Description
Long before Europeans arrived on North American shores, Indigenous peoples valued echinacea as a medicinal herb. In the west, the Ute in what is now Colorado referred to the herb as “elk root”, stemming from their belief that wounded elk ate the flowers as medicine. Throughout the Great Plains and Midwestern America various tribes used echinacea to treat everything from burns to swelling and pain, chewing it during sweat lodge ceremonies to clear the mind. Even the ancient Navajo considered echinacea as one of the sacred Life Medicines, and may have used a poultice made from its leaves to combat snake venom.
Today, echinacea holds great importance in the natural medicine industry, as practitioners of traditional medicine maintain that the plant can stimulate the immune system. Accordingly, tea made from the leaves is said to help fight colds, ward off the flu and ease upper respiratory tract infections. Use this all-natural, air-dried echinacea to cure what ails you.
(NOTE: Any claims made above have not been substantiated.)
HOT BREWING METHOD:
Bring filtered or freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea for each 7-9oz / 200-260ml of fluid volume in the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea).
ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Pitcher): (To Make 1 Liter/Quart):
Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons or 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 1¼ cups/315ml into the pot. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves or removing the tea bags. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water. (Note: Some luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about.)
ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Individual Serving):
Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon or 1 tea bag into a teapot for each serving required. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 6-7oz/170-200ml per serving into the pot. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Add hot tea to a 12oz/375ml acrylic glass filled with ice, straining the leaves or removing the tea bags. Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional ½ serving. Sweeten and/or add lemon to taste. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted. (Note: Some luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about!)
FOOD SAFETY ADVISORY: We strongly recommend using filtered or freshly drawn cold water brought to a rolling boil when brewing all types of tea. Today’s water has been known to carry viruses, parasites and bacteria. Boiling the water will kill these elements and reduce the potential incidence of water-borne illnesses.
RECOMMENDATION: We recommend the use of our ‘1 Cup of Perfect Tea’ measuring spoon (Item# 11MS-1370) for best results. Please contact Metropolitan Tea to place an order.
ANTIOXIDANT BENEFIT: For a greater antioxidant benefit brew longer and use more tea.