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Tulsi Tea: Effects and Preparation of Holy Basil

Tulsi tea tastes good and is highly valued in Ayurveda for its healing properties. Here you can find out how the tea works and how to prepare it.

Tulsi is often also referred to as Tulasi or holy or Indian basil and is closely related to our spice basil. Very special effects are attributed to this special type of basil. The plant is therefore very widespread in the traditional healing art of Ayurveda. But not only in India Tulsi is very popular. In Europe, too, more and more people swear by the effects of Indian basil – especially in the form of Tulsi tea.

Effect of Tulsi leaves

The fact that Tulsi has a special place in traditional Ayurvedic medicine is due to the fact that it contains various beneficial active ingredients. The Indian basil contains, among other things, in high concentration:
eugenol
polyphenols
flavanoids
Thanks to these substances, Tulsi has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. It is used, for example, for colds, coughs and fevers, stomach problems and inflammation of the mouth or gums.

The herb also has a stress-relieving effect. The phenols and flavanoids contained in Indian basil are considered to be particularly effective antioxidants.

Tulsi tea: How to prepare it successfully

Tulsi is very popular in this country not only because of its effect, but also because of its special taste. This applies in particular to Tulsi tea: it has a fine, sweet, but at the same time slightly peppery aroma.

How to prepare Tulsi tea:
Take 1 teaspoon of tulsi herb per cup.
Pour 200ml of boiling water over the tea per cup.
Let the tea steep for 6 to 10 minutes.
You can use fresh or dried Tulsi leaves for a tea. To be sure that there are no pesticides in the leaves, you should only drink certified organic tea – or grow it yourself. In the next paragraph we will tell you how to do it.

Grow your own Indian basil

If you’ve got a taste for it, you can easily grow Indian basil for your Tulsi tea yourself. You can get Indian basil as a preferred plant in well-stocked (herb) nurseries. Alternatively, you can also buy seeds and plant the basil yourself. The requirements of the Indian basil do not differ from the spice basil that is widespread in Europe:
Sow the seeds in pots or boxes on the windowsill in spring. Later you should separate the plants.
It is worth dividing the plants if you have preferred plants. Too many plants often grow in a pot and are therefore too dense.
As soon as it gets warmer outside, you can put the Indian basil outside. It’s best to leave it in the pot though. This way it doesn’t fall victim to voracious snails so easily.
Make sure that the basil gets as much light as possible and always keep it moist. Tulsi does not tolerate temperatures below 10 degrees.
If you let the basil bloom at the end of summer, you can harvest seeds for next year. Since basil is difficult to overwinter, you can use it to grow new plants next spring.

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Matcha Tea: Does The Green Pick-Me-Up Make You Healthy and Happy?

Matcha tea was and is the best and finest tea in Japan, which used to be reserved for the elite only. The bright green, frothy drink is still considered a cult drink.

However, the trend towards matcha tea did not come to Germany directly from Japan, but from the USA. Stars, starlets and wannabes have been spotted there with the green “in” drink in their hands for a number of years.

It is said to make you slim, fit and healthy, and helps fight signs of aging and even cancer. Like all other green teas, it also serves as a stimulating alternative to coffee with its caffeine content (tein). Is the expensive cult drink worth its price?

Why is matcha tea actually powder?

Matcha tea is one of the green tea varieties and is traditionally drunk in Japan. The tea probably originally came from China, but was forgotten there. Unlike “normal” green teas, matcha tea is not prepared as a decoction of tea leaves, but from a bright green powder.

This powder consists of finely ground green tea leaves from which the stalks have been removed. “For Matcha of the highest quality, the tea farmers even remove the leaf veins by hand,” explains Heidrun Schubert from the Bavarian Consumer Advice Center

Only the pure leaf remains, which is also consumed as a whole in tea. Since matcha tea is a so-called “shade tea”, the tea bushes are shaded with bamboo mats or similar four weeks before harvest. This makes the leaves particularly intense green.

Prepare matcha tea

If the matcha tea from the green powder is not brewed properly, neither the taste nor the effect are said to be right. Preparing matcha tea is part of a tea ceremony in Japan. You don’t have to make a ceremony out of it at home, but it still takes some practice and effort.

The water for the foamy tea should be as soft as possible, it must have a temperature of 80° Celsius when brewing. The easiest way to check this is with a roast thermometer. About a teaspoon of the powder goes into a bowl, which you then pour on with around 100 milliliters of water.

