Home
Natural herbs are medicines that can be used a lot without causing side effects like Western medicine. In particular, herbs are now also combined in dishes and drinks to enhance flavor. In recent years, herbal tea has become a trend because it can both quench thirst and is good for the body.
1. What is herbal tea?
Herbal tea is a beverage made from the leaves, flowers, roots, bark, etc. of plants that contain bioactive compounds. In Oriental medicine, these plants are called medicinal herbs, so herbal tea is also called medicinal tea (or herbal tea). The common feature of herbal teas is that they do not contain caffeine that is harmful to health.
Herbal teas originate from many different civilizations, spanning from Asia, Europe to America.
- Asia: Herbal teas have been used for thousands of years and have gradually become a folk medicine. The countries where they appeared the most and earliest were China, India and Southeast Asian countries.
- Europe: The ancient Greeks and Romans also used herbs to make tea and believed that they could cure diseases.
- America: Native American tribes used herbs to make medicine and perform rituals.
Each herb has different biological properties and nutrients. Therefore, their effects on the body are also different. However, herbal teas in general are beneficial for health such as:
- Contains antioxidants that help protect cells from damage and help prevent cancer.
- Soothes the stomach, reduces bloating and improves digestion, so fat metabolism is better, supporting safe weight loss.
- Cools and detoxifies.
- Supports relaxation of the nervous system, reduces stress and improves sleep quality.
Many types have a natural sweet taste, so they can prevent diabetes and complications.
1.1 Instant Herbal Tea
Instant herbal tea is made from flowers, leaves, bark, roots, … of herbs and does not contain caffeine. After harvesting, they are dried and finely ground on a high-tech production line. However, the product still retains the precious essence of the medicinal herbs and helps the body absorb them more easily.
The tea has been packaged, people just need to mix it with hot water to have a delicious cup of tea.
The tea package is compact and convenient to carry anywhere, use whenever people want.
Instant herbal tea has many flavors and can combine many types of herbs together.
Can be stored at room temperature and does not require fussy storage.
1.2 Herbal Tea Bags
Herbal tea bags are made by putting a quantity of pre-processed, chopped herbs into a filter bag. The filter bag is made from paper, cloth or natural materials that are not toxic to the body. When making tea, people put the filter bag in a teapot or cup, then pour boiling water in to let the nutrients of the herbs dissolve into the water.
Herbal tea bags retain the natural, delicious flavor of the herbs.
People can combine many herbs and easily choose according to their preferences.
Less additives, almost only dried and the manufacturer does not add any other substances.
However, when making tea bags, people need to leave it for a while for the nutrients from the herbs to dissolve into the water.
2.Comparison of instant herbal tea and tea bags, which is better?
| Characteristic | Instant herbal tea | Tea bags |
| Flavor | Easy to drink because sugar or milk is added to taste. | Depending on the type of herb, some are sweet and easy to drink, while others are slightly bitter and pungent. |
| Convenience | Very convenient, quick to mix, easy to carry | Requires time to brew and prepare |
| Price | Higher price because of modern production process and more stages | The price is not too high, many types of tea are quite affordable |
| Nutritional composition | Modern process preserves nutrients in herbs | There are enough nutrients in the medicine, but when using hot water to mix it, it is impossible to take full advantage of the nutrients in the medicine. |
| Side effects | Added some milk or sugar (healthy) so not suitable for anyone with allergies | Only affects people allergic to herbs |
| Environment | Plastic bags or nylon are not good for the environment. | Eco-friendly paper or fabric bags |
3. Which Type Should You Choose?
If customers do not like or cannot use the natural taste of herbs, they should choose instant tea.
If people like to enjoy the time of making tea, choose tea bags, if they want to be quick, choose instant herbal tea. In addition, if customers do not have time, the nutrients in tea are difficult to dissolve in water, using instant tea at this time will be better.
If people are allergic to milk or have diabetes, … then they should not use instant herbal tea.
In short, it depends on each person’s needs and preferences to choose instant herbal tea or tea bags. But the above 3 factors play an important role, customers should consider before making a decision.
4. Advice when choosing herbal tea
In addition to the issue of comparing instant herbal tea and tea bags, which type is better, people should also pay attention to the following factors:
Customers should choose tea according to the purpose of use. For example, people who want to improve sleep should choose chamomile tea, lotus heart tea, etc. If customers want to support digestion, they should choose ginger tea, mint tea.
Remember when choosing tea, people should learn about the side effects of herbs. For example, ginger is good for digestion and resistance, but is not good for people with high blood pressure.
Choose tea made from 100% natural ingredients and does not contain caffeine, especially do not use tea containing caffeine before going to bed.
Choose products with clear origin from reputable brands, with licenses and certificates, the better.
If people are allergic or have underlying medical conditions, they should consult a doctor or pharmacist before using.