The Less-than-Usual Herbal Teas that Pack in the Goodness of Nature

Herbal tea, also popularly known as green tea, is recognized world over for its ability to heal, rejuvenate, sooth, calm, and revitalize. For those not entirely familiar with this beverage, green teas are actually tisanes, different from the morning cup of tea you enjoy so much. They are actually infusions that are made by steeping dried or fresh herbs, roots, flowers, or even fruit in boiling water.

Tisanes are often confused with the more popular flavored teas that primarily contain tea leaves and a small percentage of plant essence for additional flavoring. These two beverages have very little common; if anything they are to be regarded as distant cousins, really, really, distant cousins.

The benefits of the usually available green teas are well known to many. Chamomile or Valerian tea facilitate restful sleep and calm you nerves; lavender is one of the more popular herbal remedies for insomnia and anxiety; ginger tea is used to cure indigestion and upset stomach; and licorice root tea is highly regarded for its anti-viral properties.

However, the list of herbal teas doesn’t end with these better known varieties. There is a whole range of green teas with their own stock of benefits and advantages. Try 5 of these more unusual teas and enjoy the goodness they bring to you in a small cup.

Rose Hip Tea

Not many know that the fruit of the fragrant rose plant is a common ingredient in herbal tea blends. Rose hip tea has a slightly sour taste, but isn’t unpleasant to drink. High in ascorbic acid, this tiny fruit is also used to make vitamin C supplements. So, when the doctor diagnoses you with vitamin C deficiency, you know what to turn to.

Lemongrass Teas

Traditionally, lemongrass tea has been used to relieve pain, fever, and upset stomach. It also soothes tension and soreness in the muscles. Recent research has placed this humble tea in the limelight for its potential as a cancer-fighting agent.

Although tea sachets are widely available in stores, it’s always better to brew a batch of this drink from fresh lemongrass. This can be found in the herb section of any superstore.

Catnip Tea

Catnip is known to stimulate your feline companion into a mad frenzy and yet on humans, it has a sedative effect. Tea brewed from dried catnip leaves is also known to relieve stomachaches.

Hibiscus Tea

Countries in the West Indies are extremely fond of their sorrel – a drink made from boiling dried hibiscus flowers, flavored with spices and honey. Although hibiscus tea as we know it isn’t quite so effective, it’s delicious and curative, nonetheless. It is known to reduce hypertension and used as an alternate form of medicine in treating diabetes.

Caraway Tea

Widely used in cooking, caraway seeds are highly aromatic in nature and add a unique flavor to any dish that it’s added to. Tea made from caraway seeds is just as flavorful. In addition, this herbal tea does you a world of good since it is known to treat loss of appetite, digestive problems, and colic.