Before You Make the Tea - Review

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Over the past several weeks, we have looked at infusion, decoction, cold infusion, what changes a water extraction, and where water has limits. The useful part is being able to bring those pieces together before we make something.

Before making an herbal tea, ask:

Do I know the plant I am using?
Do I know which plant part I have?
What am I trying to get from this preparation?
Is water a good fit for that purpose?
If it is, does infusion, decoction, or cold infusion better fit the material?
Does this plant, plant part, and preparation fit the safety picture of the person using it?

Leaves do not automatically mean infusion, and roots do not automatically mean decoction. More heat, more time, or more plant material does not correct a preparation that does not fit. The principle is fairly simple. The preparation should follow the plant, the part, the purpose, and the safety picture. If water does not fit, we do not need to force the herb into a tea.

Before making an herbal tea, which question best shows the principle we have been learning?

How can I make the strongest tea?

Is this a leaf or a root, so I can automatically choose the method?

What plant and part do I have, what am I trying to accomplish, does water fit, and which method and safety considerations follow from that?

How long should I steep it before deciding whether the method fits?

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Before You Make the Tea - Review