Over the years, I’ve fallen in love with many herbs. Some come and go, others stick with me day after day once they’ve become part of my life. This nourishing infusion blend weaves together four of my long-term herbal allies. As a go-to for drinking daily, it is beloved by many in my extended community.
So, what’s the scoop on infusions? Why not just throw in a little tea bag and call it done?
When it comes to nutritive plants like these four treasured herbal allies, opting for the infusion method will impart your water-based brew with the full strength of the plant material. Certainly, you could steep these herbs in a tea bag for 10-15 minutes. However, you’ll receive exponentially more of the nutritive and tonifying benefits with the infusion method, which employs a hefty volume of herbs steeped for hours. This allows more of the minerals, chlorophyll, and other nutrients to be pulled into the solution.
Think of it this way: Infusions pull more of the power-packed punch out of your dried herbs. Brewing your herbs this way gives you a strong, nourishing brew—deep and rich in color, flavor, and constituents. Just the way you like it.
Meet the four beloved herbal allies in this infusion:
Oatstraw (Avena sativa): I love the mildly sweet flavor that oatstraw imparts to this brew. Made from the swaying straw of the oat plant, this herb is a calming and nourishing nervine. Think of oatstraw as a gentle friend to call on for a comforting hand to soothe the worried brow we all get from time to time. In the Middle Ages, Hildegard of Bingen—a visionary mystic, poet, musician, and herbalist—described oatstraw as one of her favorite “happiness” herbs.
Nettles (Urtica dioica): Rich in chlorophyll and minerals, nettle was my first herbal love. Many years ago, I discovered a lush patch of stinging nettles under a grandmother oak tree. I harvested the stinging nettles (with gloves!) to cook in soup and dry for infusions—and my body just kept calling for more and more. Beneath the sting is a nourishing tonic that, with regular use, supports general well-being and healthy energy levels. Let me put it this way: once nettles became part of my life, I let go of caffeinated black tea!
Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum): Also known as holy basil, tulsi is considered sacred in many cultures. As an adaptogenic herb, tulsi supports the body in adapting to changes and stressors and strengthens the functioning of the body as a whole. Beloved as a supportive and relaxing nervine, the intoxicating scent of tulsi is divine! If you haven’t gotten to know holy basil yet, put this prized plant on your list. A vigorous garden herb, tulsi will delight your senses and your soul.
Hawthorn berries (Crataegus spp.): Hawthorn has been known and loved through the centuries for its affinity for the heart and circulatory system. Personally, I find hawthorn’s stabilizing influence on my heart to be both emotional and physical. But then, it's hard not to fall in love with an herb that’s so common and abundant, and also delicious and nutritious! In the fall, I treasure the days I head out to wildcraft hawthorn berries in a few choice spots. If you’re looking for a tree to plant, consider hawthorn—one day, you’ll harvest your own sweet, rich berries beneath the thorns.
5-Step Recipe — Nourishing Infusion Blend
Brew this mixture in a quart-size jar, which easily yields 2-3 cups of infusion. Note: Alternatively, you could make a “simple” infusion with 1 cup of any one of these herbs, following the instructions below.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dried organic oatstraw
- 1/4 cup dried organic nettle leaf
- 1/4 cup dried organic tulsi (holy basil)
- 5-10 dried organic hawthorn berries
- 4 cups water
Directions
- Place dried herbs in a glass quart-size jar.
- Boil water and pour it over herbs in the jar. I do this in my kitchen sink just to be on the safe side (once in a hundred times I’ve had a jar break—likely from a preexisting hairline crack).
- Steep for 4-10 hours. I prefer to prepare the infusion before bed and let it brew on the kitchen counter overnight.
- Strain out herbs. My tool of choice is a standard stainless steel mesh kitchen strainer. Give the herbs a squeeze to extract the potent liquid, and compost the plant material.
- Refrigerate. It usually keeps for several days in the fridge. Like food, when infusions spoil, they smell and taste sour. (Psst, you can always use soured infusion as a fertilizer for your plants!)
To Use
- Enjoy 1-2 cups a day, reheating in a pot on the stovetop.
- Optional: Sweeten to taste with honey and/or add milk to taste.
- In the heat of the summer, you might prefer to drink the infusion cold or pour over ice in a glass. Any way you like it—the important thing is to drink up!
When you’re thirsting for a nourishing cup of tea to support your body, consider making an infusion from any one of these herbs you feel drawn to. Or go all in with the full magic of all four. These timeless herbal allies, beloved over the ages, will enrich your life as they have mine.
WANT TO LEARN MORE about the wise woman tradition of herbalism?
