Herbal tea: pure, aromatic and surprisingly versatile

Herbal tea offers endless possibilities. A herbal infusion can be fresh and invigorating, soft and floral, fruity or, on the contrary, spicy and warming. Unlike green, black and white tea, herbal tea is not made from the tea plant. Instead, it is an infusion of ingredients such as leaves, flowers, roots, fruits and spices. That is why herbal tea is technically also known as a herbal infusion.

At De Zeeuwse Sommelier, you will find both pure herbs and carefully blended herbal teas. Pure chamomile, for example, has a soft, floral taste, while peppermint is fresh and bold. Ginger adds a spicy, warming flavour, while hibiscus makes for a strikingly fresh, slightly tart infusion. There are also blends that bring together a variety of herbs, flowers and fruits. Our collection currently includes 17 different herbs and herbal blends.

Pure herbs or a herbal blend?

One of the great things about loose-leaf herbal tea is that you can choose between a pure flavour and a combination of different ingredients.

Pure herbs let one ingredient shine through. Think chamomile, peppermint or hibiscus. These are great choices when you know exactly which flavour you enjoy.

Herbal blends combine several ingredients to create a more complex flavour profile. Our Ginger Blend, for example, includes ginger, lemongrass, lemon verbena and lime blossom. The result is a spicy, fresh infusion with several layers of flavour.

There is also room for unexpected combinations. Welcome to the Herb Garden, for example, is a fruity herbal blend containing blackberry leaf, blackcurrant leaf, mint, sage, lemon balm and rosehip, among other ingredients. This blend is naturally caffeine-free, too.

Herbal tea without caffeine

One major advantage of pure herbal infusions is that they are naturally caffeine-free. This makes them a great choice for anyone looking to drink less caffeine or enjoy a hot drink in the evening.
Alongside herbal tea, there are other caffeine-free tea-like drinks made with rooibos or fruit.

Do bear in mind the difference with green or black tea, whether flavoured or not: these are made with tea leaves from the tea plant and therefore naturally contain caffeine. Herbal tea and herbal infusions are a separate category in our range.

How do you brew herbal tea?

Herbal tea is generally easy to prepare. Use plenty of boiling water at around 95-100°C and give the herbs enough time to release their flavour and aroma. A steeping time of 5 to 10 minutes is a good starting point for many herbal blends. The exact recommendation may vary from blend to blend.

With loose herbs, you can also experiment with the amount and steeping time. A slightly longer steep usually makes for a stronger infusion.

Explore our range of loose-leaf herbal tea and herbal infusions and discover the difference between pure herbs and carefully crafted blends. From fresh and floral to spicy and warming, there is an infusion for every occasion.

Herbal tea can also add flavour to tarts, cakes and pastries. Why not try our Toffee Pear Cake?