Tisane Basics
Did you know that “herbal teas” are not actually teas? It’s true. All “true teas” come from the same plant, camellia sinensis. What is commonly referred to in the U.S. as an “herbal tea” is actually a tisane (a word of French origin, pronounced tea-ZAHN), or an infusion or decoction made from a plant other than camellia sinensis. (Wondering what the difference between an infusion and a decoction is? An infusion is a beverage made by steeping plant material in hot water. A decoction is a beverage made by placing plant material in a pot of water, bringing the water to a boil, and simmering until two-thirds of the liquid has evaporated.) Now that you have the bare-bones-basics of tisanes down, you’re ready to learn about why people drink them, how to make them, and the categories of tisanes.
Why People Drink Tisanes
There are three main reasons why people drink tisanes, and they’re not all that different from why people drink teas. They are: taste, caffeine content, and health.
There is an enormous range of tastes found in tisanes, from the woody, astringent yerba mate to refreshing spearmint and peppermint leaves to floral chamomile to lemony French verveine. Everyone has their own distinct preferences. I love yerba mate and rooibos (which have woody flavors), as well as French verveine and Korean citrus peel (along with most other citrusy flavors), but I dislike chamomile and rosehips (as well as some other floral flavors). If you try one and you don’t like it, don’t write tisanes off altogether! There are thousands to choose from.
As with teas, preferred caffeine content is often a factor in why people drink tisanes. Many people cannot tolerate caffeine, so they choose to drink naturally caffeine-free tisanes. On the other end of the spectrum are those who love yerba mate for its caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine jolt. Unless a tisane has added caffeine or is blended with tea, coffee, chocolate, yerba mate, or one of the other 56 plants that naturally contain caffeine, it’s naturally caffeine-free. (Don’t worry—the plants I listed are the ones you’re most likely to run into. Caffeine is not lurking around every corner.)
Tea has great health benefits. However, depending on what you’re looking for, a tisane may be your best bet. Consult with an herbalist to see which ones are (as the commercials say) “right for you.”
How to Make Tisanes
Most tisanes need to be steeped in boiling water or prepared as a decoction (place the plant material in cold water, bring the water to a boil, and simmer until two-thirds of the liquid has evaporated). The brewing times and proportions vary widely from tisane to tisane. In general, leaves, flowers, and seeds are steeped and bark roots, hard seeds, and berries are prepared as a decoction (to release their essential oils). If your tisane comes with brewing instructions, try them out, and then adjust them to your tastes. If not, search online for instructions for that particular tea or ask your tea merchant. NEVER use an aluminum pot to prepare an herbal tea. Aluminum is a reactive metal, so it can react negatively with the herb and, in some cases, it can be very dangerous.
Categories of Tisanes
Tisanes are usually categorized by what part of the plant they come from. They often come from the leaves (French verveine and mint tisanes), flowers (chamomile, rosehips, and hibiscus), bark (cinnamon and black cherry bark), roots (ginger, Echinacea, chicory, and kava), berries (raspberry, blueberry, etc.—these are usually for taste rather than medicinal purposes), seeds (cardamom, caraway, and many other spices), and fruit (peach, apple, etc.). Sometimes, they are made from moss, stems, or other plant matter. My "Tisane Listing” series covers each of the major tisanes in more detail.
Enjoy your tisanes!