“Have a cup of tea, it’ll cool you down!”
If you’re finding it too hot to even contemplate drinking a steaming hot brew then why not make up a batch of ice cold tisane (herbal tea). The people of Provence have a long history of utilising what grows naturally in the rich and varied region. Herbs are not only added to the cooking pot but transformed into natural remedies to cure anything from acne to warts. Passed from generation to generation, the wealth of information about the healing powers of herbs for our physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual selves continues to hold true today.
Work around your current mood
You don’t have to feel happy or sad to make a tisane. You can simply reflect on how you are feeling in the present moment and decide what you need from there. If you want to stay relaxed, then include ingredients that promote relaxation, like chamomile or even lavender. If you want to snap out of your unhappy mood then try things that lift the spirits, like citrus (not including grapefruit). The smell of a steeping tisane can also provide you with any aromatherapy you need at the time.
Herbal teas are known as caffeine-free for a reason—specifically, they are not made out of tea leaves that contain caffeine. When you eliminate caffeine from your tisane, you can enjoy mixing different ingredients without the added inconvenience of sleep disturbances or anxiety. If you are one of those people who can’t live without caffeine, then take a look into the newest craze in caffeinated beverages—Yerba maté, which can be added to your tisane as a caffeine additive. It is a form of holly native to South America, and could become as popular as coffee in the future.
The wonderful thing about making iced tisane is that there isn’t just one variety. Unlike the standard sweetened black tea, maybe with lemon or peach for added flavour, herbal tisanes can vary according to taste or a particular medicinal need. You can brew a single herb, such as mint as a digestif, or a blend of herbs to help combat stress or insomnia for instance, each plant bringing a different unique benefit to work as a whole. There is a wide range of 100% natural, 100% organic tisane which may be enjoyed for pleasure and wellness, experiment with different blends and brands to discover your new favourite!
