PEPPERMINT TEA: INTRO
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Peppermint, the base of Peppermint Tea, is a branch of the mint family tree. In fact, the peppermint plant is a hybrid of two species namely the water mint and the spearmint. Peppermint is also widely known for its fresh cooling taste, but you already knew that! Do you know WHY Peppermint Tea is as refreshing as it is? Read on to find out!!
Peppermint Tea: Overview
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The peppermint plant first showed up in Europe and the Middle East. Now, it can be found across the world due, in part, to its hardy nature. Peppermint is now used for various purposes – including the production of soaps and other cosmetics.
However, the greatest derivative of this plant is its Peppermint Tea. Known for its cool invigorating taste, everyone wants to have a bit of it.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the interesting facts about Peppermint Tea. I’ll also walk you through a simple recipe on how to make a delicious cup of Peppermint Tea for yourself!
Certain features also make it easier to identify the right kind of Peppermint Tea – do you know what to look for? I’ll mention some of them in this article and suggest some top notch Peppermint Tea brands in case you want to skip the research and go straight to the brewing and drinking!
Peppermint Tea: Just the Basics
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The peppermint plant, and thus Peppermint Tea is known for its many fascinating abilities. Did you know that peppermint tea is widely cited for its ability to relieve constipation? That’s not all!! It is also believed to aid weight loss, improve satiety, and reduce heartburn!!! It is also relatively free from side effects (learn about the side effects of hibiscus tea, here)!
The best Peppermint Tea is usually grown in organic farms. Organic farms are usually monitored and regulated to ensure that plants are grown without additives. The result? The peppermint plant offers more value and retains its nutritious value. This was Mother Nature’s intention all along!
The peppermint plant is often called “menthe x piperita“. It is widely known for its concentration of menthol and menthone.
While the list of interesting factoids about the peppermint plant and peppermint tea can go on and on, you’re likely interested in learning how to try some of this for yourself! Let’s take a look at a simple recipe of for Peppermint Tea.
Peppermint Tea: A Simple Recipe
Did you know that peppermint tea has more than one recipe? There are so many types of recipes you can try out. The great part about these recipes is that they are all fundamentally the same – each with a small twist making it unique from the rest.
Today, we will be looking at the traditional iced Peppermint Tea. To understand this recipe easily, I’ve broken it down into two sections- the ingredients you will need and the instructions. Don’t worry – you won’t find a complicated list of ingredients or difficult to follow instructions here or in any other HTH post!
So let’s start.
Simple List of Ingredients
- Boiling water (2 cups)
- Leaves (1 cup) or teabags (1 tea bag) (the more leaves or bags, the stronger the taste)
- Sugar (1 teaspoon)
- Coldwater (2 cups)
- Sweeteners (Optional) (I like to use honey)
Easy to Follow Instructions
Step One. Bring your water to a boil. If you are using tea bags, place the tea bags into the teapot. If you are using leaves, this will be a nice time to cut your leaves. This helps to release the aroma hidden within. You can also bring the leaves with a pestle and bowl if you’d rather not cut them.
Step Two. Once the water is boiled, pour it over the tea bags or leaves. Don’t worry about the hot water ruining everything. The peppermint leaves or tea bags can take really high temperatures without a scratch. In fact, the need the high heat to unlock the pepperminty goodness within!
Step Three. Allow your tea to steep. We recommend 5-10 minutes for steeping. Remember that the longer it steeps, the stronger the flavor of your tea. However, you probably won’t get much “extra” taste by steeping in excess of 10 minutes, so don’t go overboard.
Step Four. Once that’s done, remove the leaves or tea bags. If you are using leaves, then using a strainer will be the best option. Straining all leaves from the liquid is an important step in terms of drinkability.
Step Five. Add two cups of cold water. The other option is to place the tea in the refrigerator before adding the cold water. This is also the best time to add sweeteners. Again, honey is our favorite sweetener, but you can use just about anything – however, we’d suggest that you keep it natural – no artificials!
Step Six. Serve the tea with ice. You can add a lemon slice to it – oranges are also tasty and fun!. Your tea is ready to be served.
Side note: Another run and easy to follow recipe is this Anise Seed Tea Recipe!
Peppermint Tea: Important Features to Find
As I said earlier, there are so many differing recipes for Peppermint Tea. The chocolate Peppermint Tea is one that I find really appealing, though its taste can be a little too unique for some people! However, learning recipes are no fun when you don’t get the right Peppermint Tea with which to work! The next section will consider some of the features worth looking out for when making a purchase – you’ll be an educated consumer in no time!
Environmental Practice
The pattern used in growing Peppermint Tea matters. First, it affects the environment positively. It also promotes organic farming. This has an important and beneficial effect on the final product of peppermint yielded. It also increases the nutritional value of the plant! Nothing like a guilt free beverage – step aside alcohol!
So how do you know when a product adheres to good environmental practices? Peppermint Tea that is certified by USDA organic usually meets these qualifications!
Manufacturer Reputation
While I am a fan of giving new businesses a chance, you cannot deny the reliability of old businesses. That’s why I recommend that you take in the reputation of the producer before making a purchase. What are some things to look for?
You should look at the number of years they have been active in the herbal industry. You should also consider just how well their product has also fared. This can help you make an informed decision. We like to also check if they specialize in products other than herbal tea – if they do, what are those products and what kind of quality are they?
Quantity
There’s no point buying an expensive Peppermint Tea if you get only a few teabags. The quantity of tea bags or leaves also matters. By getting the right quantity, you get real value for your money.
Remember, you shouldn’t have to break the bank to buy a high quality Peppermint Tea in a good quantity supply! There are other little things you should also keep in mind. The price and expiry dates are all important factors to be considered!! Unlike some herbal teas, you shouldn’t have trouble locating Peppermint Tea (learn where to buy Dandelion Tea), but if you do, let us know and we can help!