Then manual work is required – matcha tea has to be opened during preparation. To do this, take a special broom made of bamboo (the Chasen) and stir with a loose wrist in your own movement until the powder has completely dissolved and a fine foam has formed on the surface.

The right accessories

In order for the preparation to succeed, you need the right accessories – a normal teacup or blender is not enough to create the perfect foam. A set consists of the already mentioned bamboo whisk, a suitable bowl and a bamboo spoon for portioning the tea powder. Purists or lovers then get a suitable ladle and a Japanese kettle.

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Flavored Tea: Cakes and Unicorns in a Cup?

We love it especially in winter: hot, wonderfully aromatic tea. Gladly flavored with appetizing flavors that make the tea taste like marzipan or, in summer, like tropical fruits and more. But what are we actually drinking?

Flavored tea is not always “real tea”

“Tea” is, strictly speaking, just the beverage brewed from the leaves of the tea plant. Green tea is simply the dried leaves of the plant. Black tea is more labor intensive. The leaves are first dried a little, then rolled and then oxidized in high humidity.

Everything else that we serve as “tea” is strictly speaking an “infusion drink” and therefore only “tea-like”. This includes everything that we colloquially refer to as “herbal tea” or “fruit tea”, although there are of course also mixtures of dried fruits and herbs, which we also call “tea”.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s “real tea” or “infusion drink”: the shelves are full of the most diverse types and flavors. In the trade, tea compositions with imaginative names are lined up box after box: “Strawberry Cheesecake”, “Peach Panna Cotta”, “Blueberry Muffin” or “Unicorn Tea” are just a few examples of tea types that definitely do not contain what they are supposed to be are named. Wouldn’t be so appetizing to serve a brewed cheesecake in a cup, would it?
But what’s in it if there’s no muffin or unicorn swimming in the teapot?

Flavor additives are not always synthetic

Anyone who immediately thinks of “chemistry” when they think of flavored tea should read the list of ingredients carefully. A tea with added aroma is not always a mixture of synthetically produced flavors.

The classic “Earl Grey”, for example, is flavored with bergamot essential oil, provided it is of good quality, and many other flavored teas do not require any artificial additives by using natural, highly aromatic ingredients such as citrus peels, spices and dried fruits or essential oils. But this is usually not the case and a supposedly healthy tea quickly becomes a “chemical cocktail”.

What is what: natural, nature-identical or artificial?

Flavorings are roughly divided into three groups and must be declared on the list of ingredients:
Natural flavorings: This includes everything that is produced from plant, animal or microbiological raw materials by distillation, extraction or other processes; for example vanillin from vanilla beans.
Nature-identical flavorings: The name can be the same, such as “vanillin”, but there is a manufacturing process behind it that does not use natural raw materials, but runs completely synthetically. From a chemical point of view, however, such flavoring substances are identical to the substances of the same name of natural origin.
Artificial Flavors: This group includes all flavors that do not occur naturally in food. Some of these are modeled after natural flavors, an example is ethyl vanniline. However, many are often quickly recognized as “artificial”. Just think of the colorful variety of aromas, which with names like “green apple” or “banana” only taste remotely like their natural counterpart.
In addition, there are the aroma extracts already mentioned, which are declared as such by name, for example essential oils and also smoke and smoke aromas.

How much aroma is allowed in the tea?

Many flavored tea blends in particular smell (and taste) very strongly of artificial flavorings and have very little to do with the natural ingredients. In Europe, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is responsible for testing flavorings and setting maximum levels. After successful approval, your panel of experts assigns an “E number” to the additive. Important to know: natural flavorings also have E numbers.

For all these E numbers, it is regulated by law that only as much ends up in the finished food as is harmless to health. But if you buy good quality food, you can do without such additives. And, to be honest: does tea really have to taste like cake?

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Drink Tea – But Properly

Green tea, black tea, herbal teas – tea not only warms you up and tastes good, but is often also very healthy. In our large tea guide, you will find out what effect the different teas have, which brands are recommended, what criticism there is of cultivation and where you can get the right accessories.

The history of tea began more than 5000 years ago in China. Even then, tea was used both as a pleasure and as a remedy. Tea actually means the dried parts of the tea plant. Depending on the processing method, a distinction is made between black, red, green and white tea as well as oolong. However, infusion drinks from other plants are also commonly referred to as tea, such as herbal tea made from peppermint and rooibos or fruit tea.

