When you can’t drink tea, tisanes are a good alternative. Tisanes refer to ‘teas’ that are made without using the camellia sinensis plant. In other words, they’re herbal or fruit-based teas. And there’s more good news – many tisanes don’t just taste good, they’re good for your health as well! Below are five tisanes we are huge fans of:
Peppermint tea doesn’t only make for a refreshing drink, it can also aid with digestion. According to several studies, peppermint can help to reduce painful colon spasms. In addition, peppermint also has significant antimicrobial and antiviral activities (McKay and Blumberg, 2006). Peppermint is often our go-to choice when we’re aching for a soothing cup when you’re having some pain.
#teapasar recommends: We love The 1872 Clipper Tea Co.’s Refreshing Tea Break – a blend of peppermint, lemongrass, lemon peel and mint ($18 for 100g pouch). Refreshing Tea Break has also won 1 star in the Great Taste Awards, so drink up!
Ziziphus jujuba, more commonly known as a red date has been used in Chinese and Korean traditional medicine from long ago. Recent scientific studies support their claim to health food status, as their main biological components of Vitamin C, phenolics, flavonoids, triterpenic acids, and polysaccharides may have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and other health effects (Gao, Wu and Wang, 2013).
#teapasar recommends: Replenish, a delicious blend of red dates, honeysuckle, and snow fungus. Get it on sale when you buy two or more tins!
Apart from having a delightful sweet and sour fruity taste, rosehip is also high in Vitamin C and may possess anti-inflammatory properties (Winther, Rein and Kharazmi, 1999). To add to that, specific rosa species have also been found to be potential treatment applications for skin disorders, and to reduce skin aging (Mármol et al.).
#teapasar recommends: Simply Romantic ($30 for a 50g pouch), a delicious blend of rosehip, chamomile, lemon peel and rose, by Hush Teabar.
Because of its tartness, hibiscus tea tastes great both hot and cold. It has also been found to help lower high blood pressure (McKay et al., 2009). Preliminary studies done on mice also indicate that hibiscus may be effective in treating obesity (Alarcon-Aguilar et al., 2007).
#teapasar recommends: Chamomile Hibiscus ($17.80 for a 30g tin), a refreshing twist on chamomile tea created by Sucre.
Recently, rooibos has been gaining popularity as a herbal alternative to tea. This slightly sweet, herbal tea is delicious not only on its own, but also combined with other flavours, making it a popular base for caffeine-free versions of popular teas. Preliminary studies on rooibos suggest that the plant may possess antioxidant, immune-modulating, and chemopreventive actions (McKay and Blumberg, 2007).
#teapasar recommends: A new take on roobois, the Noir Tea by A.muse Projects ($11 for 10g loose pack, or $22 for a 30g tin). A delicious tisane inspired by one of the most highly prized wines – The Pinot Noir.
In conclusion, tisanes not only taste good, they may also be good for your health. Particularly if you’re sensitive to caffeine, tisanes are a great alternative for a healthy and yummy pick-me-up. Let us know what your favourite tisanes are in the comments below!
Sources:
McKay, Diane L., and Jeffrey B. Blumberg. “A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.).” Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives 20.8 (2006): 619-633.
Gao, Qing-Han, Chun-Sen Wu, and Min Wang. “The jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruit: a review of current knowledge of fruit composition and health benefits.” Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 61.14 (2013): 3351-3363.
McKay, Diane L., et al. “Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. Tea (Tisane) Lowers Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive and Mildly Hypertensive Adults–4.” The Journal of nutrition 140.2 (2009): 298-303.
Alarcon-Aguilar, Francisco J., et al. “Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa on obesity in MSG mice.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 114.1 (2007): 66-71.
Mármol, Inés et al. “Therapeutic Applications Of Rose Hips From Different Rosa Species”. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences, vol 18, no. 6, 2017, p. 1137. MDPI AG, doi:10.3390/ijms18061137.
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