Herbal Teas from Gourmet Farm

The Teas at Gourmet Farm are some of the most amazing products in our line.
Leaves and fruit from some of our most efficacious trees and shrubs have been dried and packaged in sachets for your convenience.
To enhance your tasting pleasure, make a small pot of your choice of premium Gourmet Tea; then for a particularly smooth infusion, pour onto a sprig of fresh tarragon, mint, basil or rosemary in your teacup.
Enjoy a cuppa goodness!

Ampalaya
Traditionally, Filipinos have always revered the Ampalaya fruit as an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Its leaves have been used as a topical treatment for skin diseases and wounds. When drank as tea, Ampalaya works wonders for sufferers of liver problems and diabetes, as well as for body detoxification.

Banaba
Long since used herbal weight-loss products, Banaba is known for its effects on controlling glucose in blood. This makes it ideal for diabetics, hypertension patients and people with kidney problems. Its purgative properties also help in expelling abdominal toxins.

Ginger
Perhaps the most popular benefit of Ginger is its ability to sooth throat soreness and help in the treatment of colds, flu and other viral infections especially in the upper respiratory system. On top of this, Ginger is also effective in preventing motion sickness and in detoxifying the blood stream.

Lagundi
Primarily, Lagundi tea is one of the most potent natural cough syrups known to man. Its analgesic, expectorant, antihistamine, antipyretic and antitussive qualities make it ideal for treating virtually all types of cough and it is even known to aid asthma patients.

Pito-Pito
Pito-pito is so named because it is made from seven natural ingredients (Pandan, Mango, Banaba, Guava, Alagao, Anise and Coriander), each with its own medicinal benefits. The resulting brew is a wonder drink that treats everything from bad breath and acne to kidney stones, diabetes, hypertension and various ailments of the digestive system.

Sambong
Because of its blood-cleansing properties, Sambong is commonly used to treat hypertension and mild to moderate congestive heart failure. As a diuretic, it is also effective in expelling intestinal parasites and has been recommended by hospitals for renal patients to avert or delay the need for dialysis.

Malunggay
Malunggay leaves are proven to be a good source of calcium, iron, phosphorus and VitaminsA, B and C. It also helps in lowering blood pressure, relieving pain from headaches and migraines, normalizing the blood sugar, reducing inflammation and arthritis, and restricting the growth of tumor.

Refreshers Tisanes

Fresh Tisanes - With a title like "herbal tea," you'd think that chamomile, mint, rooibos and the like would be tea. However, all true teas are from the same plant, camellia Sinensis.

What is commonly referred to as an "herbal tea" is actually an infusion or decoction made from a plant other than camellia Sinensis. For this reason, there is a trend toward the use of terms like "tisane" (pronounced tea-zahn), "botanical" or "infusion."

Decoctions release more essential oils and flavor from plant matter and are often used for plant matter with tough surfaces or smaller surface areas. For this reason, leaf, flower and seed tisanes are generally steeped, whereas bark, root and berry tisanes are generally prepared as decoctions.

Brewing time and proportions for tisanes vary widely. They may be as short as two minutes or as long as 15 minutes, and may require as little as a pinch of plant material per cup of water or as much as several tablespoons per cup.

If your tisane comes with brewing instructions, use them and then adjust the quantities/time to your tastes.

Tarragon Tisane - Tarragon is an herb, which has a flavor that resembles licorice. It was used during the middle Ages as an antidote for poisonous snakebites.

      - It is great for the digestive system; it relieves stomach cramps and promotes the appetite.

      - It can be used to promote menstruation, and fights fatigue and calm the nerves.

     - Tarragon also promotes the production of bile by the liver, which aids in digestion and helps to speed the process of eliminating toxic waste in the body. Tarragon tisane can be made to aid in this process. To prepare tarragon tea, take one cup boiling water and pour over one tablespoon tarragon leaves and let stand for ten minutes, and drink. It is recommended to drink at least one cup of tarragon tea per day.

Peppermint Tisane - Peppermint has menthol, as its active ingredient. Menthol helps ease diarrhea, headaches and colic in babies. Peppermint also contains B vitamins, calcium, and potassium.

      - Its essential oil menthol is known to promote digestion and help prevent gallstones. It soothes the stomach lining relieving stomach cramps.

      - The B vitamins in menthol help improve concentration and performance in the brain and nerves.

      - Peppermint tea is also good for sore throat just gargle several times per day.

Rosemary Tisane - Rosemary is sought after for its purifying and stimulant characteristics.

     - It has a strong, clean mint aroma. It is used for its antidepressant, antiseptic, digestive, stimulant and tonic properties.

    - In today’s aromatherapy it is for emotions, it is used to energize and stimulate the central nervous system. It has an effect of clearing the head, to provide mental stability. It helps in memory retention.

      - Rosemary is advised not to be used during pregnancy or if a person suffers from epilepsy.

Lemon Balm Tisane - Lemon balm is sought after for its calming, comforting, soothing effects it has on the mind and for its strengthening effect it has for muscles.

      - It has been famed throughout history for its rejuvenating qualities and has been called “the elixir of life”.

      - In today’s aromatherapy it is used to regulate menstruation, soothing the pain and as a tonic for the uterus.

      - It is also known to calm the heart and lower the blood pressure, and it is also good for fatigue. It calms breathing and settles a nervous stomach and is great for digestion. Because of its antihistamine properties it is good for allergies and asthma.

      - It is not suggested for pregnant women because of its effect in balancing the menstrual cycle.

Basil Tisane - Today herbalists recommend basil for nausea and motion sickness, because of basil's antispasmodic properties. Basil's strong taste promotes the production of saliva, letting the body digest food properly.

Dill Tisane - Dill has been a prized herb throughout history. During ancient times they would even accept if for payment of other items. Dill is used to help alleviate hiccups, stomach and intestinal problems, mild insomnia; it helps promote wellness of the liver and gallbladder.

The leaves and seeds of dill contain vitamin C, folic acid, beta-carotene and potassium. These help calm the stomach, kill stomach bacteria, and soothe colic in infants.