BEST MINT TEA: INTRO
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Peppermint, spearmint, apple mint. You just name it! All these flavors have one link. They all belong to the mint family! Originally called mentha, the mint plant has one of the largest branches of species in the world. Luckily for us, nearly all of them can be incorporated into herbal tea, and not just any herbal tea, but a cup of one of the Best Mint Tea!
Best Mint Tea: Overview
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Mint, as you might have guessed, is the main ingredient of mint tea. If you are new to herbal tea, or even if you are an herbal tea expert, you’ve surely heard so much about this particular type of tea. Have you ever wanted to learn more? We can surely be of help!
The mint plant, a particularly hardy breed, can be found across the world as they can pretty much grow anywhere. In some environments, they are referred to as invasive plants – can you believe that?! The mint plants are so hardy that they can grow in areas where they are seemingly unwanted!!
In this article, we provide some foundational information about mint tea and what you need to know about it to become a knowledgeable consumer. We also provide two simple recipes on how to make the best mint tea – well, the ones that we feel are the best at least!
If you are like the authors at HTH, you want to buy the very best mint tea available on the market. Therefore, we provide some tips on how to achieve this target. After all, its pretty hard to find top notch mint tea if you don’t know what features are the most important to look for!! To top it off, we will recommend a couple of mint tea brands that we feel fit the bill perfectly – they are personal favorites of ours, perhaps they will become favorites of yours as well!
We are excited to start this journey. If you are ready, let’s begin!
The Best Mint Tea – The Basics
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The mint plant and its derivatives can be found in numerous different products in the world today. It is truly one of the most versatile on the market. For example, did you know that mint is used to make desserts and mouth rinses? Probably yes. But did you know that it is common for people to spread cut mint leaves in different areas of their homes due to mint’s deodorizing properties? Pretty cool huh? And very environmentally friendly!
Some mint species also serve as food to certain insects. Moths are good examples. For people who take an interest in traditional medicine, the mint plant is also occasionally used to treat aches and pains in the stomach and chest. This is certainly an interesting usage, maybe I will give it a try after my next big meal? Oh, and fear not, mint tea is very, very low in terms of side effects, unlike some herbal teas (learn about hibiscus tea side effects).
Cosmetics and the culinary industry are a couple of the other places where the mint plant plays an important role. To top it off, mint plants also serve as environmentally friendly insecticides and room scents (much better than aerosol spray). The mint plant is incredibly important to the world we know today.
Unlike other plants, the mint plant is native to all five continents. This gives it near global availability. This is great news for herbal tea enthusiasts, as mint tea is one of the last to be “out of stock” at a critical moment of craving.
Of course, mint tea is one derivative of the mint plant we especially love. After all, this is an herbal tea community! Let’s have a look at a couple simple and easy to follow recipes that help can you prepare the best mint tea. We have some interesting flavors and creations that we’re sure you would like to look at (and probably taste)!!
Pro Tip: Another extremely popular herbal tea right now, for more “advanced” tea drinkers” is dandelion tea. Learn where to buy dandelion tea and then check out our easy to follow dandelion leaf tea recipe here!
The Best Mint Tea: Simple Recipes
We are not fans of overly complicated recipes or instructions. After all, you are looking for the best mint tea, and “best” doesn’t have to be complicated. Most of the time, simpler is better! Today, we are going to learn how to prepare a fresh mint tea and a Moroccan mint tea.
You’ve probably heard of a fresh mint tea, or can at least guess at what it might involve. What about Moroccan tea? Did you know that Moroccan mint tea is often served with the Moroccan tea service? This tea service is made up of glasses, tray and a teapot. Pretty fancy stuff. While we can’t promise you a service, we thought that we might shed a little light on the practice so that you could know it the next time you saw it in a restaurant, for example.
Fresh Mint Tea
Simple List of Ingredients
- Fresh mint leaves (quantity depends on desired “minty” flavor).
- 2 cups of water
Optional Ingredients
- Lemon
- Sugar and other types of sweeteners (honey is another great option)
Easy to Follow Instructions
Step One. Heat up your water. It needs to come to a boil.