Tea: an important economic commodity

The tea plant is mainly cultivated in tropical and subtropical high altitudes, on around 3.5 million hectares worldwide. Three-quarters of the global harvest of more than five million tons is grown in China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Vietnam (see Statista).

Ultimately, tea was and is an important commodity. Every year, Germany imports almost 60,000 tons of tea worth over 200 million euros. According to this, we drink more than 26 liters of black and green tea and more than 52 liters of herbal and fruit tea per capita, whereby the proportion of fair-trade organic tea is likely to be small.

The different types of tea and their effects

Nettle tea: no weeds! The health-promoting effect of nettle tea has been known since ancient times. We mostly use it for cystitis. It has many other positive properties and is easy to harvest and prepare yourself.
Fennel tea: Thanks to its beneficial effects, it has been a popular home remedy for centuries. Fennel tea is used to relieve numerous ailments.
Lady’s mantle tea: Recommended mainly because of its helpful effect on women’s problems and the desire to have children. We’ll tell you what else you can use lady’s mantle tea for and what you should pay attention to when harvesting and preparing the herb.
Green tea: This tea has various effects: It is said to help you lose weight and prevent diseases. Plus it’s delicious. We reveal what is behind the effect of green tea.
Rosehip and hibiscus: Nobody thinks of rosehip or hibiscus when talking about superfood. The two plants that are native to us are quite large suppliers of vitamins and can also be used as medicinal plants in other ways. Rosehip and hibiscus: the dynamic duo in a teacup.
Ginger tea: It helps with colds – and is easy to make yourself. However, its positive effect on travel sickness, migraines and digestive problems is less well known. We will show you how you can prepare ginger tea from fresh ginger yourself and what you need to pay attention to.
Chamomile tea: The anti-inflammatory effect of chamomile tea helps with gastrointestinal problems – but there are many more uses for chamomile tea.
Matcha tea: Matcha tea was and is the best and finest tea in Japan, which used to be reserved for the elite only. The bright green, frothy infusion is still considered a cult drink.
Peppermint tea: This tea has a powerful effect. Peppermint tea wakes you up like coffee, calms the stomach nerves and cools the body from the inside, even when drunk hot.
Sage tea: helps with cough and respiratory diseases. But the tea has other effects: Even in the Middle Ages, monks and scholars drank sage tea to keep their minds fit. Here more about the effect of the natural cold remedy.
Black tea: It is popular and, in addition to invigorating caffeine, contains numerous health-promoting substances. Here you can find out what you have to consider when preparing black tea so that it can develop its full effect.

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Ginseng Tea: Application, Effect and Preparation

Ginseng is considered a symbol of strength and health in Asia. Ginseng tea is said to relax and help with stress, among other things. You can find out more about the application, effect and preparation here.

Ginseng tea – what makes it so special?

The root of ginseng has been used in Chinese and Korean medicine for 3,000 to 5,000 years. It is said to have a rejuvenating and life-prolonging effect. Today, ginseng tea is also very popular in the western world. The medicinal herb is said to help with stress and bring the body back into its natural balance.

Ginseng is also considered to be one of the most nutrient dense foods in the world. It is rich in amino acids and numerous minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. It also contains many B vitamins as well as vitamin C and vitamin E.

Application and effects of ginseng

Due to its healing properties, ginseng is used for numerous physical and mental problems:

Ginseng can help with both high and low blood pressure. Because its balancing effect is said to be able to increase or decrease blood pressure as required.
Ginseng tea is also recommended for menstrual cramps: it can relieve severe menstrual pain and help regulate an irregular cycle.
But the medicinal herb is also interesting for men: ginseng tea acts as a kind of sexual enhancer and is therefore a good weapon against erection problems.
If you are overweight, ginseng helps to reduce appetite and also boosts your metabolism.
If you drink ginseng tea regularly in stressful phases, it can ensure relaxation and general well-being, as ginseng has a positive effect on the immune and hormone systems.
In addition, ginseng is considered a good remedy for more energy, endurance and strength and can improve concentration.

Instructions: Prepare ginseng tea

You can buy ginseng in different forms such as liquid extract, powder, tablet, dried or fresh. The fresh ginseng root is best suited for making the tea. You only need three to four grams (one teaspoon) for a cup of tea.

