# Best and worst flavors of herb tea? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 29, 2002, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446 "2002-10-29T20:55:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/21 "2002-10-30T13:25:55Z")
Simple Rosehip and Hibiscus is pretty good. I’m a big fan of peppermint and jasmine myself, although I never add sugar to my tea. With peppermint, it’s disasterous. Maybe that was your problem with the mint teas. However, mint without sugar is my idea of perfect relaxation… ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/22 "2002-10-30T13:36:20Z")
I would like to recommend a South African herbal tea called “Rooibos” or “Bush” tea. I have no idea whether it is available in the US of A, but you can get it at Holland & Barrett shops (and some other places) in the UK. It has anti-histaminic and analgesic properties and 100% caffeine free - although it is somewhat of an acquired taste (a friend once described its taste as “wet dog”), my wife lives on the stuff. She adulterates hers by adding milk and two sugars, while I drink mine black with a pinch (literally) of sugar - the traditional way is to add honey and a slice of lemon. It is a real stress reliever, just the smell of it brewing cause me to start relaxing. 🙂 Grim ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/23 "2002-10-30T14:34:34Z")
Beware of “slimming” teas that contain senna pod. I thought it would be no more than a nice, healthy herbal drink that would - I don’t know - help soothe and rehydrate or something. Oh no. Diarrhoea Niagra Falls time… A lovely, lovely herbal tea with supposedly excellent anti-oxidant/cancer fighting properties is Green Tea with Papaya Leaf. Tastes like normal green tea but a little sweeter and fresher. Also - I didn’t know this until recently, but the best way to make iced tea is NOT to boil the tea in the water and let it cool, but to put (preferably expensive loose leaf) tea into cold water, stick it in the fridge overnight in a jug - maybe with some slices of lemon or orange or something - and it’s ready the next morning. Just add sugar syrup to taste. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Doris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Sir\_Doris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Doris)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/24 "2002-10-30T14:49:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grimpixie \* > \*\*I would like to recommend a South African herbal tea called “Rooibos” or “Bush” tea. I have no idea whether it is available in the US of A, but you can get it at Holland & Barrett shops (and some other places) in the UK. > > \*\* The link in my earlier post suggests it is available. And it’s a lot nicer that grimpixie makes it sound! I aquired my taste for it straightaway. I like it black, no sweetner, no nuffink. In fact it’s time for a brew … ---
**Author:** ![Winnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e480ec/32.png) [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/25 "2002-10-30T14:53:26Z")
I’m such a tea junkie that reading this thread is making me want to go buy some more… But for herbals here are my favorites: **Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice** , \*\*Tangerine Orange Zinger \*\* (has a good amount of vitamin C so I drink it a lot when I’m not feeling well), **Almond Sunset** , and their holiday **Sugar Plum Spice**. For something sweeter, the **Tazo Passion** herbal with hibiscus, orange peel and red poppy is very good. I don’t care for the peppermint teas as much – I usually drink tea to keep myself warm and peppermint just gives me a chill. Chamomile tastes like weeds, and the licorice teas are just way too strong even though I love black licorice ---
**Author:** ![slackergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@slackergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slackergirl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/26 "2002-10-30T22:51:36Z")
Celestial Seasonings? Yikes. OK, so I’m a bit of a tea snob, but there are some fabulous herbal teas available that are ten times better than anything you can get from a grocery store. I got hooked on my favorite at a restaurant in Napa a couple of years ago. It was so good thatmy sister and I each drank an entire pot before dinner came and I asked the waiter where it came from. It was Sweet Chamomile from here - [www.leaves.com](http://www.leaves.com) They also have a fennel mint tea that is to die for, although I think they may be phasing it out because it moves around on their site all the time. ☹ Loose tea steeped in a basket is the best way to get good flavor. Bagged tea is made from the leftovers and so is inconsisent in flavor and much weaker if you like a strong cup. Even the bagged version of my favorite chamomile doesn’t even come close. I’m telling you, if you like herbal tea, try them. You may never go back to Celestial/Tazo/Republic/Lipton again. ---
**Author:** ![agentfroot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@agentfroot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agentfroot)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/27 "2002-10-30T23:01:55Z")
My favorite tea is Bigelow Sweet Dreams. It has chamomile flowers, hibiscus flowers, peppermint leaves, rose blossoms, spearmint leaves, spice, and orange blossoms in it. It smells heavenly, and it’s yummy too. Also, I don’t particularly care for feverfew tea, but it’s good for easing menstrual cramps. Wow, it’s hard to type wearing gloves. Damn bipolar heater that only works when I’m not around… ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/28 "2002-10-31T17:33:06Z")
\<\< scribbling frantically \>\> …okay…okay… ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/29 "2002-10-31T22:02:06Z")
