Monday, August 25, 2014

T Stands for Tisanes


Today I'm taking you to my herbal garden

where we will be talking about tisanes.  Tisanes are any beverage made from an infusion (steeping) or decoction (boiling) of herbs.  Tisanes are also commonly known as infusions, botanicals, herbal infusion, or herbal tea.  Technically, they are not "tea" in the true sense of the word.  Common tisanes include mint and rooibos.

I was anxious to try my chocolate mint, and all I needed to do was cut some, especially since I had been avoiding cutting it.

I wasn't sure how much I would need, so I cut enough to fit in an infuser.

While I was at it, I decided to cut some of my spearmint, too.  I want to add it to some fresh peaches I bought at the grocery store.

After gently washing and patting the mint dry, I got out my stacking cup and teapot that has no lid.  I thought it would be perfect for this experiment.  I used the strainer/infuser in place of the lid,

placed the bruised leaves in the strainer/infuser

(I bruised them by rubbing them and rolling the mint into a ball),

then poured the boiling water over the bruised leaves, which I pressed down even more with a spoon as I poured the water over the leaves.  

I removed the strainer/infuser and replaced it with the strainer holder that accompanies it.  I was pleased at how well the metal holder fit in the tea pot (Oh look! My fingers still have remnants of paint and spray mists).

I played the waiting game while the tea "brewed."  Just to be on the safe side, I thought I'd pour the tea over the leaves as I added it to the cup. 

I was thrilled that I got a lovely yellow color in my cup, which meant it had actually brewed.

I added lemon for taste and a tiny sprig of the chocolate mint for decoration.   I kept seeing the cup through the viewfinder, thinking my tea was still brewing (which I knew it couldn't be)

so I rotated the cup and realized it was just the late afternoon shadow.

I really enjoyed this tisane experiment, and will do something similar again soon.  After all, I have loads of mint.   BTW, the word tisane is pronounced tea-SANE.

Now it's your turn.  What's been brewing (pun intended) at your place this week?  Please join us with your drink related post.  Anything is possible as long as you can relate it, in some way, back to a drink.  Photos do not have to be taken on Tuesday, but you must link below in order for Bleubeard, the "T" gang, and me to visit.  Or drop by to say hello and consider joining us in the future.  We'd love to have you.



28 thoughtful remarks:

Robyn said...

All I drink is Tisane, or infusion as I don't do caffeine .
Enjoyed the walk through your garden and tisane adventure.
Left you a long one today, as I've been on the foodie trail!

Denise Price said...

Chocolate mint? That tea (tisane) sounds AMAZING! Like a Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie in drinkable form. Yum. :)

Rita said...

Must taste even better when you grew the leaves yourself. :)

Robyn said...

Thanks for your kind words.
Any poem, will do- songs are poems- just be sure to give credit where credit is due! I'd live to have you post as I'm still getting Poetry Journal monthly off the ground- off the page? LOL!

Bridget Larsen said...

So what did it taste like? Looks like an awesome tea, never thought to take fresh herbs from the garden and make tea
Bridget #3

TwinkleToes2day said...

What a brilliant idea. It was a lovely colour. Did it taste as nice as it looked? Do you sweeten your tea Elizabeth? :D

Anonymous said...

Looks so good. Nice illustration of how to. xox

Bridget Larsen said...

LOL I obviously didnt read the packets properly, had no idea they were tisane teas. Thanks for enlightening me and making me read what I post hahahaha
Bridget #3

Crystal Komara said...

Oh what a great post Elizabeth about your tisane brewing! I have heard that the chocolate mint can take over a yard, but I can't think of anything more lovely to have spreading like wildflowers! I'm glad you took the time and enjoyed your own brewed cup of tea! Cheers.

Krisha said...

This is a very interest post E! I didn't know any of this (coffee here ya know).

So how did it taste? It looks very pretty with the lemon floating in it.

