Infusions and herbal teas, your allies against the cold

After a long and hot summer, the first frosts arrive and temperatures are beginning to reach those we are accustomed to in the middle of winter.The costs of heating don't help, but if you feel like pampering yourself with some home relaxation, it's time to bring out your heavy pajamas, wool sweaters, and a soft blanket and enjoy your domestic spaces!

Herbal teas and hot infusions can be great allies against the cold, as they help you warm up, relax, and also counteract with their beneficial properties some annoying seasonal ailments. Based on plants and flowers, whose beneficial effects on the body have been known and cataloged for centuries, herbal teas are a real panacea in winter.

Our advice is to equip yourself with a nice selection of infusion blends - also great as a Christmas gift - and aI practical electric kettle to prepare them in the simplest way possible. Here are some useful tips to guide you in the world of herbal teas and infusions.

Difference between herbal teas and infusions

An infusion is a beverage made from flowers, fruits, or leaves of a plant that are steeped in hot water for a period of time ranging from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the characteristics of the plant component. The infusion container is covered to avoid dispersing the aroma or active principle of the plant with steam. After the infusion, the liquid is then filtered to make it clear and ready to be sipped. Although the plants used may have beneficial properties or appreciable effects on the body (such as calming or keeping awake), the infusion is generally prepared for its pleasant tasteand not for therapeutic purposes. Unlike the decoction, used for roots or more resistant parts of the plant, in the infusion the water is heated first and only then poured onto the preparation, so as not to alter its properties. Infusions also include tea, whose various varieties come from the leaves of Camellia Sinensisand Camellia Assamica, chamomile, hibiscus and roiboos.

Herbal tea can also be prepared by infusion, but what distinguishes this beverage is the composition of the mixture a combination of different medicinal plants. The herbal tea can indeed contain up to six different types of leaves, fruits, herbs, spices, or flowers that are chosen for their beneficial or therapeutic properties. Today, herbal teas have become very popular and are consumed also for their pleasant taste, since the possible combinations are numerous and allow for a lot of creativity. The origin of herbal teas remains therapeutic, to the point that the standard composition of this type of preparation includes the presence of a cardinal remedy, i.e. , one that provides the active ingredients to be exploited, and adjuvants, i.e. the component that promotes their absorption. There are also other components that complement and enhance the characteristics of the drink, potentially adjusting its taste.

The benefits of herbal teas

Talking about the therapeutic aspect of herbal teas, we can distinguish the type of preparation based on the benefits it brings to the body. It can be about preventing specific disorders or symptoms or in some cases also alleviating them. The advice of an herbalist or a medical opinion are always recommended when relying on herbal teas for health purposes, but if you want a quick guide to herbal teas here is some essential information on the main basic remedies and their effects.

If what you desire is to find balance between body and mind, a relaxing herbal tea is a great natural ally. In some cases, it can even help you with insomnia thanks to the benefits of the following cardinal remedy:

• Verbena - Relaxing properties that promote relaxation
• Melissa - Relaxing properties against gastrointestinal disorders, tachycardia, and headaches
• Lavender - Antioxidant and antidepressant properties against anxiety, migraines, and palpitations
• Valerian - Relaxing and calming properties
• Linden - Sedative properties against anxiety
• Chamomile - Spasmolytic, sedative, anti-inflammatory and anti-neuralgic properties
• Hawthorn - Cardioprotective properties against anxiety and tachycardia
• California poppy - Muscle relaxing properties

Are you trying to lose weight? Nutrition and physical exercise are essential, but also the habit of drinking a slimming herbal tea every day can help. Choose one based on:

• Mint - Helps with digestion and reduces the feeling of hunger
• Ginger and lemon - Speeds up metabolism, reduces bloating, and helps control nausea
• Erba mate - It has slimming, diuretic, and thermogenic properties that activate metabolism
• Hibiscus - It is a natural fat burner
• Green coffee - It has lipolytic properties and accelerates metabolism
• Green and white tea - They function as antioxidants and fat burners

If your problem is instead fluid retention, which can cause annoying bloating and skin imperfections, the ideal solution is a draining herbal tea based on:

• Birch - Draining, diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties thanks to flavonoids, tannins and vitamin C
• Horsetail - Draining and remineralizing properties thanks to magnesium, potassium, calcium, and silica
• Gramigna - Diuretic and antiseptic properties thanks to essential oils, mucilages, and polyphenols

Against disorders such as heaviness, abdominal bloating, and heartburn, the benefits of purifying and digestive herbal teas can be exploited, often based on:

• Artichoke - Stimulates diuresis and helps to deflate the intestines
• Cherry - Promotes the elimination of uric acids
• Dandelion - Stimulates the production of bile secretions
• Fennel - Helps control aerophagia, slow digestion, and flatulence
• Nettle - It has antidiarrheal and digestive properties
• Chicory - Excellent detoxifying and purifying remedy
• Turmeric - It has anti-inflammatory properties and contributes to the detoxification of the liver/li>
• Cinnamon - Helps with stomach aches, digestive disorders, and abdominal pain

Cold, flu, cough, and sore throat are the most common seasonal illnesses we face in winter. It is the doctor who tells you if the use of medications is appropriate, but a good herbal tea is always a help against flu symptoms or to prevent them by promoting the well-being of the body, thanks to the benefits of these plants:

• Eucalyptus - properties of fluidifying, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and expectorant
• Sage - Decongestant properties against pharyngitis, laryngitis, and gingivitis
• Anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant and anti-inflammatory properties/li>
• Melissa - Anti-inflammatory, calming and antibacterial properties
• Dog rose - Strengthens the immune system thanks to vitamin C and flavonoids
• Mallow - Soothing, calming and anti-inflammatory properties
• Calendula - Properties with anti-inflammatory, antifungal, immunostimulant, and antibacterial effects

Preparing infusions and herbal teas is easier with a teapot kettle

Each herbal tea and infusion has a specific preparation, with different infusion times and portions. This is especially true when we talk about loose preparations, not portioned in the classic single-dose sachets found on the market (in which case the preparation is very simple because all you have to do is heat the water).

The doses of loose prepared can vary from 10 to 35 gramsdepending on the type of ingredients and the desired intensity for the flavor of the drink. n herbal medicine or on the packaging of the herbal tea, the preparation methods are indicated, which we always recommend following for optimal results.

The main difficulty in the case of loose preparations is the need to use a filter to separate the liquid from the herbal mixture after infusion. You can do it with a small infuser, but the simplest and quickest way is to use an electric kettle with a filter for herbal teas and infusions like the one Girmi BL4105 Tea Kettle. Not only is it fast in boiling water (faster than the microwave), but you can directly prepare your drink in it and bring it to the table in the elegant glass cordless carafe. Plus, it is safe because it comes with an auto-shutoff system after the water has boiled.Ideal also for the office, it is so practical that you can use it whenever you want. In this way, it will be easier to develop the healthy habit of sipping your herbal.