In general, herbal drinks in boiling water are called teas, but in fact there is a difference between them: teas are drinks made only from the camellia sinensis plant,
Thus, all beverages made from other plants, such as chamomile, melisa, dandelion and mint are called infusions, and all those prepared with the stem and roots are called decoctions. See the differences between the preparation method for each of these options.
Key differences and how to do it
Teas are always prepared with Camellia sinensis which results in green, black, yellow, blue or oolong tea, white tea and black tea, also called red tea or pu-erh.
Infusion is the preparation of the tea in which the herbs are placed in the cup and boiling water is poured over the herbs, letting the mixture rest for 5 to 15 minutes, preferably covered to quell the steam.in the pan with hot water, but with the fire out. This technique preserves the essential oil of plants and is usually applied to make teas of leaves, flowers and ground fruits. The infusion is used to make drinks from leaves, flowers and fruits.and can be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within 24 hours.
In decoction, this is done when the parts of the plant are boiled with water, for 10 to 15 minutes, it is indicated to prepare drinks from the stems, roots or bark of plants, such as cinnamon and ginger.
The so-called blends are mixtures of teas with fruits, spices or flowers, which are used to add flavor and aroma to the drink, these mixtures are excellent options for those who are not used to the taste of pure teas, in addition to providing even more nutrients and antioxidants by adding fruits and spices.
The leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant give rise to green, black, yellow, oolong, white and pu-erh teas, the difference between them is how the leaves are processed and when they are harvested.
White tea contains no caffeine and is the least processed and oxidized of all, having more polyphenols and catechins, antioxidant substances.Black tea is the most oxidized, with the highest caffeine content and the least nutrients.Learn how to use green tea to lose weight.