First cut the ginseng root into very fine slices.
Then pour hot (not boiling) water over the slices.
Then cover the cup and let the tea steep for five to ten minutes.
Then you pour the tea through a sieve into a second cup to get just the tea without the ginseng extracts.
Note: In order to benefit from the effects of ginseng tea, you should drink it for at least three to four weeks.

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Hibiscus Tea: Effect, Application and Preparation

Not only do they look beautiful, they are also the basis for a healthy soft drink: hibiscus blossoms. You can use them to make delicious hibiscus tea. You can find out how it works, how it is used and how it is prepared here.

Effect of hibiscus tea

The hibiscus, which belongs to the mallow family, originally comes from tropical areas. It is now also at home here and is particularly popular with gardeners because of its colorful flowers.

If the calyxes (not the whole blossoms) are dried and infused into tea, a thirst-quenching, slightly sour, tart drink is produced. In folk medicine, some health effects are attributed to hibiscus tea.

This is due to the valuable ingredients in the hibiscus flowers. Various fruit acids make up a large part of this: hibiscus acid, malic, tartaric and citric acid. These are involved in various metabolic processes in cell metabolism.

Other fabrics are:
Mucilage: they protect the mucous membranes and therefore have a soothing effect on inflammation of the mucous membranes.
Pectins: These dietary fibers are said to be able to lower blood cholesterol levels.
Anthocyanins and flavones: are responsible for the color.
Flavonols: have an antioxidant effect.
Phenolic acid: has an antibacterial effect.
Vitamin C: supports the immune system.

Application of hibiscus tea

Hibiscus tea for high blood pressure
Several studies have shown that hibiscus tea can have a positive effect on blood pressure. In particular, patients who also have an increased risk of high blood pressure due to other diseases can benefit from hibiscus tea. A study found that three cups of hibiscus tea can have a positive effect on diabetic patients with slightly elevated blood pressure.

Hibiscus tea for high cholesterol
People with high blood fat levels can also rely on hibiscus tea. It is said to help lower cholesterol and high triglyceride levels. A study shows that two cups of hibiscus tea can increase “good” HDL cholesterol and decrease “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

Hibiscus tea is antioxidant and antibacterial
Hibiscus tea can support the body in detoxification processes. Thanks to its many antioxidants, hibiscus tea can help fight off free radicals that can weaken the body.

In combination with its secondary plant substances and vitamin C, hibiscus tea has an antibacterial effect and is therefore particularly useful for colds or bladder infections.

Hibiscus tea while losing weight
Hibiscus tea is said to stimulate the metabolism and drain the body. This makes it suitable for regulating the weight. In principle, however, it is always the case that drinking a lot helps you lose weight. If you want to use hibiscus tea, you can change up your drinking habits, because hibiscus tea is a delicious alternative to higher-calorie drinks such as spritzers or lemonades.

recommendations
To benefit from the positive effects of hibiscus tea, about three to four cups per day are recommended.

Consumption of hibiscus tea is not recommended for pregnant women, as it is suspected of having hormonal effects.

How to prepare hibiscus tea

You can get dried hibiscus leaves for a tea infusion in the organic market or the local pharmacy. You should definitely pay attention to organic quality when buying, so that there are no pesticide residues in your tea.

Collect and dry hibiscus flowers. Alternatively, you can simply pick and dry hibiscus flowers yourself. The right time to pick is when they begin to fade. However, not the whole flowers are used for the tea, only the fleshy calyxes. So remove the flowers around the calyces and place the calyxes in the sun or in the oven at a very low temperature to dry. When they are completely dry, you can transfer them to a tightly sealable container.

tea making
Boil a liter of water.
Put about 7 grams of dried hibiscus flowers in a tea strainer or infuser. That equates to about six heaped teaspoons.
Pour the hot water over the flowers and let the tea steep for 6 to 8 minutes.
You can now refine the tea: Lemon juice and honey are popular additions.
The tea tastes great both hot and cold.
Tip: For the perfect cool thirst quencher, you can freeze the tea in ice cube trays and then later add it to the already cooled tea. In this way, the drink is not watered down by normal ice cubes.

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Mistletoe Tea: Preparation and Effects of Healthy Tea

Mistletoe tea lowers blood pressure, stimulates the metabolism and helps against many health problems. In this article we will tell you how to prepare it.

