“New generation” herbal teas
Before, we were almost ashamed to ask for a herbal tea at the end of the meal, or in a cafe. From now on, there is nothing dull or old-fashioned about infusions. Mixtures of plants, flowers, spices or pieces of fruit with evocative names, these “new generation” infusions are no longer confined to cups and mugs. They splash around in court bouillons where fish will cook, infuse in custard or pastry creams, make fruit salads sparkle… by distilling their active ingredients. If the sachets are very practical to use, there are both the best and the worst. The only way to know what quality you are dealing with: sacrifice a bag and observe the size of the leaves, after infusion. A powdery mixture indicates poor quality, generous chunks, selected plants.
Infusions: and what to think of organic?
Grown without herbicides or pesticides, the plants give the best of themselves. Conversely, the origin of the plants of “conventional” (non-organic) herbal teas remains unclear. The organic label will also allow you to pass through synthetic aromas: some “fruit” infusions contain up to 20% aromas! Organic herbal teas are flavored with essential oils or natural aromas.
Herbal teas: how to use them for dessert
- By infusing them in light syrups to coat fruit salads (mint, verbena, lemon balm, etc.).
- Or in cream for pannas cottas or milk for custards, desserts or ice creams (lemon balm, lime blossom, infusions with red fruits, spices, etc.)
- As spices …
- By crushing them between your fingers and sprinkling them like Provence herbs in fish or chicken papillotes (fennel, mint, etc.)
- To raise a dish
- By infusing them in a fish court-bouillon (fennel, green anise or star anise).
- Or in water used to swell the tabbouleh semolina (mint, thyme, etc.).
- Or coconut milk to cover the scallops (lemongrass, verbena).
- Or in milk which will be mixed with pumpkin or carrots for a velvety (spice infusions).
Herbal teas: delicious, 100% pleasure
- Girly
- Rose, lemon, verbena, lemon leaf, orange peel, lady’s mantle, aloe vera, passion flower… For a tea time that will be out of the ordinary!
- Flower Power, Inch’Ka by Bahadourian, € 6.50 per 65 g sachet. www.bahadourian.com
- Freshness
- A bulk herbal tea made from mint and cocoa bean bark, from organic farming.
- If you fall for the famous squares of chocolate filled with mint, this infusion is for you and will delight your taste buds!
- Mint and cocoa, Comptoir des thés Richard, € 5 for 100 g. www.comptoirsrichard.fr
- Regressive
- A recipe composed by Julie Andrieu (TV presenter of cooking shows), mixing vanilla, pepper, cinnamon, star anise, mint and strawberry.
- To be enjoyed with dessert, or to infuse in hot milk.
- Vanilla Strawberry, Julie Infuse, € 4.90 for a box of 6 sachets. Delicatessens, merchant websites.
- Love apple
- A blend made from rooibos, a plant of African origin, without caffeine and rich in trace elements, with the flavor of apple, orange and caramel (natural flavors).
- Løv is zen, Løv Organic, € 9.20 per 100 g tin. www.lov-organic.com
Spicy herbal teas: for discerning palates
- Antioxidant
- Saffron is available in infusions to be enjoyed hot or cold.
- With mint, fruit and honey, spices, green tea and ginger, each infusion takes its taster on different paths.
- A real favorite !
- Krocus Kozanis infusions, € 5.80 per box of 10 sachets. Delicatessens, pharmacies, Comptoirs Richard stores and www.safran-biologique.com or (00 33) 4 70 35 01 73.
- Elixir of love
- An organic blend of pineapple, savory, cloves, parsley, liquorice, sunflower petals… Spicy to perfection!
- Love potion, Hildegarde de Bingen, € 5.95 per box of 70 g. www.florisens.com
- Digestive
- Woody notes for this robust and invigorating infusion that combines oregano, dried porcini mushrooms, pepper, coriander and sweet orange. To be enjoyed during a meal: astonishing!
- Herbal tea from the woods, Le Carré des Simples, € 8.80 per 70 g sachet. Le Carré des Simples stores and www.lecarredessimples.com
- Ayurvedic
- An infusion of two plants used in Ayurveda: tulsi (holy basil, active against the effects of stress and aging, which increases resistance and vitality) and brahmi, used for its effects on memory. Unpublished.
- Tulsi Brahmi, € 4.90 for a box of 25 teabags. Organic stores and www.lemondeestbio.com
Flowery herbal teas: very gentle
- Peach complexion
- Made with lemon balm, orange leaves, lemongrass, licorice, dandelion, chicory and rose petals, this herbal tea detoxifies and soothes.
- Bouquet “Softness of the skin”, The two marmots, € 4.05 per box of 30 sachets. Large surfaces and www.les2marmottes.fr
- Big Blue
- A blend of mallow, blueberry, lavender, raked licorice and rooibos, produced by the Herboristerie du Père Blaize in Marseille.
- Pointe de Merveille, Herbes de Vif by Gérald Passédat, € 15.90 per 100 g sachet. www.petitnice-pa.com
- Good night
- Rooibos, lemon balm, lemongrass, jasmine and red fruits: a sweet cocktail of organic plants with relaxing properties, to be enjoyed after dinner.
- Little relaxation, Quai Sud, € 6.95 per 55 g sachet. Delicatessens and www.histoiredegout.com
