Lemon verbena tea is a popular and easy-to-prepare herbal beverage that delivers a surprising number of health benefits to those who drink it.
What is Lemon Verbena Tea?
Lemon verbena tea is an herbal tea that is prepared by steeping the crushed or cut up leaves of the lemon verbena plant. Scientifically known as Aloysia citrodora, [1]this plant has an extremely strong lemon scent when the leaves are bruised or crushed; many people feel that it is the closest aroma to an actual lemon. For this reason, this plant has been used for thousands of years, beginning in Argentina and neighboring areas in South America. Now, lemon verbena is grown around the world and being made into a tea is one of its most popular applications.
Lemon verbena tea Photo Credit: Shutterstock
How to Make Lemon Verbena Tea?
You can make lemon verbena tea at home with either dried or fresh lemon verbena leaves. For fresh leaves, you will want about a dozen leaves or 1 tablespoon of dried lemon verbena. You may also add a lemon peel for an added flavor burst. [2]
How to Make Lemon Verbena Tea: Easy Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lemon verbena leaves
- 4 cups water
- 4 tsp honey or any other sweetener of your choice
Instructions
- To make lemon verbena tea, add the leaves to a teapot or tea infuser.
- Bring a saucepan of water to boil and then pour over the leaves.
- Allow the leaves to steep for 5 minutes before straining the tea.
- Serve this tea with honey or a lemon slice for more flavor. You can have it either hot or cold. If you wish to have it cold, either add ice cubes to it or refrigerate it.
Lemon Verbena Tea Benefits
The major benefits of lemon verbena tea include reducing inflammation, aiding in weight loss and soothing respiratory problems, among others. Traditionally, this tea has also been used as a soothing sleep aid to overcome symptoms of insomnia. The low-fat, low-calorie nature of this tea, despite the many antioxidants and vitamins it contains, means that it can help to suppress hunger and aid in weight loss efforts. The aroma and the volatile compounds in this tea are able to soothe inflammation in the respiratory tracts and eliminate symptoms of sore throats and chest congestion. [3]
Lemon Verbena Tea Side Effects
Despite the many benefits of this popular tea, there are some side effects of which you should be aware of. The most common complain is hypersensitivity to sunlight, which is due to some of the active ingredients in this tea. For pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding, there is a lack of research on the effects, so it is better to avoid consuming this tea unless specifically directed to do so by your doctor. [4]