I keep my mint in a container, too, so it doesn't take over the yard. I learned the hard way about three years ago. That darn stuff is hard to get rid of once it takes to spreading. I do like to add it to iced tea and to a cucumber recipe I love to make in the summer.

Happy T-day

Carol said...

Oh I love my Chocolate mint teas ♥ Mine started in a pot but quickly spread but I don't mind... Hubs just mows it down where it isn't supposed to be growing... Makes the whole yard smell good when he mows :)

Dianne said...

Wondering how the flavor was? chocolate mint sounds heavenly! and the tisane is a very lovely color...don't worry about your colorful fingers. I bet a lot of your readers have that too...me included!

froebelsternchen said...

Oh wow Elizabeth - this tea must taste delicious!
Happy T-DAy !
xxx
Susi

dawn said...

Hello and Happy T Day! So neat to see how you made this, all new to me. Looks pretty and sounds yummy, curious to know how it tasted. I love the pretty setting and good to see your crafty hands with color.
Hope you are doing well! I'm linked up again this week, YAY!

jinxxxygirl said...

Elizabeth you HAVE to tell us how it tasted!! :) I loved watching you do that! Thanks ! Hugs! deb

Darla said...

From the color in the cup it certainly looks like your infusion was successful. How did it taste? Could you detect the flavor of chocolate?

Darla

Linda Kunsman said...

this sounds delicious-I never knew there was a chocolate mint-I must let my neighbor know! Happy T day Elizabeth.

~*~Patty S said...

Thank you for having us over for your lovely chocolate mint tea...great photos and fun process from your garden to your tea table.
My attempts at using mint from the garden turned out a bit bitter...
probably just an adjustment of how much mint or how long I let it brew.
I can almost smell your yummy cup of tea E!
Happy Day to you
oxo

Halle said...

I've never tried anything like that. Sounds very interesting...

Nan G said...

Great post today, E! Very interesting! So how was the tea? Hugs from me and the Girls!

Divers and Sundry said...

I've never brewed mint "tea" before, but I have some spearmint and should try it :)

In the mystery tv series, David Suchet's Poirot drinks tisane and can be quite testy when he can't get it. I tend to prefer tea to the rooibos and other infusions I've tried, although I love the Celestial Seasonings mint concoctions.

~*~Patty S said...

I visited you first thing this morning and was still waking up!
also wanted to say what a lovely tea pot and cup that is...so handy and sensible and looks good too!
oxo

Divers and Sundry said...

Hi again :) About your pour over coffee question. I use a Melitta maker I picked up at the grocery store years ago. This is the one: https://shoponline.melitta.com/product/64007/COFFMKRSPROVERRSJ You can make a single cup of real coffee that way, which is sometimes exactly what I want. You can also make pour over coffee in larger volume using a carafe-type maker like this: http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/products/classic.html It's getting more popular locally, and some of the coffee shops here offer it.

TwinkleToes2day said...

I hope you do get to try some Lady Grey. It is my favourite. I will keep looking out for a teapot I can love but in the tween time I have my eye on another 'Fred' infuser, hehe.
I would probably sweeten the chocolate mint tea a little, but perhaps with honey. I have a sweet tooth, and can't drink any tea or coffee without sweetening first. Especially some of the herbal ones, i find many of them quite bitter. :D Thanks for your lovely words as always :D

Ariel said...

This was all so very new to me. I really enjoyed going through each pictures and the write ups.
Thank you dear Elizabeth for sharing Hugs
Susan

BJ said...

Nope definitely no birds on barbed wire ROFL You give me such a giggle. BJ

pearshapedcrafting said...

Hi Elizabeth! I'm not a tea drinker but I do have some chocolate mint in a container on the decking - granddaughter loves to pick a leaf or two to carry around with her!! Does it taste like tea? Chrisx

Cindy McMath said...

I did not see any notes about how this tasted - It looks yummy! I enjoyed your post.