Step Two. Prepare the ingredients for use. Your first point of call should be your mint leaves – predictable, right? Ideally you’ve plucked them and washed them in advance. This is an important food safety tip and helps to remove any oil and/or dirt present.
We also recommend that you cut these leaves. Cutting them brings out the aroma hidden within. The “aroma” in this case is the oil locked away within each leaf’s inner structure.
Step Three. Pull out your teapot. Usually, a teapot that can hold loose leaves is recommended. Put your loose leaves into the teapot. Remember, the more leaves, the more mint flavor!
Step Four. Pour your hot water over the leaves. Make sure to be very careful and wear protective clothing (like gloves). The hardy nature of the mint leaves allows it to absorb the heat without adverse effects. This is important as several mint species have varying degrees appropriate temperature. If this is a concern with your particular tea, you’ll usually see a notation on the manufacturer’s label or instructions.
Step Five. Steep your tea – read one of our other posts while you are waiting! The normal steeping time lasts between 3-10 minutes. Just like bringing water to a boil, the proper time might vary with altitude. Remember that the exact steeping time affects the strength and flavor of your tea. Longer steeping time will lead to a stronger flavor and vice-versa.
Step Six. A strainer can be used to separate the leaves from your tea. Most teapots come with one. A strainer is the only effective way to separate the tea and the tea leaves, don’t try to “DIY” when it comes to this process – you’ll surely burn yourself!
At this point, other ingredients can be added. This includes lemon (or other fruits) and sweeteners (many use sugar, but we suggest honey). Pour into your serving cup (carefully – it will be hot), and enjoy!!
Moroccan Mint Tea
Simple List of Ingredients
- Loose-leaf green tea (12-15 grams)
- 3-5 cups of water
- Sugar (2-4 teaspoons) (you can use honey as an alternative sweetener)
- Fresh mint leaves (5-10) (you can add more for a stronger mint flavor)
Easy to Follow Instructions
Step One. Get your green tea leaves ready by washing them. Always wash your produce – it is important for food safety. Then place them in the teapot. Strain any trace of water from the teapot afterward.
Step Two. Boil your water. Remember, like you learned above, the time required to bring your water to a boil will depend upon your altitude. Then pour the boiling water into your green tea. Be careful!
Step Three. Steep your tea. The recommended steeping time is 2 minutes. You can steep a little longer for a stronger mint flavor.
Step Four. Add your sweeteners (again, try honey) and a sprig of fresh mint. Then steep for another 3-4 minutes (or a bit longer). Your tea is ready!
There are so many other forms of flavors you can try. The versatility of mint tea is what makes it so popular across the globe. However, each flavor will have some tweaks here and there.
Mastering these simple recipes is just the first step. Let’s take a look at important features you need to find in any tea to ensure you are getting the best mint tea. Without the inclusion of each of these features, you’ll be buying an inferior product with an inferior taste! Did you like these recipes? We’ve posted another easy to follow anise seed tea recipe here!
Pro Tip: If you like a more “do it yourself” approach to tea making, try making dandelion tea, just make sure to find the best dandelion roots!
The Best Mint Tea: What Features to Look For?
When buying your mint tea, if you are truly serious about getting the best mint tea, there are a couple of things that you need to know. These things are pivotal in choosing the right product. I have outlined a few of them.
Flavor
The mint species is made up of various flavors. Why limit yourself to the same flavor over and over while you’re learning your favorite? It’s only fair then that the product you purchase offers you this optionality.
Go for products that come in various flavors. From vanilla to chocolate, the variety to choose from is nearly unlimited! Take your time and make the right choice!
Proven Track Record
The proven track record of the manufacturer is another assurance you can give yourself. Do a little digging about the manufacturer of the mint tea you intend to buy. Have they been around for a long time? Do they specialize in teas or is tea just one of many different food and beverage products?
Good signs can include a successful brand name – but you’ll still want to do your independent research. Apart from these three features, there are other factors worth mentioning.
