Six herbal teas to soothe the soul | The Press

Invigorating and energizing drinks jostle for the entrance of our cups, but what about those that relax us after hectic days? Here are six soothing herbal teas drawn from three local brands, to take it easy in the evening.

Sylvain Sarrazin
The Press

Boreal Harvest (Pilki)

The young Quebec company Pilki builds its infusions around a common denominator, Labrador tea (baptized “tea” by abuse of language, because it is distinct from the leaves of the common tea plant), with which are associated plants harvested in the local boreal nature, often overlooked. Among the wide range of combinations created (we invite you to consult his site), we find that with rose hips and pimbina, a berry related to the cranberry. The flavor of Labrador tea shines through as the centerpiece, coated in small tangy hints that lead us to the heart of the woods. An original variation on the theme for those who appreciate Labrador tea.

Name of the herbal tea: Rosehip and pimbina
Producer: Pilki
Ingredients: wild rosehip, pimbina, wild Labrador tea, organic St. John’s wort, organic bay leaf, organic marjoram
Price: $9 for 25g

A Bold Beet (Pilki)

This combination was a daring bet and it took a little courage to think outside the box. The result is a very, very particular herbal tea, with a beet in the foreground bringing decidedly earthy accents. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it will tickle some reminiscence among pu’ehr lovers. We tested it with a hint of sugar, which attenuated this typical character with more roundness. The poppy is more subtle, contributing to the liquid’s deep, bright red hue. Why not make it a post-sports option (climbing enthusiasts are well aware of the virtues of beets)?

Name of the herbal tea: Beetroot and poppy
Producer: Pilki
Ingredients: organic beetroot, wild labrador tea, organic horsetail, ash, organic savory, poppy
Price: $8 for 20g

A relaxing verbena with a lively taste (Camellia Sinensis)

Camellia Sinensis, known for its tea imports, also offers herbal teas to help relax or digest. This is the case with this organic infusion built very classically around verbena, to which beautiful whole flowers (marigold, mallow, centaury) have been added. Nothing revolutionary, but we note that the verbena has a lot of punch and a frank taste of lemon. On the eye, it also wants to be soft, with a beautiful golden hue and whole ingredients. Still in the series of great classics, the company also offers the proverbial chamomile, more calm, accompanied by lemongrass.

Name of the herbal tea: Organic comforting
Producer: Camellia Sinensis
Ingredients: lemon verbena, calendula (marigold), mallow, cornflower
Price: $14 for 15g

Drink life in pink (Camellia Sinensis)

Do not be fooled by its somewhat dull hue, because this organic herbal tea is dashing and very floral. Its line of conduct is dictated by the rose, which intervenes quickly and marks a long finish, accompanied by nuances of mulberry/raspberry leaf and marjoram. It is a good option for an infusion to prepare during the day, since it would be beneficial to concentration, without causing nervous jolts. For those who love the taste of rose.

Name of the herbal tea: The beautiful organic mood
Producer: Camellia Sinensis
Ingredients: raspberry, marjoram, lemongrass, lemon basil, rose
Price: $14 for 20g

Press the trigger mushroom (DavidsTea)

The DavidsTea brand, founded in Montreal, offers a wide range of herbal teas for relaxation, including this blend featuring reishi, a mushroom prized for millennia by traditional Chinese medicine. Don’t worry, the herbal tea doesn’t taste like damp undergrowth at all, but rather the basket of fruit, with a strawberry dominance. It’s round, sweet and almost candy in the mouth. If you want something less snoring, you can turn to “Tulsi tranquility”, with its strawberry-basil taste and associated with many anti-stress ingredients.

Herbal tea name: Relaxing Reishi
Producer: DavidsTea
Ingredients: apples, candied pineapple, lemon balm, hibiscus, natural red fruit flavor, reishi mushrooms, schisandra berries, sea buckthorn berries, aronia, natural red currant flavor with stevia extract
Price: $8.98 for 50g

Exotic relaxation (DavidsTea)

On a rather fruito-floral note, this herbal tea evokes a baklava or a North African dessert, with accents of jasmine and orange blossom. On the other hand, even if it gives its name to the composition, the lychee turns out to be discreet; lemongrass is more easily detected, combined with linden flowers to create the relaxing effect. The sugar, slightly present, is less exuberant than in the two infusions presented above (reishi and tulsi). Finally, we like the aspect of the mixture, rather luminous.

Herbal tea name: Lychee Dream
Producer: DavidsTea
Ingredients: apples, lemongrass, carrots, bean skin, candied pineapple, bramble leaves, natural flavors (lychee, jasmine), lime blossom, rose petals, marigold flowers, lychees
Price: $8.98 for 50g