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FAQs
How to Make a Hot Infusion
- Scoop 1 to 3 tablespoons of dried herbs into a tea strainer placed in your teapot or mug.
- Heat water until it just comes to a boil.
- Pour hot water over herbs to submerge them and cover to help hold in any volatile oils.
- Steep for 15 minutes to 1 hour and strain.
An infusion is prepared by bringing the desired amount of water to a boil, pouring it over the herb, and letting it sit covered, for twenty minutes. After straining the herb, the tea can be drunk immediately, or cooled to room temperature and refrigerated.
What does herbal infusion tea do? ›
The herbal blends have multiple health benefits such as pain reduction, relaxation, improving digestive and immune body systems, and many others. In short, they contain multiple gifts provided by mother earth poured out into a cup! You can always take a cup of cold tea/iced tea if it's too hot.
Is an herbal infusion the same as an herbal tea? ›
To summarize, herbal tea is a beverage made from natural plants and infusion is a method of preparing herbal tea. Tea contains theine and can be consumed hot or cold.An infusion lasts between 5 and 10 minutes so that the plants have time to release all their benefits and active ingredients.
Is herbal infusion tea good for you? ›
Herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, and ginger tea offer several health-promoting properties and could help improve heart health, digestion, sleep quality, and more.
What is the difference between tea and infusion? ›
Tea and herbal tea are different products, whereas infusion is a preparation method used for different beverages (including herbal tea). In concrete terms, infusion consists of bringing water to the boil and then pouring it over leaves, stems or flowers to extract all the aromas.
Can I make my own herbal tea? ›
You can make a tea from one herb or blend several herbs for an even more stimulating taste sensation. Yummy tea blends include lemon grass, lemon verbena and lemon balm; pineapple sage with strawberry scented geranium; anise hyssop and bee balm; and lavender combined with lemon balm.
What herbs are good to infuse in tea? ›
Mint, chamomile and lemon balm are just a few possibilities for herbal teas. Drink tea for health benefits, but mostly because a cup of tea in the afternoon is a soothing and restorative routine.
How long to infuse herbs for tea? ›
I suggest at least 15 minutes and up to 4 hours. This gives the leaves a change to infuse with the water so you get all the nutrients and properties when you strain the leaves off. I like to get my herbal infusions all going in the morning after I make my morning tea.
What happens when you drink herbal tea everyday? ›
Numerous studies have shown that a variety of teas may boost your immune system, fight off inflammation, and even ward off cancer and heart disease. While some brews provide more health advantages than others, there's plenty of evidence that regularly drinking tea can have a lasting impact on your wellness.
Well, as there are different herbal teas, there are different side effects related to them. However, the common side effects can be headache, flushing of skin, soreness in mouth, heartburn, dermatitis, antiphylatic shock, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, and hormonal imbalance.
What is the healthiest tea to drink everyday? ›
Green Tea
Green Tea is often considered one of the healthiest tea options. To produce green tea, leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant are steamed or pan fried and dried. The tea leaves aren't exposed to air and so they don't oxidize, and the green hue remains.
Is herbal infusion tea good for weight loss? ›
The only way in which simply drinking herbal tea is likely to deliver real weight loss is if it replaces something more highly calorific in your diet, like a soft drink or energy drink. You might prefer to try a herbal tea instead of a soft drink because it is hydrating (it's mostly water, after all) and sugar free.
Is herbal tea healthier than green tea? ›
Made from herbs, fruits, seeds, or roots steeped in hot water, herbal teas have lower concentrations of antioxidants than green, white, black, and oolong teas.
How long does an herbal infusion last? ›
Keep persevering with safe herbal allies and ways you enjoy to drink. Nourishing herbal infusions are a powerhouse of densely packed nutrients and will spoil quickly. After leaving your herbal infusion to cool down for four hours, place in the fridge. Once in the fridge it will last for 24-48 hours.
What is the best oil to use for herbal infusions? ›
The best oils to use for infusing your herbs are pure plant oils that have a low smoke point and long shelf life. Consider using such oils as almond, olive, coconut or sunflower, though many recipes call for olive oil since most people have it in their pantry.
What are the methods of herbal infusion? ›
Infusing Herbs for Herbal Teas
- Boil the kettle!
- Place herbs/botanical material into cup or jug.
- Cover with water that has just boiled.
- Slip a plate over the jug to catch the steam.
- Voila! Herbal tea or infused herbal water for your cosmetics and soaps.
Add enough oil to completely cover all the herbs, filling right up to the brim of the jar. Cover the jar, give it a few shakes, and put it in a cool place inside your house. Every now and then, give your jar a shake. It will be ready to use in 3-6 weeks.
