Tea Tuesday: What's the Difference Between Tisane and Tea?

It’s time to revisit teatime with another edition of tea Tuesday! You know what coffee is, you know what tea is, but do you have any idea what a tisane is? It’s possible that you have heard this term and ‘tea’ used interchangeably, or you may have never heard the term ‘tisane’ at all. The two terms are certainly not one and the same. There are clear characteristics that distinguish true tea from a tisane. With this information, you will be able to blend right in with those tea connoisseurs, and have quite a conversation!

Plant Origins

True teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant, which is found in tropical and subtropical locations. On the other hand, tisanes come from a water-based infusion of herbs, spices, flowers, leaves, etc. Essentially, an herbal infusion, or tisane is any plant-derived drink other than true tea.

Caffeine Content

Teas contain caffeine, with which people tend to have a love-hate relationship. It wakes you up, but may give you a touch of anxiety. Tisanes, contrarily, contain no caffeine, but have diverse herbal components.

Preparation

Teas and tisanes are both brewed with either a tea bag or a strainer. Tisanes can be prepared using one of two methods. The first method is called decoction. To prepare a tisane using this method, first place the tisane in a pot with cool water. Ensure that this pot is not aluminum, as that can react with the herbs. Next, place the pot on the stove, and bring the water to a boil. You should boil the tisane until two-thirds of the water has evaporated, and then strain it before consumption.

Alternately, you can prepare a tisane using the infusion method, in which herbs are steeped in hot water, this is then strained, and the herbs are sifted through.

The key difference between teas and tisanes is that tisanes are not made from tea leaves, but rather from this herbal infusion.

                      

 Since its discovery in China 5,000 years ago, tisanes have since been delighting consumers as a fresh alternative to caffeinated beverages. Tisanes have also long been long appreciated for their numerous health benefits, just to name a few, aiding in building a stronger immune system, cleansing the respiratory tract, helping with high blood pressure and blood circulation.

At CoffeeAM, you can discover for yourself why tisanes continue to be popular to this day, and cleanse your palate with refreshing herbal flavors.