I have to agree with **Nightsong** that Tension Tamer is really nasty. I like Celestial Seasonings’ Mandarin Orange Spice, if you let it steep long enough, it gets pretty full-bodied and flavorful. Their peppermint tea is also pretty tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/30 "2002-11-01T12:49:54Z")
I like pretty much anything that doesn’t have ginseng or too much chamomile…favorites are Ginger Peach, peppermint (nobody mentioned it yet; how is that possible?) Celestial Seasonings’ Vanilla Hazelnut with a bit of milk and honey, and Twinings Lemon Ginger (with honey, or it has too much of a bite for me, but great if you’re stuffed up. Also, if there are any funky ethnic grocery stores and/or natural food stores by you, try them for new and different stuff. There’s a Turkish tea I found once (and wish I could find more, dammit!) with lemon grass, vervain, lemon peel, and chicory root. I might have to try mixing up a batch myself wit herbs from the health food store. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/31 "2002-11-01T16:16:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by i won’t fear love \* > \*\*celestial seasonings cinnamon apple spice. _gag_ > > \*\* Hmm…different strokes for different folks - I love, love, LOVE CS cinnamon apple spice - even just the fragrance is incredible! Susan ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/32 "2002-11-01T16:42:50Z")
We like Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger at our place. A hot cup at a time. It doesn’t make a very good Iced Tea in my opinion, but my wife likes it and we make a gallon or so when we have people over. Here’s the secret. Honey. The Rose Hip flavor is kind of bitter and regular sugar/sweet’n’low doesn’t take that edge off. Some nice natural honey or raw cane sugar does it much better. We usually make a gallon at a time(expensive because it takes nearly a full box, all but four bags) by brewing the teabags with a good amount of honey(half a cup or so) in about a quart and a half of water. This super concentrated tea is poured into about half a gallon of cool water with about a quarter to half a cup of raw sugar dissolved in it. Add ice until the pitcher is full and wait until it’s chilled, then serve. My wife and kids love it as a more robust kool-aid. I prefer it a cup at a time, served hot with honey. Don’t let lemon anywhere near it though! :eek: Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/33 "2002-11-02T05:44:42Z")
You can get flavoured roiboos. At least, it’s possible to find through specialty shops. I’ve had earl grey, cinnamon, and chocolate truffle roiboos. Raspberry leaves make a nice tea. So does fresh catnip. There’s an awesome specialty tea shop here in Toronto that sells roughly a zillion varieties of loose tea- mostly real tea, but also roiboos and herbal. The owner can tell you scary things like the differences between a certain plantation’s early and late-season assam. And she remembers your tea preferences. It’s cool. I happen to like Lapsang Suchong, as long as it’s weak, or mixed with a milder black tea. ---
**Author:** ![merbelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@merbelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merbelle)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/34 "2002-11-02T14:54:17Z")
i grow my own tea herbs, and like to mix any mint with lemon balm. you just throw a hunk or two into some just boiled water and let it steep for 10 minutes. lemon verbena is amazing, but more difficult to grow. it’s so lemony it will astound you. and if you decide to grow some mint, just make sure it’s off by itself. mints are the loose girls of the garden and will try to mate with everything. also, as others pointed out, mint is not as good sweetened. but adding any citrus makes a nice, refreshing blend. if you are trying one of the medicinal blends, such as those offered by Alvida, and don’t like the flavor, you can probably add either a cooling herb such as mint or a warming one such as cinnamon-stir a stick around in it for a few minutes, or just try a little vanilla or almond extract. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/35 "2002-11-02T15:52:51Z")
I’m also going to put in a vote for Good Earth Original (decaf, of course). There is a herb shop in Minneapolis that will blend teas for you - for medicinal purposes or because you want something specific (btw, they can look in the books and find something for your “female problems” - its herbal medicine, so buyer beware, no fda, do your own research). If you are close to a city large enough to have a herb shop (and someone probably does this over the internet), this is a good option. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/36 "2002-11-03T01:11:16Z")
I love lemon by Bigelow is my favorite herb tea. Nice and tart with a hint of mint. Brew it for a long time. It is especially nice when you have a sore throat. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446/37 "2002-11-03T05:11:50Z")
I actually MAKE herbal teas. Yeah, I know, I have pretty much no life. But, if you want to know what things taste pretty good… Well, personally, I always throw in a bit of chamomile, because I like the taste, and it makes me relax. Though sometimes I don’t. I really, really like rosebud and rosehip teas. My best ever was rosebud tea with cinnamon and just a _dash_ of nutmeg (it brings out the cinnamon flavor). Allspice, in my experience, is absolutely dreadful once it’s been steeped–I very much do NOT recommend using it _at all_. Ground clove and ground ginger are good, but as they’re quite strong-tasting–especially the clove–you only want to use maybe half a pinch to a pinch (rely upon your tastebuds). With these, though–especially those that use rosebuds–you should use a bit of sugar, or it’s not going to taste all that great. Now, if you’re talking about _pre-made_ herbal teas, pretty much the only one I’ve ever really loved is the Wild Berry Zinger. Which you already mentioned. So…yeah. Happy brewing! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-flavors-of-herb-tea/134446.md?page=1)