Easy tea sipping

Easy tea sipping, tea drinking and applications.

When it comes to herbal medicine there is nothing more important than taking the medicine. After all, how else will receive the benefits of the plant wisdom if we are unable to consume its essence. I know, it sounds obvious, and even pointless to state, however complacency is something that herbalist’s the world over struggle with.

Getting your client to take the medicine, or if for your own benefit, then getting yourself to take the medicine is not as easy as it might sound. Even as an herbalist, it is not uncommon for even those with the knowledge and resources to slack on using the medicines on themselves. Why is this? Well there could be a few reasons: from not enjoying the taste, lacking the motivation to make tea, simply being too busy, and of course not feeling that you even need it. As an herbalist it is important to remove as many obstacles as possible between the client and the medicines.

It cannot be stated enough the importance of both taste, and appearance when it comes to consumption of tea in any capacity. As one of my teachers once acknowledged that a good herbalist is also a good chef, as the concepts such a blending flavor, balancing colors, and pairing of textures for presentation alone are shared between the two fields.

Certain individuals will naturally be more particular than others, this is with both food and medicines. Therefore, when we have a client who is young, old, or just plain picky it is important we consider this vital element.

A beautiful, and flavorful tea will be enjoyed by the eyes, while the medicine is doing its work. Consider both taste and appearance as an important part in creating medicines. When formulating, contemplate the taste of each herb as you combine them.

Think of your mixing bowl as the canvas of a multi-dimensional painting, one that will be enjoyed using each of the senses. This will surly increase the complacency of the client, and increase the likely hood that these lifestyle adjustments will integrate successfully.

Taking herbal medicines even when they are both aesthetically beautiful, and delicious can be difficult for some simply because the routine involved. For example, a lot of teas when given by your herbalist are going to be in there loose leafy form. However, only the most hard-core connoisseur will ever be able to enjoy them in this state.

Most of us will want to strain our tea before we feel comfortable consuming it. Do we use a tea ball, a re-useable tea bag, a pot and strainer, a bombilla straw, French press, or a tea pot? Truthfully, all are great options for the day-to-day tea drinker. Here are my thoughts on each application method.

Starting with the tea ball, a mesh ball that unlatches to be filled with your loose tea can hold about a tablespoon of herbs, the usually recommended amount for a cup of water. This application is nice for the tea drinker who wants to prevent their herbs for steeping to long making the tea bitter. As the mechanism can easily be removed before taking a sip.

Next a re-useable or muslin cloth tea bag is the cheapest option on the list. As it will eventually deteriorate after 2 weeks- 1 months of consistent use. The cloth tea bags excel in that the standard size can hold up to 3 tablespoons, and the larger sizes could fit a 1/2oz. This is ideal for creating strong tea infusions, where a medicinal dose is required, and not the recreational dose that a tea ball better offers.

The age-old method of the pot and strainer is one that will always be in use simply because we all own both of these items. Still, I would recommend investing in another tea brewing application, as this will be the most difficult and time consuming. Definitely putting the most of an obstacle to complacency.

The act of boiling the herbs in a pot then straining into a cup presents the risk of being burned, creates a challenge for the disabled or elderly, and will not allow for any specifics around steeping time. However, if your needing herbal medicine it’s a good trick to have up your sleeve.

The most unheard of on this list is the bombilla straw pronounced (Bom-be-yah) like tortilla, this straw gained popularity with drinkers of yerba mate. By far the easiest method of consuming tea, if laziness if part of the challenge, this may be the method of application for you. Basically, all you have to do is put your tablespoon of herbs directly in your teacup and pour your boiling hot water directly on top of it.

Let it steep for 10-15minutes, then it will be ready to drink. Putting your straw directly into the cup, you’re ready to enjoy your herbal medicines. As the straw has small holes on one end, allowing it to function as an effective strainer as well. Remember your drinking hot liquids threw a straw, I would recommend allowing it to cool a few degrees or more before taking a sip.

Bombilla’s come in wood, as well as metal variety. The metal variety although easier to wash, will become hot when placed in freshly boiled water, and could potentially burn your mouth. While the wooden variety, although won’t get nearly as hot, will slowly deteriorate overtime being much harder to clean as well.

The fanciest method, and one of the best for aesthetic presentation is none other than the French press. Which by its name sounds like some kind of edgy European club but is really a great herbal tea application method. The French press consists of a clear vessel to which the loose herbal tea is placed, and a strainer or press.

A standard 2.5 cup size French press can hold up to 1/3-1/2 oz of herbal tea, they come in a cute 1 cup size, and a larger 1 litter size. After placing your herbs in the open vessel, simply fill the glass with boiled water, and allow it to steep before using the press to compact the herbs to the bottom. You can then pour a cup at a time, or one large cup, even sharing between a few cups if you have prestigious company. Be warned, the thin glass of the French press is even more fragile when heated, I have broken at least 3 so far.

The last option is the oldest tea drinking method, none other than a teapot. When looking for a teapot be sure to find one with a strainer in the top or invest in a mesh strainer that will sit comfortably within tea pot. Without a strainer the teapot is helpful only aesthetically, as one will still have to brew and strain the tea separately.

This allows the tea too steep in the entire pot and gives the option of removing the herbs easily if a shorter steep is desired. A tea pot will also allow tea to be easily shared, as well as cooled for later.

As a connoisseur of herbal teas, an herbalist, or just someone who needs to incorporate more plant medicines in their life. Investing in the proper tea application method will be indispensable when it comes to compliance, and enjoyment. No matter how great the tea blend may be, it is useless if it is not taken with the proper consistency. Therefore, the importance of removing obstacles to the preparation of herbal medicine cannot be overstated. Enjoy your tea and sip it slow.