known as red tea or pu-erh.
The type of tea varies depending on when the plant is harvested, as well as the place where it was planted. To know that you are using the correct type of Camellia sinensisthe ideal is to buy the leaves of the plant in a natural products store, for example.
How to make: just add 1 teaspoon of the leaves Camellia sinensis in a cup of boiling water, cover and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. The longer the leaves are left to rest, the stronger the flavor of the tea will be and the more compounds will be present in the water. Finally, you just need to strain it, let it cool and drink the tea.
2. How to infuse
The infusion is the drink prepared with the most fragile parts of plants other than the Camellia sinensis, as is the case with chamomile, lemon balm, dandelion or horsetail, for example. This technique preserves the plants’ essential oil and is normally used to prepare “teas” from ground leaves, flowers and fruits.
How to make: Bring the water to a boil and, as soon as the first bubbles are forming, turn off the heat. Pour boiling water over dry or fresh plants, simmer and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Finally, strain and drink.
3. How to prepare decoction
The decoction is made when the plant is boiled together with water, which is normally necessary to do with parts of the plant that are harder and more resistant, such as the roots or bark, for example.
How to make: you must add the hard parts of the plant to a pan with water and let it boil for 10 to 15 minutes, until the water becomes darker and more aromatic. Then, turn off the heat, cover the pan and let it cool.
Care when preparing teas, infusions or decoctions
The main precaution when preparing a drink with medicinal plants is to always seek guidance from a herbalist, doctor or other healthcare professional familiar with the use of plants. This is because the use of medicinal plants can bring several health benefits, but it can also be quite dangerous, especially when the plant is used incorrectly or in doses higher than those indicated.
The ideal is to always consult a professional before using any type of plant, to know which part of the plant to use, how much and how many times to consume per day.
