My Herbs 1

This type of tea is known for having its
diehard lovers and haters. Lovers admire
its strong and dense flavor emerging
with every new infusion –
beginning with spicy, through woody,
up to coffee-like flavors, or even
a touch of tobacco. Most people who
like to drink Pu-erh would tell you that
it takes time for each person to find
their affection for this type of tea.
Pu-erh should be brewed with boiling
water and steeped for five minutes. It
can be great refreshment during a long
drive, exam period, or physically demanding
work. It can also speed up alcohol
metabolism.
MATE
Mate is a stimulating and slightly diuretic
tea which has a positive influence
on human psychosomatics. It is made
out of yerba mate leaves containing between
0.7 and 1.7 percent caffeine. Together
with other compounds, this
caffeine helps relax the smooth muscle
tissue and stimulate heart activity, having
positive effects on the nervous system.
This system is related to hollow
organs and also to the detoxification
mechanism.
Yerba mate contains minerals, antioxidants,
beta-Carotene, vitamins C and
E, phosphorus, iron, and calcium. For
attaining the best flavor you will only
need two containers (ideally made of
glass): one for steeping and another for
straining. It is very important to estimate
the best time for straining. The
tea should be strained when the infusion
gets honey colors and is slightly
sweet – that’s when it offers all the
pleasures of a good Mate tea. This tea
can be served chilled or hot, and the
preparation allows for two infusions -
the tea is first brewed with tepid water
and stepped for two to three minutes;
for the second time it's brewed with
hot water and steeped for three to five
minutes.
FRUIT TEA
Fruit tea is a mixture of various fruits,
often containing vitamins to support
the immune system. Fruit tea is refreshing
and caffeine-free and provides necessary
hydration for the body. It is
available in a wide variety of flavors
that provide for welcome refreshment.
Fruit teas are also suitable for children
and the elderly, for they do not contain
any sugar, and there are plenty of vitamins
in them.
Fruit tea offers a sweet and light flavor.
In winter it's best served hot, sweetened
by a teaspoon of honey to boost energy.
During summer it’s very easy to prepare
a chilled, refreshing beverage out of fruit
tea. A widely used component of fruit
tea is hibiscus, which gives the tea its
color and sourness. Raisins or apple
make the tea naturally sweet, and hip,
for example, is considered to be a universal
remedy by alternative medicine. It
contains a great amount of vitamin C.
Fruit teas should be brewed with boiling
or hot water (around 200°F / 90°C) and
steeped for five minutes.
TEA NOT MADE OUT OF TEA
These beverages have many positives
but, in contrast to proper teas, contain
no caffeine. This category includes, e.g.,
rooibos, honeybush, and lapacho. Most
of these teas contain very little caffeine
and catechine; instead, there are plenty
of minerals and other compounds beneficial
to human health.
During winter one can drink these
teas all day long, as they provide
warmth and enough liquid for good
blood circulation; during summer this
cold beverage is stimulating, keeps you
in good health, and improves the ability
to concentrate.
MYHERBSMAG.COM
93