True tea – whether it’s black, green, white, or oolong, hot, or iced – comes from the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. But the herbal kind comes from soaking various flowers, leaves, or spices in hot water. Most of these brews don’t have caffeine. You can start with premade bags or loose material you steep and then strain out. Herbal teas are also called “tisanes.”
Floral teas feature dried flowers like jasmine, rose, lavender, and chamomile in soothing, aromatic blends that are full of flavor.
For centuries, flower blossoms have been blended with tea and other herbs to create tasty and medicinal brews. Whether you’re dreaming of spring flowers, looking for an iced tea to enjoy in the summer heat, or simply interested in teas with a flowery note, a floral tea is sure to hit the spot!
In many ancient cultures, spices were blended with water to create healing infusions and medicinal treatments. For instance, the history of chai stretches back thousands of years, when it was first concocted as an invigorating Ayurvedic beverage. At the time, chai contained a blend of many different spices that were believed to support vitality. It was not until the 1800s that black tea leaves, milk and sweetener were added to this ancient spiced tea blend.
Today, a wide variety of spices sourced from around the globe are used to prepare spiced tea. They can be added to black or green tea, or simply blended with other herbs and botanicals to create healthful caffeine-free infusions.