All readers of The Adventures of Asterix and Obelix will remember that druids like to use mistletoe as a medicinal herb. Its tea was actually considered a remedy in ancient times and can help against many ailments.

Mistletoe prefers to grow under or on trees, especially fruit trees and poplars. You can recognize them by their green, egg-shaped leaves. They are easy to spot, especially in the cold season, when the trees have shed their leaves. The best time to collect them is between autumn and spring.

Simply cut off small pieces and hang them up to dry in a warm place. Make sure they don’t stick to each other – otherwise mold can form quickly. Caution: Mistletoe is poisonous when raw: you should not eat the leaves or the berries.

The plants themselves are not protected, so you can also collect them outside of your own garden – for example in forests. Make sure, however, that you do not damage the host tree. It is forbidden to break off or saw off branches to get to the mistletoe.

If you don’t want to collect the mistletoe yourself, you can get mistletoe tea in almost every pharmacy.

Prepare mistletoe tea

If you have collected dried ones, you can easily brew them up. For one liter of tea you need two to four teaspoons of dried mistletoe. Half a teaspoon or a teaspoon is enough for a cup.

How to prepare mistletoe tea:
Place the dried mistletoe in a bowl. Add the appropriate amount of water.
Leave the mixture overnight.
In the morning, filter the mistletoe with a sieve and collect the liquid in a saucepan.
Warm the brew slightly without bringing it to a boil.
As soon as the tea reaches the desired temperature, you can drink it.

Caution: Since mistletoe contains toxins, you should not prepare the tea with hot water. Otherwise, the harmful substances can be released from the plant.

Mistletoe tea: You can also use it like this

You can also use mistletoe externally:
Mistletoe poultices can relieve pain caused by rheumatism. They also help against varicose veins and eczema. Simply dip a towel or cotton cloth in the lukewarm tea and place it on the affected areas.

You can also relieve these symptoms with a cold hand or foot bath to which you add dried mistletoe.

This is how mistletoe tea works

Mistletoe tea is said to have many effects. It is said to have a blood pressure-regulating effect, stimulate the metabolism and strengthen the body’s own defences. It also has a haemostatic effect and can relieve menstrual cramps.

The tea has a calming effect and is said to help against restlessness and ringing in the ears. However, these symptoms are often based on other causes such as stress. In order to permanently treat the problems, you should reconsider your lifestyle and, if necessary, talk to a doctor.

Mistletoe is sometimes used as a supplement to treat cancer. However, the effectiveness of this method is highly controversial.

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Rooibos Tea: Effects and Ingredients of Tooibos Tea

There are numerous myths about the effects of red bush tea (also called rooibos tea) from far away South Africa. We will explain to you the actual effect of rooibos tea and also show what disadvantages it has.

Rooibos is a plant species from South Africa. The tea is made from the branches of the plant and is now one of the most popular types of tea in Europe.

Rooibos tea is said to have a number of positive health effects. It is said to be rich in minerals, regulate digestion, help with sleep and relaxation problems and reduce the risk of cancer. For many of these supposed effects, however, there is a lack of corresponding studies and scientific evidence.

Ingredients of Rooibos tea

Myth 1: Good for falling asleep
In contrast to black and green tea, rooibos tea is very well tolerated by many people because it contains no oxalic acid and no caffeine. Thus, it is a good caffeine-free substitute for children and adults suffering from insomnia. However, it is not particularly sleep-inducing.
Myth 2: Lots of minerals
Rooibos tea is considered a good supplier of many different minerals. The tea actually contains traces of vital substances such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. However, the substances are present in such tiny amounts that they hardly affect our health.
Myth 3: Lowers the risk of cancer
The reddish color of the tea is due to the flavonoids in the leaves. These have an antioxidant effect, so they protect the human organism from free radicals and strengthen our immune system. In addition, certain antioxidants in rooibos tea are said to reduce the risk of cancer. However, the extent to which our body can actually utilize the antioxidants it contains has not yet been clearly clarified.

Rooibos tea as a miracle weapon against common diseases?

Rooibos tea is considered a good remedy for the prevention of arteriosclerosis and should therefore protect us from cardiovascular diseases. This effect was confirmed in a study by the Technical University of Cape Peninsula in South Africa. However, only people who already had an increased risk of cardiovascular disease were examined.

The subjects drank six cups of rooibos tea daily for six weeks. As a result, the cholesterol levels improved. The researchers attributed the effect to the polyphenols contained in the tea, which belong to the group of antioxidants and have a vascular-protective effect. So far, this is the only study that confirms that tea has a positive effect on the heart.

