I have gone “no caffeine” as of last Friday, due to medical reasons–TMI “female troubles” spoiler–
Caffeine makes the hot flashes worse. << shrug >>–so I am learning all about herb tea. So far I have sampled Celestial Seasonings “Red Zinger” which is not bad, and something from Kroger called Bigelow Red Raspberry, which is also okay, gives kind of a “hot Kool-Aid” effect. Straight mint tea tastes oddly like melted candy, too sweet somehow.
So, is there anything I should try?
More importantly, is there anything absolutely awful out there, the Herb Teas From Hell, herb teas you instinctively spit out before they’ve even registered on your taste buds?
Not interested in the herb teas with actual pharmaceuticals in them, like ephedra–just looking for a quick pick-me-up for the mid-morning slump and the 3 p.m. “kids come home from school/supper hour” shank of the day.
If you’re a fan of citrusy, tart drinks, try Tazo’s Passion. It’s a caffeine-free “herbal infusion”, listing these ingredients: hibiscus flowers, natural tropical flavors, citric acid, orange peel, licorice, cinnamon, rose hips, lemongrass, and red poppy. (The licorice is barely noticeable, if at all.) It comes in tea bags and you brew it the same as tea. I like citrus drinks, but considering how tart it is, you might consider having some honey ready to sweeten it to taste. Tazo makes other similar beverages but I haven’t tried them, nor do I know their caffeine content.
A little while ago I went out to eat at this great chinese restaurant around here, and I had chrysanthamum tea. It was sooooooo good. I highly recommend it.
Stay away from ‘Tension Tamer’ (Celestial Seasonings, IIRC). It’s the one with a dragon and girl on the front… EEEW, EEEW, EEEW. Disgusting. Couldn’t even get my Dad to try it after he saw the face I made.
My reccomendation is to pick up one of those sampler packs of herbal teas, and see which of them you like. More expensive per bag, yes, but cheaper than buying an entire box and having to toss it out because you don’t like it.
And, to echo LolaCocaCola: Chai! Make it at home though, with decaf black tea. The stuff from Oregon Chai is decent, but that gets expensive quick.
<< Yes, I am an agent of Satan. (But my duties are largely ceremonial.) >>
Tazo tea is really great. I’m a big fan of their Passion (already mentioned by DeniseV), Wild Sweet Orange, Calm, and Chai teas. I think most Starbucks sell boxes of Tazo, so it’s fairly easy to get.
Celestial Seasonings “Emperor’s Choice” is nice if you’re in the mood for something spicy rather than fruity. “Bengal Spice” is a little more… ah, assertive. I have to be in the mood to appreciate that one. I also like Lipton’s Ginger Twist. I know you said “no pharmaceuticals” but Yogi Tea’s “Cold Season Tea” is nice, too, and doesn’t have anything too threatening in it (like ephedra). That is, it’s meant to be warming, not curative. Has herbs and spices like ginger, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, licorice. I get mine at the health food store; don’t know if an ordinary grocery would carry it.
I’m afraid most herbal teas taste awful to me, so I can’t help you there. I will recommend ginger tea, though. I tried it for nausea, and it tastes pretty good in it’s own right. I don’t have a brand name for you – just grate fresh ginger, add boiling water, and let it steep for about 5 minutes. I drink it with cream and sugar, but it should be good straight, too.
Take care,
CJ
Traditional Medicinals ThroatCoat tea for sore throats tastes awful unless you add a lot of honey. It works, though. It’s the slippery elm tree bark that makes it so gross.
Stash makes pretty good teas, and so does Bigelow, especially their green tea with lemon.
Good Earth Original tea - it’s available in caffeinated and noncaffeinated. I think the noncaffeinated tastes slightly weaker. It’s spicy, and earthy, and yummy, and needs no sweetener. It smells so good I’ve been known to toss a bag in some water in an potpourri burner. Makes the whole house smell great.
Celestial Seasonings’ Sleepy Time tea is good for insomnia.
I like Lipton herbal teas, like Gentle Orange, Cinnamon Apple and Peppermint (what I like best about peppermint is that it’s hot, but your mouth gets cool after you swallow!)
I got a sample pack one Christmas from my boss that had a plum spice tea in it. That was the best tea I’ve ever had, and unfortunately, I don’t know where to get anymore (She’d gotten it when her kid was selling things through one of those fundraiser catalogues for school.)
Celestial Seasonings Wild Cherry Blackberry is one of my favorites, and is caffeine free.
We appear to be talking about tow different things here. There are flavored teas and herbal teas. Keep in mind that flavored teas contain tea leaves in addition to whatever else they have and are not naturally caffeine free. Herbal teas do not contain tea leaves and usually are caffeine free.
That said, I personally am not fond of the flavor of rose hips, which are found in about half the herbal teas you’ll see. But rose hips are a major ingredient in Red Zinger, so if you like that, no problem.
But stay away from the evil that is Lapsung Suchow tea. Imagine a cup of tea with a piece of smoked herring soaking in it.
I gave up regular caffeine drinking about 8 months ago. My staple is now Rooibosch with some chamomile for variety.
Strangely enough, giving up my regular tea drinking habit is the one thing I thought would be impossible when I went on my health kick, yet its the only thing I’ve stuck with.
Celestial Seasonings’ Strawberry-Kiwi is my favorite herbal–similar to the Zingers, but without the “Zing.”
Mint Magic goes great with chocolate.
Chamomile tea is also nice and relaxing provided you don’t let it steep too long and drink it before it gets cool. It tends to get bitter if left sitting.
The worst herbal tea I every had was blackberry–I think it was Bigelow, but could be mistaken about that. Horrible, bitter stuff that no amount of sugar or milk could make palatable.