Fruit Tisanes

What is a Tisane Tea?

You know that a Fruit Tisane Tea isn’t, in fact, a Tea. But where does the term come from, and why have the lines between Tea and Tisane become so blurred?

The primary theory is that its name owes its origins to the Greek word, “ptisanē,” which, millennia ago, was a drink made from crushed grains and pearl barley. Another theory suggests that it is the combination of two languages.

Some countries spell “Tea” as “Ti.” Put it in front of the French word for “without,” which is “Sans,” and you have “Tea without Tea.” The reason the phrase hasn’t caught on is for marketing purposes.

Put simply, it makes more sense for the Tea industry to promote their products like Tea, even when they’re not! Fruit Tisanes have since become honorary members of the family, along with Herbal Tea.

Contrary to popular belief, it is far from a new concept. People have brewed fruits and herbs combined for many thousands of years – as, indeed, the Greeks did. The same can be said about the Indians, who created Ayurveda Tea made from harmonising spices.

In what is now the United States, colonists rebelling against the British Crown avoided quintessentially English Tea and instead made Fruit Tea.

But it is only relatively recently that the humble Fruit Tisane has become popular. Statistics from the last decade suggest that Black Tea sales have dropped by 5%, while Fruit and Herbal Tea have increased by 8%. Should the trend continue, there is potential for these delicious delights to become even more widespread. However, a question remains: Are Fruit Tisanes healthy?

Are Fruit Tisanes Healthy?

Most people have been taught to have their “five a day.” It stands to reason, then, that making a nice and refreshing cup of Fruit Tea will contribute to your daily intake.

Ingredients found within typically range from raspberries, oranges, and blueberries, to cherries, apples, and blackcurrants. This, of course, is to name but a few. You can have anything from exotic Passion Fruit Tea to classic Lemon and Ginger Tea.

Whatever you decide – be it peaches and mangoes or boysenberries and pomegranates – you can take comfort in knowing it all adds up in the best possible way. But even healthy fruits and vegetables contain calories, which prompts an entirely different question. What influence will these infusions have on your waistline? In other words, will they help or hinder your weight management?

Calories in Tisane Tea

When you consume more calories than your body needs, you store the excess as body fat. Doing so consistently over time will, inevitably, lead to weight gain. The average man needs around 2,500kcal a day.

Women, in comparison, need around 2,000kcal a day. It might sound like a lot on the surface. However, as many people will know all too well, it’s easy to exceed the recommended amount.

Where does Fruit Tisane Tea come into the equation? The good news is that it is extraordinarily rare to have added sugars in your morning cuppa, making them better for you than the average soft or fizzy drink.

The bad news is that it is difficult to determine the precise amount of calories as it can vary depending on the ingredients. Amounts can range from 15 to 150 calories.

Is There Caffeine in Fruit Tisane Tea?

Caffeine is a stimulant known to exist in at least sixty plants. This includes Camellia sinensis (Tea) and Coffea (Coffee). Practically every fruit and herb type, excluding Yerba Mate, is 100% void of caffeine. Should you be looking to cut down your intake, you’ve chosen exceptionally well here.

What’s more, the fact that it doesn’t energise means that it could be an excellent Tea before Bed.

Fruit Tisane Benefits

A common misconception is that Fruit Tea provides little to no health benefits. While it doesn’t contain as many antioxidants as, say, Green Tea, it does have some.

Antioxidants combat free radicals in the body, working on a molecular level to slow oxidative stress. The result is that it reduces the risk of developing a multitude of chronic conditions from cardiovascular disease to type-2 diabetes, albeit only minimally.

It’s also worth noting that several varieties contain Hibiscus Flowers, which is the component that creates the often red colour in liquor. Hibiscus Tea, as a standalone infusion, is famous for lowering blood pressure. Including it along with other ingredients will also have a similar effect. However, again, its potency will decrease. One thing for certain is that their great taste reduces stress!

Brewing Fruit Tisanes

You now know almost everything about Fruit Tea. The one thing we haven’t yet covered is how to make a Tisane Tea, the instructions of which we’ve provided below. When it comes to brewing Loose Tea, you’ll need either a Tea Filter or Infuser before beginning (both available here). Once you have one of these items to hand, simply follow our step-by-step guide:

1, Add Loose Tea to a Tea Infuser or Filter.

2, Place the Tea-filled accessory in a cup or mug.

3, Put the kettle on and, once boiled to 100°C, pour it over the fruit pieces.

4, Allow it to steep for 5-10 minutes.

How to Serve: Consider honey or lemon. Alternatively, serve without accompaniments.