Botanical Extracts for the Perfect Cuppa
As consumers learn more about the fantastic health benefits of plant-based foods and beverages, the flavor industry is bursting with all kinds of healthy and delicious products, including teas. Tea drinkers enjoy numerous benefits, including hydration, aromatherapy, and even the social benefits of enjoying a warm cup of herbal tea with a friend. There are many ways to create fresh, new flavors with tea while providing drinkers with the exceptional benefits of botanical extracts.
When many people think of botanical extracts, they may think of skincare products, pills, or tinctures that contain these concentrated substances. However, they can also be added directly to tea for a new flavor experience and a powerful health punch. The healing power of herbal extracts are well-known; the concentrated forms of many different plants are a great way to experience these benefits as efficiently as possible. Liquid extracts are highly digestible and provide a wealth of flavor and health advantages in tiny doses.
The first thing to understand is that herbal teas and bottled botanical extracts are indeed very similar things. They are both created by infusing certain parts of the plant with alcohol, glycerin, or water. The main difference is that extracts, such as Advanced Biotech’s Extracts, are much more concentrated and potent and have a much longer shelf life. When you use botanical extracts, you are receiving the most concentrated and powerful elements of the plant, so adding these to your herbal tea is a wonderful way to maximize its potency and taste.
In fact, even people who aren’t concerned with the health benefits of tea still enjoy it because of its unique flavor. And flavored tea is a broad category with endless possibilities. Anyone who would like to explore using botanical extracts with tea has numerous options. Peppermint tea is a popular choice for its refreshing taste and ready availability. Ginger is another powerful extract that works well with tea and is known for relieving nausea – add lemon and honey for a classic flavor combination. Chamomile is gentle and calming and has a pleasant, mild flavor. Another popular choice is rooibos, a South African plant with a nutty, full-bodied taste. For those who crave a tangy, slightly sour taste, rosehip tea tastes a bit like cranberries for a delightfully tart flavor and a healthy dose of vitamin C.
These are only a few of the possibilities. The tea market is booming, and there is lots of room for flavorists to experiment with different botanical extracts to create exceptional tea flavors, from the mild and soothing to the bold and unusual.