Expiration Dates; Quantity
Make sure you don’t buy a mint tea that is anywhere close to its expiration date. This one tip can all make a difference. Another thing to remember is that you can only consume so much mint tea, even if its the best mint tea, in one day. Don’t buy too high of quantity, as you may not be able to drink it all before it expires! Don’t work with mint tea that has expired! If it does expire, you can compost it as an environmentally friendly option!
The Best Mint Tea: The Top Brands
To help you get a head start, we’ll give you some products that fit the bill perfectly. By no means are these the only fantastic options of mint tea – there are many on the market! However, if you want to rely on our experienced opinion in terms of helping you wade through the clutter to find the very best mint tea, then we suggest that you take a look at the below:
This particular mint tea is a combination of several ingredients – and its one of the rare teas where you can truly taste each one! This hybrid includes lemongrass and spearmint – a tasty combination with great versatility.
This product is grown in organic farms that meet sustainable farming practices. Any time we see a manufacturer go to these lengths to ensure that they do no harm to the environment, their product scores high marks with us! It also meets requirements laid out by the appropriate regulatory bodies – you can see the various seals of approval.
In terms of quantity, the tea comes in four-packs. Each of these packs contains about 15 sachets bringing the total to 60. Remember, don’t overbuy! In our opinion, 60 is just about the right amount to prevent spoilage.
My Experience
I loved the vanilla flavor. It’s really nice and has a soothing effect. I found it even more relaxing when I drank it after work. It left me feeling refreshed and ready to wind down.
Prepare yourself for a rich blend of lemon and verbena. It comes in just the right portions. I wish it came with more sachets though – I am a heavy consumer! To help you weigh this particular offering, I’ve put together some pros and cons from my own experience after a few months of regularly consuming it:
Pros
- Soothing feeling
- Certified
- Affordable
- Nice blend of fruits and mint
- Ethically sourced
Cons
- It comes with just 60 sachets.
This one comes right out with a bang! It is calorie-free, gluten-free and blended with spearmint, resulting in a tasty treat!
The tea’s manufacturers have been around since 1945, and they have not let their guard down on this particular offering. It comes with a variety of flavors that is sure to keep you entertained. Remember variety is the spice of life!
It comes in 6 packs. These 6 packs contain at least 20 foils bringing the grand total to 120. These foils contain just one bag each. The foils are used to ensure aroma and longevity – a nice, thoughtful and effective touch!
To top it off, this one is kosher certified as well as non-GMO verified. Remember, this type of credentialing is something to keep an eye out for when determining whether one mint tea is run of the mill, or truly worthy of a “best mint tea” designation!
My Experience
Its taste is simply refreshing – I wish there was more I could report! I found myself drinking this particular brand early in the morning (before work) and late in the evenings. Depending on your mood, it can fuel your body or leave a refreshing feeling. I’ve introduced my roommate to this brand and he likes to drink it after lunch. To each his own!
One of my favorite flavors was the vanilla flavor. Also, my roommate said he felt that it relieved his headaches. I don’t know if there is a “medical” reason for that relief, but he certainly seems to be in less pain. Here are some pros and cons that may help you determine whether this is the right offering for you, based on my own experience:
Pros
- Kosher certified
- Fuels the body (a real mental boost)!
- Large quantity
- Good price
- Come with a lot of flavors
- Manufacturer’s proven track record
Cons
- I didn’t especially enjoy their raspberry flavor, but that’s neither here nor there.
- Could be too large of quantity for the average consumer.
CONCLUSION
The mint tea is popular for its diversity. We hope that this article helps you make the right decision. Getting your purchase right can make all the difference! Remember, if you don’t know all of the important features to look of, you could quickly become bogged down by the wide variety of mint teas on the market. To buy the best mint tea, do your research! You will be rewarded and your tastebuds will thank you!
Comments
Have you ever had a mint tea? Was it run of the mill, or do you think it could rightfully be designated as a best mint tea? How did you discover it? Did you follow one of our recipes, a different one that you discovered, or did you come up with your own creation? Please be sure to post below! We’d love to hear your story and we promise to read and reply to every comment – we love interacting with the herbal tea community!