Many other supposed effects of African tea, such as the digestive, anti-inflammatory or antispasmodic effects have not been scientifically proven. So if you expect great health benefits from the mild tea, you will unfortunately be disappointed. However, many people also appreciate the tea for its delicious taste and the warming aromas on cold winter days.

Disadvantages of Rooibos tea

Several studies have found carcinogenic and liver-damaging substances in some rooibos teas. However, these substances are not in the rooibos itself, but in weeds that grow next to the rooibos plant and were accidentally harvested.

Another disadvantage of the popular tea is its poor ecological balance: Since rooibos is only grown in South Africa, it travels a long distance to us. Added to this are the inhumane working conditions under which people on tea plantations often have to work. This applies in particular to black, green and white tea.

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Mate Tea: Preparation and Effect of The Stimulant From South America

Mate tea is a natural pick-me-up with a long tradition. Here you can find out how South American tea works, how it is prepared and manufactured.

Mate tea: South American traditional drink

Mate tea (also called “mate” for short) is a hot drink made from the brew of finely chopped and dried leaves of the mate bush (Ilex paraguariensis). It originally comes from South America, where it is still drunk a lot today. There the tea is often drunk together in traditional tea ceremonies. These are subject to numerous rules, mostly passed down orally, which are intended to promote respectful and polite cooperation.

In the meantime, mate tea is becoming more and more popular with us: You can find both pure tea and various mixed drinks made from mate in stores. The caffeinated leaves of the mate bush have an invigorating effect and stimulate digestion.

Mate tea: how it is made

Mate as a tea is available in two different forms of preparation:
Green Mate (Taragin)
Roasted Mate (Chá Mate)
Both varieties consist of leaves, stalks and shoot tips of the mate bush cut in winter. For Chá Mate, these are rolled in wire drums over an open fire. This destroys enzymes in the plant parts and interrupts the natural fermentation process. It has a characteristic smoky aroma.

For green mate, the shredded cuttings are fermented by heating them at 60 degrees for around a month. The tea is then heated to 400 °C for a few minutes, causing the mate pieces to lose more than half of their remaining water.

Both varieties are then further dried for a few days until only a small amount of residual moisture remains. They are then crushed into equally sized pieces or ground into powder and packaged.

The taste of both types of mate is smoky-earthy, slightly sweet and contains a bitter note. In many regions, the tart taste is refined with sweet ingredients, such as pieces of orange, peppermint or cinnamon.

Prepare mate tea traditionally

A gourd is traditionally used to infuse mate tea. The typical bulbous drinking vessel is usually made of wood or dried gourd. Mate tea is drunk from a bombilla. A small sieve is attached to the bottom of the metal drinking tube so that the small leaves cannot be sucked in when drinking.

How to prepare mate tea traditionally:
Start by filling the mate calabash about halfway with dried mate leaves.
Then close the opening with the palm of your hand, turn the container upside down and shake it back and forth gently. This separates the fine tea leaves from the coarser ones.
Carefully turn the gourd over again.
Moisten the mate leaves with a few drops of warm water. Then, press them along the rim along one side of the jar.
Insert the bombilla into the jar on the opposite side.
Let the moistened mate, pressed to the edge, sit a little longer before pouring water over the entire calabash. The leaves swell better during this time and are less likely to get caught in the sieve later.
Now fill the mate gourd up to the brim with water at a temperature of around 70 °C. Slowly pour the water into the jar along the bombilla: this will prevent the pre-sorted leaves from being stirred up again.
After two to three minutes of infusion, the mate infusion is ready to eat.
Traditionally, mate is infused several times. The first infusion is usually very bitter and is therefore often thrown away immediately. When traveling, many South Americans carry hot water in thermos flasks with them so that they can fill their mate calabash on the go. At the latest when there are no more bubbles and individual mate leaves are floating on the surface, you have to prepare the tea again.

Mate tea: preparation in the teapot

Of course you can also enjoy your mate without the traditional South American drinking gear. It can also be prepared in the classic way in a teapot.

To do this, put about five teaspoons of mate tea in a tea strainer and pour one liter of boiling water over it. (You need a heaping teaspoon of tea for just one cup.) Let the mate steep in the hot water for 3-5 minutes and pour it up again up to three times.

