How to Make Ginseng Tea

Ginseng tea has many purported health benefits, including increasing brain power and energy. The best ginseng tea is made using fresh ginseng root, but can also be made using dried root. While you can purchase ginseng tea in bags at most supermarkets, the taste of fresh ginseng tea is far superior. Ginseng root can be purchased at most health food stores, at some farmers markets or can be found at several online retailers.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp knife or vegetable peeler
• Ginseng root
• Cutting board
• Measuring spoons
• Muslin tea bags
• Boiling water
• Coffee cup or teacup

Instructions

1. Use a sharp knife or a vegetable peeler to slice slivers from the ginseng root onto a cutting board.

2. Measure out approximately 1 tbsp. of slivered ginseng and place this into a muslin tea bag.

3. Secure the top of the tea bag with either the provided tie or use string or heavy thread.

4. Place the tea bag into a tea or coffee cup and pour boiling water over the bag, filling the cup.

5. Allow the tea to steep for at least five minutes or until cool enough to drink.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you're able to estimate how much ginseng it takes to make a tablespoon of slivers, you can make each tea bag fresh from the root. Store ginseng root in the vegetable crisper of your refrigerator in a paper bag. If a paper bag isn't available, store the root in an unsealed plastic bag. There are two types of ginseng: wild and cultivated. Wild ginseng is a protected species, and harvesting it requires a permit in most states. The majority of ginseng found at health food stores is the cultivated variety. Panax ginseng is the oriental variety of ginseng and grows in China, Korea and other Southeast Asian countries. American ginseng grows wild in mountainous areas of the United States. Siberian ginseng is not a member of the ginseng family of plants, but is marketed as a form of ginseng.

Resources

• Online Supplier of Ginseng Root