What does high-quality tea mean?

Vad innebär ett te av hög kvalité?

What is a high-quality tea?

A high-quality herbal tea means that the herbs are picked at exactly the right time of year, when they are most filled with their essential oils. Preferably wild-picked or from small-scale cultivation without pesticides, so that the herb is not "stressed" and can develop its full healing power. After harvesting, the raw material is handled gently throughout the production process, including drying and packaging.

Some factors that can contribute to a high-quality herbal tea include:

  1. The environment where the herb has sprouted and grown, and that it is picked at just the right time when it has its full healing power.

  2. Correct drying method: Drying herbs correctly is important to preserve taste, aroma, and nutrients. Air-drying and sun-drying are usually gentle methods that preserve the quality of the herbs, while other methods such as high-temperature drying can reduce the quality of the herbs.

  3. Purity: High-value herbal tea should contain pure herbs without any additives or contaminants.

  4. Aroma and taste: A high-quality herbal tea usually has a strong and well-balanced taste and aroma.

  5. Naturalness: Herbs grown without artificial fertilizers and chemical pesticides have a higher quality.

  6. Packaging: Herbal tea packaged correctly in airtight packaging preserves taste and aroma better and has a longer shelf life.

Winter savory from Rtanj mountain

What is the importance of the drying process?

Air-drying herbs is a traditional method that has been used for centuries to preserve herbs and maintain their health benefits. This is a natural process where the herbs are hung in the air and dried using sun and wind. Because of this, air-dried herbs are often preferred over industrially dried herbs for the following reasons:

  1. Preservation of nutrients: Air-drying preserves the herbs' nutrients better than industrial drying. During air-drying, the herbs retain their natural color, taste, and scent, and a larger portion of the important nutrients is preserved.

  2. Better taste and quality: Air-dried herbs have a better taste and quality than industrially dried herbs. Air-dried herbs provide a more natural taste that is not too dry or brittle. They also retain a higher quality because they do not contain any chemical additives or preservatives.

  3. Reduced risks of health problems: Air-dried herbs are less likely to have problems with mold or other types of bacteria than industrially dried herbs. Industrially dried herbs can have higher levels of microorganisms that can lead to health problems.

  4. Environmentally friendly process: Air-drying is an environmentally friendly process that does not release any chemicals or pollutants into the environment. This helps preserve the environment and promotes sustainability.

In summary, air-drying herbs is a better alternative than industrially dried herbs due to its ability to preserve nutrients, taste, and quality, reduce risks of health problems, and be an environmentally friendly process.

What does "industrially dried herbs" mean?

For example, microwaves can be used for drying herbal tea. Microwave drying is a modern technique used in the food industry to streamline the drying process and improve the quality of dried foods, including herbal tea.

During microwave drying, microwaves are used to heat the water in the herbs rapidly, which increases the speed of the drying process. This is effective because microwaves can penetrate deeply into the herbs, allowing the moisture inside the herbs to be removed quickly.

The advantages of microwave drying include higher efficiency, faster drying times, and better preservation of nutrients, taste, and color in the herbs. Disadvantages are that the herb's essential oils are destroyed, and with that, its healing power. Other disadvantages are energy consumption, which has a negative impact on the environment.

Microwave drying is not the only technique used in drying herbal tea

    other methods include rotary drums, drying ovens, or drying cabinets. These methods are effective and can dry the herbs quickly, but they can be less gentle on the herbs and can affect the herbs' taste and nutrients if not used correctly.

      Which method is used depends on factors such as herb type, volume, and the desired quality of the finished herbal tea. Different tea factories may have their own specific methods and techniques for drying herbs.

      Are Pharmacy Garden's herbs of high quality?

      Pharmacy Garden's herbs are of the very highest quality. They are always picked at the right time either in the wild or from small-scale cultivations without pesticides and then air-dried.

      Each batch is checked by an accredited laboratory for bacteria and pesticides to guarantee quality.