Healthy Teas from East to West
In all cultures around the world, there is a long tradition of consuming herbal teas or tisane as a general tonic for health, as treatment for various bodily ailments, as a digestive, or simply as a calming or relaxing beverage. By boiling or steeping plant parts in hot water, beneficial water soluble phytochemicals, antioxidants, and nutrients leach out creating a functional beverage of unique flavour and aroma.
Herbal teas contain a variety of valuable plant compounds such as isoflavones, anthocyanins, proanthocyaninids, carotenoids, catechins, and isothiocyanates, aside from vitamins and minerals. Through these phytochemicals, herbal teas are able to help relieve symptoms of diabetes and hypertension, protect liver function, enhance immunity, dissolve kidney stones, subdue cough, detoxify the body, improve gastrointestinal function, fight cancer, to name just a few. In recent years, there has been a global renaissance in the popularity of herbal teas as modern science is discovering what ancient cultures have known all along ─ that drinking certain plant infusions are good for the health.
THE PHILIPPINES: A MELTING POT OF HERBAL TEAS
Filipinos are blessed with a huge treasure throve of medicinal plants which could be made into excellent herbal teas. Thanks to the islands rich botanical biodiversity (over 1,500 medicinal plant species), the wave of Indo-Malay migrations with its indigenous and Ayurvedic herbal traditions, the long history of maritime trade with neighbouring countries, and 250 years of the direct trade to the West during the Spanish colonial period. The Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade in particular ─ the longest trade route in its time covering 24,000 kilometers from Manila to Acapulco then Seville in Spain ─ became a superhighway for a great many valuable plant introductions to the Philippines from the New World as well as the Old World. It does not come as a surprise that Filipinos have a rich appreciation of herbal teas.
PREMIUM HERBAL TEAS FROM HERBANEXT
The rich diversity of Philippine herbal teas can now be conveniently experienced and enjoyed all year round with Herbanext’s Herbal Teas. Herbanext offers the widest selection of locally grown herbal teas grown and nurtured on Philippine soil.
These herbal tea products have been carefully selected for its pleasant taste and aroma, health function, and/or nutritional benefits. Herbanext offers customized product development and toll production services for private label herbal teas for restaurants, hotels, resorts, spas, wellness clinics, and private companies. Rediscover our rich botanical heritage and nature’s gift of health and wellness. Enjoy a phytonutrient-rich cup of Herbanext Herbal tea.
In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, practically every food is refined, cooked or preserved. These processes remove or destroy valuable phytochemicals, antioxidants, and vitamins. Drinking herbal tea is a convenient and enjoyable way of getting a daily dose of valuable plant essences.
Partial list of herbal teas from Herbanext
English/Local Names |
Scientific Name |
Flavour |
Health Benefits |
Graviola |
Annona muricata |
Light, enjoyable, slightly woody taste |
Immunity enhancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, improves digestion, anti-fatigue |
Tarragon |
Artemisia dracunculus |
Clean, refreshing flavor |
Improves digestion, detoxifying/antioxidant, relaxing |
Papaya |
Carica papaya |
Smooth with a subtle, slightly bitter flavor |
Improves digestion, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying/antioxidant |
Gotu Kola |
Centella asiatica |
Light, enjoyable, slightly woody taste |
Stress-relief, supports memory and cognitive function, improves joint health |
Turmeric |
Curcuma longa |
Mildly aromatic and slightly bitter with a scent reminiscent of orange and ginger |
Anti-inflammatory, supports liver health, improves digestion, detoxifying/antioxidant, cholesterol lowering, neuroprotection, anti-cancer |
Lemongrass |
Cymbopogon citratus |
Light lemony flavor with a slight hint of ginger; zesty and refreshing hot or cold |
Stress relief, improves digestion, detoxifying/antioxidant, antipyretic, anti-cancer |
Wild Tea |
Ehretia microphylla |
Tastes very similar to black tea from Camellia sinensi |
Improves digestion, helps treat stomach problems, antidiarrheal |
Mangosteen |
Garcinia mangostana |
Slightly bitter, exotic taste |
Detoxifying/antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-diarrheal |
Reishi (Japan) |
Ganoderma lucidum |
Slightly bitter with mellow taste of mushroom |
Immunity enhancer, general health tonic, anti-cancer |
Roselle |
Hibiscus sabdariffa |
Sour cranberry-like taste with bright red color, refreshing hot or cold |
Antihypertensive, supports weight loss, mild laxative, antipyretic |
Banaba |
Lagerstroemia speciosa |
Subtle bitterness but with soothing and pleasant taste |
Anti-diabetic, anti-gout, supports weight loss |
Mint |
Mentha spp. |
Characteristic minty and refreshing taste |
Improves digestion, relaxing |
Bitter Melon |
Momordica charantia |
Moderately bitter taste |
Anti-diabetic, antipyretic |
Moringa |
Moringa oleifera |
Highly nutritious tea with green and leafy taste |
For energy and mental clarity, general health tonic, cholesterol lowering |
Mulberry |
Morus nigra |
Fresh, light, and grassy taste similar to green tee |
Anti-diabetic, cholesterol lowering, mild laxative |
Holy Basil |
Ocimum sanctum |
Astrigent, spicy, and invigorating flavor |
Stress relief, immunity enhancer, improves mental clarity |
Cat’s Whiskers |
Orthosiphon stamineus |
Delicate and pleasant taste, making it a popular Asian tea in Europe |
For kidney and bladder stones, helps treat urinary tract infections, anti-gout, antihypertensive, anti-diabetic |
Yellow Strobilanthes |
Strobilanthes crispus |
Pleasant taste with slight sweetness and sour notes |
Anti-diabetic, for kidney stones, anti-cancer |
Five-Leaved Chaste Tree |
Vitex negundo |
Mildly bitter and astringent taste |
Expectorant, antitussive, sore throat, anti-inflammatory |
Ginger (with Stevia) |
Zingiber officinale |
Spicy and invigorating taste soothing to the throat; tastes like salabat but minus the calories |
Nausea, colds relief, improves digestion, cholesterol lowering |