How to Brew an Herbal Tea Decoction

Herbal decoctions are the method used to brew herbal tea from tougher, denser medicinal herbs materials like roots, bark and berries. The herb is gently simmered to extract the herbal medicine essences and prepare herbal remedies.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Pour 1 cup of cold water into the saucepan. Add 1-2 heaping teaspoons of chopped, grated or thinly sliced herb.

2. Heat up the ingredients until the liquid starts to steam (just before it simmers).

3. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20-30 minutes. The water will be reduced by up to a half or a third. Turn off the heat and let steep another 10 minutes.

4. Strain your decoction into a clean container with a tight cap. Label with the ingredients and date it was prepared.

5. Let the decoction cool down and then refrigerate.

6. Use aromatic herbs such as lavender, licorice, peppermint, fennel and lemon balm to enhance the flavor of your herbal tea with. You could also use honey, lemon juice, or stevia - the no-calorie herbal sweetener.

Tips & Warnings

• Always brew your herbal tea in an enamel or non-metal pan
• A standard decoction is 4 times as strong as a standard infusion
• Herbal remedies must never be used as a substitute for consultation or treatment by a licensed health care practitioner. Always consult your personal health care practitioner before you use any herbal remedies, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or on any other medication.

Resources

• How to Brew an Herbal Tea Infusion