What is a Tisane or Herbal Infusion?
Tisane [tee-ZAHN]: French for ‘herbal drink’, typically references herb infusions, not tea infusions. Infusion: A drink made from steeping a herb in hot water. (Tea is an infusion of tea leaves). There are a variety of Tisanes and Herbal infusions. Here are some examples. Rooibos [roy-boss] Rooibos, a indigenous herb, native to the mountains of South Africa, is made up of fine needle-like leaves. It is from the parent plant Aspalathus Linearis and has been harvested wild for centuries. Rooibos, when infused, produces a deep red liquor with a flavour comparable to black tea, but does not become bitter with long infusion. Rooibos has a sweet finishing flavour. Herbal Infusion Herbal infusions are the infusion of common herbs such as peppermint, rose hip, lemon verbena and fennel. Fruit Blends Fruit blends are the infusion of fresh and dried fruits and berries in hot water. These infusions are often made cold for a refreshing beverage.
