NOTE: This article is a guide to making herbal tea infusions. It includes steeping, long, and short infusions for health purposes. If you’re a beginner to making herbal teas, this is right up your alley!

I remember looking at some gorgeous loose leaf teas in an herb shop many years ago, and wondering, "What on earth do you do with this? How do you use these flowers and leaves?" Maybe you've had the same feeling: Wanting so badly to make your own loose leaf teas, but not quite sure where to start?

As an herbalist, one of the questions I hear the most is, "How do you use these herbs? How do you make the tea?"

Because the BEST herbal tea blends are generally in loose leaf form, people who haven't made tea before often just don't know the basics about how to make herbal loose leaf tea and how to use those lovely herbs.

If you’re ready to take the plunge into making your own herbal teas for health, here are the simple steps to making a healthy, rejuvenating tea!

Interested in knowing which kinds of liquids make for the best herbal extraction? Water is great, but sometimes vinegar or alcohol is best.

One of the most commonly asked questions I get as an herbalist is, "How do you use loose leaf herb tea? How do you make the tea?" If you are new to preparing loose leaf teas, you might feel leery of giving it a try, but it is really very simple and … — One of the most commonly asked questions I get as an herbalist is, "How do you use loose leaf herb tea? How do you make the tea?" If you are new to preparing loose leaf teas, you might feel leery of giving it a try, but it is really very simple and easy! Here are our two favorite ways of infusing herbal tea blends---using a cup or a Mason jar! Learn how to make an herbal tea infusion for health!

FTC Disclosure: There are affiliate links scattered throughout this article. If you click through and make any kind of purchase, I may earn a very small commission at no extra cost to you!

How to Make a Loose Leaf Herbal Tea Infusion for Health

Important: One of the things people need to know about infusing herbs is the leaves need room to expand to get the most benefits.

Method 1: For a Cup:

You'll need a large (2 inch) tea ball, or better yet, a cup especially made for infusing tea.

1) Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of the loose leaf tea blend for one cup of tea. You can either use a large tea ball (2 inch diameter so the leaves can expand) OR my favorite is to use a tea infusion cup with a removable strainer.

NOTE: Since tea has become quite a trend in the past few years, there are now some very beautiful tea infusion cup options available! Explore! I've listed some below for you, too. These make lovely gifts when given with some special herbal tea.

2) Pour just boiled water over the herbs and let steep for 15 to 30 minutes. Generally, herbal teas take a little longer to steep than black or green tea. The longer steep time allows you to obtain the most benefits from the leaves/flowers. You can let it go even longer for an even stronger tea. Just do some taste testing and find out what times work best for your tastes!

3) Sweeten (or not) to taste. Personally, I like mine unsweetened, but a bit of honey can help soothe a sore throat! Enjoy!

Creating & Preparing Herbal Teas provides you with in-depth information on creating your very own tea blends for pleasure and health.

Here are some single serving options. Here are two different tea infusion cups, both glass. They each have a removable strainer, and the lids double to keep the steam in, and when ready, to hold the strainer so as not to make a mess. I have also inc… — Here are some single serving options. Here are two different tea infusion cups, both glass. They each have a removable strainer, and the lids double to keep the steam in, and when ready, to hold the strainer so as not to make a mess. I have also included 2 of my 2 inch tea balls. LOL One of them is pretty stained from all the tea I've made in it! I'm no longer a fan of tea balls, since I started using the tea infusion cups. Here is a warm, spicy cup of Rosy Chocolate Chai!

I make a lot of the Detox Tea blend, so I store it in a half-gallon Mason Jar. Here is the amount I pour into a quart size Mason Jar to infuse. This is actually more than you need, but we like it really strong. About an inch is good.

Method 2: For a Quart Amount to Drink & Enjoy All Day:

Here is my favorite way to enjoy herbal tea for health. I make a large amount of tea in a Mason jar right before going to bed and allow it to steep overnight. Then I strain out the herbs in the morning and have a quart Mason jar of strong infused tea full of health benefits to drink throughout the day. This is called a “strong infusion” and is often used for medicinal purposes by herbalists.

