Brewing tea has been popular for thousands of years and there’s good reason for that! Teas are comforting, soothing and, depending on the plants used, tea can have incredible health benefits.
Boosting immunity, calming the nervous system, and even improving mood are just some of the many benefits of drinking teas like lemongrass, chamomile, and more. Here’s a full list of all the teas on this blog.
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Caribbean favorites
Bay leaf tea
Bay leaf tea is an exotic brew made with West Indian bay leaves. The tea tastes remarkably similar to cinnamon and cloves and is made by brewing the leaves for about 20 minutes, then steeping, sweetening and serving. Check out the recipe here.
Soursop leaf tea
Soursop tea is another exotic brew but this one is made from the leaves of the soursop or graviola tree (Annona muricata). The tea has a herbaceous taste and can be made by boiling the leaves for 30 minutes before leaving it to steep. The tea is hyped for its potential benefits against cancer but not many studies have been done to determine if it actually is effective. Find the recipe and more of its benefits here. And get the leaves from Amazon here.
Related: Soursop juice recipe | 8 recipes using the soursop fruit
Lemongrass tea
Lemongrass, or fevergrass as we know it, is an incredibly beneficial plant that can add great flavor to meats, soups and more. Lemongrass tea has a strong, citrus flavor and can be made by brewing fresh or dried lemongrass leaves and stalks for about 10 minutes before steeping. Lemongrass is antimicrobial so it is expected that the tea is immune boosting. Find the recipe and benefits here.
Get lemongrass on Amazon: Incas lemongrass tea | Teatulia lemongrass and bay leaf tea
Lemongrass ginger tea
Both lemongrass and ginger have great antimicrobial benefits, so it makes sense to brew them together. Fresh lemongrass leaves and freshly grated ginger can be boiled for 10 minutes before steeping and serving. The tea itself has an earthy, citrusy, spicy taste that is strong and warming. Check out my lemongrass ginger tea recipe here.
Mauby
Although not considered a tea per se, mauby is an exotic Caribbean drink made by brewing soldierwood or greenheart tree bark for 20 minutes with lots of spices. The brew is left to steep for several hours and has a licorice-like, bitter taste. You will need a lot of sugar to sweeten the drink. Find my mauby recipe here.
Teas made from rhizomes
Ginger tea
Ginger tea is a spicy, warming, soothing drink that can be made by brewing freshly grated ginger rhizome for 15 minutes or so. Dried ginger and ginger powder can also be used to make this tea. Ginger is antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory and helps with nausea and morning sickness. Here’s my ginger tea recipe with fresh ginger.
Get ginger teabags on Amazon: Organic ginger tea bags | Yogi ginger tea
Ginger garlic tea
Like ginger, garlic has immunity boosting benefits, so ginger garlic tea is a great one to make when you are feeling under the weather. The tea can be made by brewing freshly grated ginger and garlic for about 15 minutes before leaving to steep. As to be expected, the tea has a strong, earthy ginger taste with a spicy, garlicy aftertaste. See my recipe here.
