Chinese herbal teas are known as Tisanes, which are actually infusions made from herbs and not tea that comes from the tea plant. The technical name for any kind of Chinese herbal tea is Tisanes. The reason is that herbs are infused with tea leaves using oils from the herbs. Therefore, while we call it tea, it is not officially a type of tea, as we know it. However, Chinese herbal tea has been used for centuries by the Chinese people as a beverage, but also for its healing properties. Interestingly, if you were to visit China, you could walk into a tea store and find every possible herb imaginable for making Tisanes.
Alternative Medicine
The benefits of herbal green tea, Chinese black tea, and other types of exotic tea from China are incredible. In addition to wonderful flavor and aroma, each type of tea has therapeutic properties that can improve health of mind and body. In addition to green and black tea, Jasmine flower tea, chrysanthemum tea, and Rosebud tea are also excellent choices. Interestingly, the last two mentioned are typically used to treat women although they both offer relief from digestion problems.
Everyone can enjoy the flowering flavor and aroma of herbal teas, regardless of gender. Tea made from miniature roses, as in the case of Rosebud tea, may seem like a dainty type of tea but in truth, it has a great flavor and health benefits. Then for Chrysanthemum tea, the flavor is hard to describe but wonderful. For centuries, the Chinese people have been using this particular type of Chinese herbal tea to reduce fever. Then, teas such as green tea and oolong tea, which are not fermented and therefore have little, if any caffeine, make a great beverage in the evening.
Some of the More Popular Flowering Teas
As you look at options for Chinese herbal tea, you will soon find that flowering or petal teas are among the most popular. Again, many of these teas contain no caffeine so they can be enjoyed any time of day or night but they also produce a calming effect, along with incredible flavor. Some of the favorites among flowering and petal teas include:
• Carnation Flower Tea – Made from a beautiful red flower, the health benefits include restoration of energy and promotion of relaxation
• Chrysanthemum – Again, this is an infusion of herbs often used to lower fever but it is also refreshing with a slight sweet flavor
• Gongju Herbal Tea – This flowering tea contains no caffeine, has a soothing flavor, and it promotes relaxation
• Jasmine Bud Flower Tea – Many believe this to be one of the best of all Chinese herbal teas, made only from Jasmine flower buds that have not yet opened and no tea leaves, sweet and caffeine free
• Forget-Me-Not Flower Tea – This type of Chinese herbal tea is another one that contains no caffeine with a slight grassy, sweet flavor that comes from purple flowers. The health benefits include promoting healthy lungs, among others.
• Yunnan Flower Bud Tea – These flowers grow in the Yunnan forests in China, a rare flower that contains no caffeine but is loved by the local people of Yunnan
• Wild New York Ginseng – With this Chinese herbal tea, it is grown in harsh conditions that produces unique roots, some small, some old, some large, and some with distinct character. The roots used to make this healthy tea can actually survive as long as seven years.
• Kuding Pearl Tea – This is one of the special teas of China with a slightly bitter but made by rolling the leaves into large pearls. Because of the size of the leaves, it has also been called the one leaf tea or one leaf.