Peppermint Tea: Buying the Best
In addition to helping you spot the most important features of a Peppermint Tea – and thereby being able to quickly separate the “best” from the rest of the pack – I’ve also made available my top three picks from personal experience:
With a cool refreshing taste, this peppermint tea makes an instant impression. It comes free from preservatives (meaning that its Mother Nature approved) and stays true to the values of its manufacturers.
This tea comes in 20 sets of 6 packs bringing its total number to 120. This is a pretty good quantity – depending, of course, on your consumption habits and how many teabags you typically use per cup.
I love the fact that this particular Peppermint Tea comes free of any additives – just the way Mother Nature intended. The manufacturer also practices good environmental growing practices, making this Earth-friendly and guilt free. Having been around 1969, the manufacturer has a solid track record for creating really good products!!
Throw in the great quantity of tea bags, and you have a Peppermint Tea dream come true!!
My Experience
My experience with this particular Peppermint Tea starts with its taste. It comes in a minty cool taste. It’s deeply satisfying when you take it in the mornings. Its almost like you’ve just brushed your teeth with a peppermint flavored tooth paste, but without the “chemically” residue or taste!
I noticed that it seemed to relieved me of constipation issues. Now, was this the Peppermint Tea? Or was this due to the additional intake of liquid? A combination? I don’t know, but I did feel quite a bit better! It also puts you in the right frame of mind and leaves you feeling energetic – probably just the “upbeat” nature of the pepperminty taste!
While I can’t say everything I like about this particular brand, I have created a list of pros and cons to help you make a decision – I like reading pro and con lists of others, hopefully you feel the same:
Pros
- Manufacturer’s great track record (proven success and quality)
- USDA organic certified
- It comes with a sizable number of tea bags (not too many, not too few)
- Great Taste
- Good health and/or wellbeing benefits
- No additives (yay!)
Cons
- High demand. This makes it harder to buy.
This Peppermint Tea comes with a great savory taste that keeps you hooked. Of course, you might also be hooked on convenience – did you notice the K-cup designed style of this Peppermint Tea?!
It comes with 24 k-cups in one pack. This Peppermint Tea works seamlessly with the Keurig brewer. The 8-oz brew button is used for optimal performance, though you can brew in higher quantities if you are particularly thirsty!
I found certain things interesting about this particular offering of Peppermint Tea. They take really good care of their products, even handpicking the leaves when necessary from the farms. The quality of the leaves matters, and a handpicking process ensures that the best of the best are selected! There’s also the absence of preservatives (which is better for your nutrition and results in a more “natural” taste).
This certainly explains why the manufacturer behind this Peppermint Tea has such a good reputation. Having been around since 1706 (can you believe that), they certainly are doing something right- and you can taste it!
My Experience
I will recommend that you take this tea in the evening – that’s when I have found the most enjoyment out of it. It’s perfect to wind down after a hard day’s work. It soothes your body (really, your spirit) in the most remarkable way – some combination of the peppermint and natural taste operate to really set you at ease.
Also, like I mentioned above, I tend to have bloating and sometimes constipation issues. This Peppermint Tea has seemed to have an impact on each of these issues, though I have admittedly made a number of other dietary changes as well. At the end of the day, it’s a great Peppermint Tea and I’m not sure that its convenience can be matched!
Pros
- USDA certified
- It seems to reduce bloating (at least in my experience)
- Refreshing taste
- The reputation of the manufacturer (long standing history)
Cons
- More k-cups in one pack wouldn’t hurt (I buy 2 packs at once)
Since 1976, this manufacturer has an impressive array of herbal teas – and Peppermint Tea is no exception. This Peppermint Tea comes with equal intrigue. It comes in leaf form! This makes it easy for it to be used for a variety of things such as homemade soaps – with some of our readers even reporting that they use it as a natural deodorizer (by sprinkling it around the house in certain areas).
Of course, we like to use it to brew Peppermint Tea! This “loose” peppermint leaf product comes in a unique one-pound bulk bag. Other impressive features of this product include its Kosher certifications as well as its affordability. This is a great offering to consider if you like the creativity accorded you by working with the loose leaf style!!
My Experience
While I love using tea bags, these leaves gave me some extra options. It’s always a good thing to have peppermint leaves at home and this was no different.
Brewing tea with this product was simple and I enjoyed every bit of it. The bulk bag keeps the leaves fresh. Its almost like the tea leaves know they are together and they stay “happier” that way! I was also impressed with the taste, especially given that it comes with no additives. Here’s my list of pros and cons on this one, I hope they are helpful to you in terms of a quick review:
Pros
- Kosher certified
- No additives (better nutrition)
- Affordable
- Versatile (brew tea OR use for any number of other purposes)
Cons
- Harder to measure (use proper measuring device)
Side Note: If you are the “organic type” you can find an Organic Peppermint Tea or an Organic Mint Tea without having to look too hard!
Final Thoughts
We hope this article has proven to be helpful in terms of helping you in your goal of getting the best Peppermint Tea that money can buy. While it may seem hard at first, due to the numerous types of Peppermint Tea on the market, following the tips above and the recipes provided will help! After all, you now know how to separate the good from the bad!!!
Comments
Did you know that Peppermint Tea was as versatile as it is? Is it part of your herbal tea rotation? Have you had the opportunity to try one of he brands or recipes that we’ve highlighted above? Perhaps you’ve gotten a little creative and have tried a brew with your own special twist? Please be sure to share your thoughts, opinions and experiences with us by posting in the Comments below! We read and reply to every comment and love interacting with this herbal tea community!!