Posted by Janet Harriett on Jul.09, 2010

©iStockphoto.com - William Mahar

Summer is iced tea season. Think beyond green and black tea to herbal iced teas for a change of pace with many potential caffeine-free variations. Aside from tasting great, many herbal teas have health benefits. To make herbal iced tea, pour 1 cup nearly-boiling water over 3-4 tablespoons of fresh herb (about 1 tablespoon dried herb) and let steep 10 minutes before pouring over ice to serve. Vary the amount of herb to achieve the desired strength.

Infuse these individually or combine herbs that smell nice together for an interesting flavor. Sweeten to taste with honey, cane juice, agave or your sweetener of choice. A shot of fruit juice lends sweetness and another layer of flavor. Some juice and herb combinations to try include apple with chamomile and orange with lemon balm.

Even without caffeine, many of these herbs are mild to moderate natural diuretics. In hot weather, be sure to balance out consumption of herbal iced tea with plain water to avoid dehydration. Consult a health care practitioner about herbal teas if you’re pregnant, since some herbs may have adverse consequences for a pregnancy.

Flowers for Herbal Tea

• Hibiscus - Flowers produce a red tea with a tart and tangy flavor
• Monarda (bee balm) - Pull all the green parts of the flowers of the pale purple variety (monarda fistulosa) for a more minty flavor than tea made from the equally-edible scarlet bee balm
• Lavender - Some varieties have more camphor flavor than others.
• Dandelion - Steeped dandelion flowers are more frequently used for wine, but make an interesting herbal tea, too. The leaves can also be used for a tea with stronger diuretic properties.
• Chamomile - High-quality chamomile flowers make a calming tea with a subtle apple taste

Leaves for Herbal Tea

• Lemon balm - The lemony flavor is great on its own or combined whenever you would use a squeeze of lemon in your tea
• Mint - Mints induce a cooling sensation, and it comes in a nearly endless array of flavors beyond peppermint and spearmint, including apple, pineapple, orange and even chocolate.
• Catnip - It may send cats frantic, but the tea has a calming effect on humans and a mild celerylike flavor.
• Borage - Cooling and tastes mildly of cucumber.
• Oregano, Parsley and Thyme - Teas made from these carry the flavors you find from cooking with them.

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Posted under Drinks, Other Beverages.