Herbal Tisanes (a.k.a Herbal Teas) are some of our favorite brews for tea newbees because they are extremely forgiving and easy to brew - hot or iced! 

Though often referred to as Herbal Teas, tisanes do not actually contain any tea (leaf from the camellia sinensis plant), and are instead blends of fruits, herbs, mushrooms, shoots, leaves, and other non-tea edible plants. Because of their composition, you will find that the most benefit and flavor of herbal teas is extracted with boiling or near-boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Some Herbal Tisanes like our Adirondack Chaga, however, do best simmered on the stove for up to 2 hours!

As we mentioned before, hot water is the best way to extract flavor and health benefits from your herbal tisanes. For that reason, we recommend using 6 grams of tea to 16 oz of boiling water, then letting it steep for up to 30 minutes on your counter before you put it in the fridge to continue steeping overnight. This way you will have a rich and flavorful brew to pour over ice!

Our Favorite Way to Brew Iced Herbal Tisanes

It's no secret that we love teaware that combines form and function, so it should come as no surprise that everyone's favorite way to brew Iced Herbal Tisanes at home is the Takeya Loose Leaf Cold Brew Tea Infuser. Clocking in at 2 quarts, this pitcher is the perfect size for 6-7 cups of tea with ice. Complete with a removable loose leaf infuser for brewing all your favorite teas and herbal infusions, the Takeya Pitcher is made from BPA-free, heat-safe plastic and a great option for families or households that make a lot of iced tea! We use these pitchers exclusively at our Saratoga Springs Tea Bar for making and serving iced tea year-round. We love the versatility of the pitcher and definitely appreciate its water-tight top!