Tip: If you like, you can refine your homemade mate with herbs. Various types of mint, lemon balm or pieces of dried fruit are suitable for this.

Effects of mate tea on health

In a study conducted at the University of Illinois, numerous healthy substances were found in mate tea. The tea is said to have cholesterol-lowering and circulatory-stimulating properties, among other things. It is also said to strengthen the cardiovascular system. Mate tea is also a small vitamin bomb – it contains, among other things:

Vitamin A
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B2
vitamin C
Iron, Potassium, Calcium and Zinc

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Jasmine Tea: Effect, Application and Peculiarities of The Fragrant Tea

Thanks to its incomparable scent, jasmine tea is a special kind of pleasure. But it also has many health benefits. Here you can find out what effect jasmine tea has and how it is used.

Jasmine tea: When flowers and tea “marry”

Jasmine tea is a blend of jasmine flowers with (mostly) green tea. The addition of jasmine gives the green tea a special aroma. Originally, jasmine was supposed to enhance less high-quality teas. In the meantime, however, jasmine tea is considered a particularly fine tea specialty.

The tea is made using different methods: either whole flowers are added to the green tea or the tea is flavored with the rising steam of a jasmine flower bath.

However, there are clear gradations in quality, depending on how the jasmine flowers are selected and how often they are mixed with tea. Incidentally, these mergings are called “weddings” and take place in late summer, when the jasmine blossoms are ripe and the green tea, picked in the spring, comes out of its storage. The more often blossoms and tea are “married” together, the more intense the jasmine blossom aroma.

Effect and ingredients of jasmine tea

Jasmine tea not only smells and tastes good, but also has positive effects on health. This is due to the many valuable ingredients in jasmine tea. Jasmine tea contains, among other things:
vitamin A, B12, and vitamin C,
minerals such as fluorine, magnesium, potassium, copper, and nickel,
Saponins, i.e. plant substances that serve as defensive substances for plants and therefore have anti-fungal and anti-microbial effects.
Tannins: These are also plant substances which, according to studies, have an anti-microbial effect.
Furthermore, jasmine tea has EGCG, i.e. epigallocatechin gallate, a substance that has been shown in a study to reduce the rise in blood sugar after starchy meals.
The essential oils contained are said to have a positive effect on mental and spiritual well-being.

Jasmine tea is used in so many different ways

You can use the tea to support your well-being in many areas:
Jasmine tea strengthens the immune system
Jasmine tea supports the immune system due to its antioxidant properties. Scientists have found that jasmine tea contains a wealth of antioxidant substances that support the immune system in the body’s protective function against free radicals. The immune system is the first “barrier” in the body that viruses and bacteria have to overcome.

Jasmine tea promotes weight loss
A study from Dalhousie University, Canada, showed that the many antioxidant properties of green tea (the most common base tea that jasmine flowers are mixed with) can also help with weight loss. The antioxidants boost the metabolism, which means that physical activities are more effective and the body can process food faster.

Of course, weight reduction results from the interaction of healthy nutrition and exercise. However, jasmine tea can help to optimize the metabolism and thus achieve the desired result more quickly.

Jasmine tea supports heart health
According to a study, the catechins found in jasmine tea play an important role in heart health. The catechins can help to prevent LDL oxidation. This is a process by which the “bad” LDL cholesterol in the arteries changes through oxidation, which can lead to inflammation in the body. This inflammation can lead to heart attacks or strokes. The catechins can inhibit this oxidation and thereby prevent high blood pressure [R] and reduce blood lipid levels.

Jasmine tea reduces stress
Jasmine tea can also have a positive effect on a psychological and emotional level: Many sensations are triggered via the sense of smell and, according to a study, the aroma of jasmine tea has a calming effect on the mind. Enjoying a cup of jasmine tea not only warms you from the inside, but also exudes a scent that makes you calm and relaxed.

Tea: a problematic indulgence?

A cup of tea exudes a lovely scent and provides inner warmth and a feeling of well-being for body and soul. For us, a cup of tea means a brief moment of pleasure, but for many others, the downsides outweigh the downsides when it comes to tea.

Tea production often cannot do without the exploitation of those who work on the tea plantations. Wages well below the living level, discrimination, and appalling living and working conditions for workers are the order of the day. In addition, there are ecological grievances in conventional tea cultivation, because large amounts of pesticides are used in most fields, which harm people and the environment.

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