Information & preparation secrets
Put all the aroma and flavor of herbs in your glass…
The methods of preparing herbs vary depending on the type of herbs and the part of the plant we use for the preparation.
The infusion, as its name suggests, is a product produced after infusion. That is, we add the herb after the water has boiled and in this way we make the drink we want each time. Examples are mountain tea and chamomile.
We usually use the softest parts of the plant, such as the flowers and leaves.
Infusions are useful when you want to use the active ingredients of a plant rich in aromatic oils, especially if you use the leaves or petals. It is the best method to obtain the medicinal properties of the sensitive parts of the plants, their flowers and leaves. Once the water starts to boil, remove it from the heat and add the required amount of fresh or dried herbs (one part dried herb is equivalent to three parts fresh).
Leave it for a few minutes and then strain and use it. We can also pour boiling water over the herb, which we have in a teapot tightly closed so that their essential oils do not evaporate, and after a few minutes we filter it. If you need large quantities of an infusion, keep your stock in a container or bottle in the refrigerator.
Decoction, on the other hand, is a general name for herbal preparations, which are boiled with water and are usually drunk hot.
As the word says, I let it brew. Make a decoction when the herb is hard and woody. We take the herb and boil it with water (usually we boil the hard parts of the plant, such as the roots, peels, stems, seeds). This ensures that the hard parts break down, so the active ingredients enter the water in solution. If they are hard roots or peels, we must boil them for 5 to 10 minutes, to give us their beneficial properties. We boil 3 tablespoons in 2 cups of water. As soon as we remove the decoction from the heat, we strain it immediately. We must drink it in doses within 12 hours because then it deteriorates and loses its healing power.
Mountain tea preparation
To take full advantage of its beneficial properties, you should pay attention to the method of preparation. The correct way is to first boil the water and just before it boils, remove it from the heat, then pour in the mountain tea, leave it for 3-4 minutes, strain it and drink it.
You can also add honey, cinnamon, and lemon to the classic mountain tea.