I'm not so concerned about its temperature when I make it this way---I like tea either hot, lukewarm, or cold. Steeping overnight makes for a VERY strong tea, so play around with this. The whole goal of making a tea infusion is to drink as a tonic for your health. Because of the long steeping time, you’ll get the benefits of extra minerals and other constituents in the plant at a greater level than with a short-steeped tea.

1) Put about an inch (and even a bit more) of the herbal tea in the bottom of a quart size Mason Jar.

2) Pour just boiled water over the top to within about an inch and a half from the top of the jar.

3) Put a lid on loosely (Steeping with a lid keeps the volatile oils and beneficial plant constituents inside your tea instead of allowing them to escape with the steam.)

4) Allow to steep for at least 30 minutes....or like we do, just leave for several hours. It will cool down, of course, so if you don't mind cooled and very strong tea, this is a good way to go.

5) Strain out the herbs.

6) Sweeten (or not) and enjoy throughout your day!

The nice thing about this method is you know you are getting enough of your tonic tea if you are trying to drink a certain amount in a day. Herbs are full of nutrients and minerals to support your body!

Method 3: The Daily Quart

This is basically just like Method 2, except that you are getting it going in the morning in your Mason jar and letting it steep for anywhere from a few minutes (for a lighter tasting tea) to up to all day long. The fun thing is your taste buds get to decide!

In fact, Mr. V., my husband, just puts his herbs in the jar and doesn’t bother to strain them out. He will even munch on them as he drinks.

Where Do I Buy My Loose Leaf Herbal Tea?

I blend my own teas with herbs I either grow, wildcraft, or purchase. I buy my bulk herbs at Starwest Botanicals. The GREAT thing about Starwest is they also have a huge selection of already blended herbal teas to suit every purpose!

Final Thoughts on Infusing Herbal Loose Leaf Tea

Once you start drinking herbal loose leaf teas, you'll never want to return to those stale old tea bags from the grocery store, I guarantee it. Using freshly dried herbs makes such a HUGE difference in the quality of your tea, not to mention the improved health benefits! Those gorgeous, colorful leaves and flowers in that loose leaf tea blend? Now you know how easy it is to make your own tea, whether you want just a cup or a medicinal infusion!

If you're interested in creating some great herbal tea for your family, here are a couple of articles you may be interested in:

Manly Man Tea (Support for the Male Body),

Sensuous Skin, Healthy Hair Tea, and

Sore Throat Soothing Tea.

There are a LOT more herbal tea recipes and information about becoming an herbalist on the website! I hope you’ll go explore! :-)

If you still have questions about making a tea infusion for health, please ask away in the comments section.

By the way, if you’d like to take a course on The Art of Herbal Tea, I have one. It’s a complete look at blending, infusing, and even formulating herbal teas for pleasure and health. Plus, you get my Tea Making eBook as a free bonus! You can find out more here.

Hugs, Health, & Self-Reliance,

Heidi

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Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional, and the statements made in this post and elsewhere in this website are for informational purposes only. They are based on my years of experience and study and are in no way meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health issue. This disclaimer must be made according to FDA guidelines, and these statements have not been evaluated by them. Please be sure to seek advice from your doctor before using herbs or essential oils.

Do you wonder how to make loose leaf tea? It’s not hard at all, and makes the BEST tea ever. Lose that store-bought stale box tea from the grocery store and use loose leaf herbal teas instead! You’ll never go back. Find out how long to steep tea, ho… — Do you wonder how to make loose leaf tea? It’s not hard at all, and makes the BEST tea ever. Lose that store-bought stale box tea from the grocery store and use loose leaf herbal teas instead! You’ll never go back. Find out how long to steep tea, how to infuse large amounts, and more! #looseleaftea #howtomake #infusers #howtobrew #forbeginners #steeping #recipe

How to Make an Herbal Tea Infusion with Loose Leaf Tea: Loose Leaf Herbal Tea for the Beginner