First things first, we want to be clear: despite the naming convention, many 'herbal teas' are not actually teas.
Why?
Because true teas are harvested or brewed from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. This includes teas as green tea, black tea, or oolong tea. Whereas herbal tea blends are created from flowers, dried fruits, spices and yes... herbs! Due to this MOST herbal tea blends are naturally caffeine free. 'Herbal Teas' are also called tisanes, which we tried to play on in the title...not sure if it worked, though.
Nevertheless:
Herbal teas or tisanes have been around for centuries, dating back to the original peoples in Ancient Kemet. As hunter-gatherers our ancestors foraged and used herbs to heal ailments and conditions, both physical and mental. Tisanes are herbs infused in water causing the plant tissue to expand, and break down in order to extract the beneficial properties inside. This is known as infusion, folks. As such, in addition to being delicious, most herbal teas are known to have healing properties, as well. Infusing herbs and teas in hot water is the most popular infusion method, but infusion can also be performed with room temperature water (it just takes longer).
Our favorite infusion method is "Sun tea". Placing the herbs and water in a glass and sitting outside to be kissed by the Sun. Divinity liquefied.
For some background, there are different categories of tisanes, depending on which part of the plant it comes from:
Bark Tisanes: Cinnamon, Slipper Elm, Wild Cherry Bark, Lapacho Bark
Berry or Fruit Tisanes: Mango, Raspberry, Peach, any Citrus
Flower Tisanes: Lavender, Chamomile, Hibiscus, Rose
Leaf Tisanes: Morniga Leaf, Roobios, Honeybush, Spearmint, Peppermint
Root Tisanes: Ginger, Tumeric, Echinacea
Spice or Seed Tisanes: Cardamom, Vanilla, Nutmeg, Fennel
We believing in living to the FULL, so we've used ALL 5 categories of tisanes in the SIIKA Collection.
We curated our SIIKA blends based on traditional, as well as beneficial properties. In doing so, we were able to create a nutrient-rich, non-caffeinated, completely natural take on some of the world's most popular teas: Chai Tea, Hibiscus Tea, and Sleepytime Tea.
Let's start with the classic: our Chai. Obvious, this is our take on the traditional Chai tea which is usually rich in cinnamon or vanilla. SIIKA Chai uses both! Along with a host of other ingredients straight from the African continent to boost its rich, deep, and divine taste. We base it with South African Rooibos and generously accent with beautiful, dark Vanilla beans from Madagascar and sensual cloves from Zanzibar. Spiced with Cinnamon, Cardamon, and freshly dried ginger it is sweet, spicy, and warming.
The properties of the herbs and spices are beneficial to the blood and may help to increase energy. Rooibos, specifically, is a good source of fluoride and copper, making it beneficial to bones and muscles.
Our Clarity blend is a blessing to our sight, smell, and senses! It's our alluring take on the popular and soothing Sleepytime tea. It can, obviously, be drunken anytime, but is most popular with our customers when they want to wind down or relax. We were inspired by the beautiful blue hue from the Butterfly Pea flowers, and gentle fragrance of lemongrass and lavender this blend produces once brewed. Rich in compounds such as flavanoids and phenolic, Butterfly pea anti-oxidant properties have been used to combat premature ageing as well as aiding in digestion.
This blend reminds us of the Spirit Yemaya/Yemoja who represents a mothering, nuturing, supportive and caring energy. She is represented by the color blue, as she is associated by the oceans in nature. So sure, this can be considered a Sleepytime tea, but we like to think of it as channeling the calm, nurturing Spirit that resides in each of us - deep and dark, yet clear and true.
Finally, we absolutely adore a Hibiscus tea. If you’re from the English-speaking Caribbean you may know it as Sorrel. Across the continent of Africa, it goes by a variety of names such as: Bissap, Sobolo, Zobo. In each of these places, whether its at a favorite restaurant, quick shop, or loving Aunties house, this refreshing red drink, usually served chilled, is sure to be a staple. No matter where you go, no two recipes are the same. Some have ginger, some mint, some pineapple and any other variety of other spices, but always, always, there is hibiscus. With a slightly tart flavor, hibiscus is full of antioxidants making it as pleasing to the taste buds as it is the body. that remains the same is the hibiscus. Like jollof, jambalaya and peas and rice, we love how this drink still connects us across oceans, seas, and colonial borders. With our own unique blend of spices added to the beautiful red, vibrant flower, its obvious why we call ours Connection.
For centuries, tisanes and herbal brews have been enjoyed for both their culinary and medicinal properties. Naturally high in minerals and nutrients, with most also being naturally Caffeine-free, make these herbal infusions the go-to choice for anyone looking to experience the calm and relaxation of a tea, while benefiting from multi-nutritional properties straight from Mother Earth. Let's also enjoy ourselves while we're here.
