Sage tea is a simple-to-brew caffeine-free herbal tea with great clean flavors and somehow minty, earthy notes. You can purchase sage tea bags at the store or make your own brew using fresh sage or dry sage. If you enjoy cooking with sage or sipping herbal teas, sage is a must-have for your herb garden.
One plant will usually be enough for the average household, as a matter of fact, my sage plant is growing faster than I’m able to use all of it. Sage is easy to grow and the best part about growing sage is that you only need one of these incredibly easy-to-grow plants in your garden to enjoy its flavor. It will grow almost anywhere as long as it is in full sun for most of the day. It is recommended to harvest sage leaves in the morning, once the dew has dried, ensuring the richest concentration of their natural oils. Sage, just might boost your memory power, and to be honest, couldn’t we all use the extra help?
Fun facts about Sage
- As early as the middle ages, monks and scholars drank sage tea to keep their minds sharp, which is why it’s also known as “thinker’s tea”
- In France, sage is known as “Herbe a la douleur” (herb of pain).
- The Chinese believed that it made their body stronger by stimulating blood circulation and improving their immune system.
- The leaves of the plant are most commonly picked from early summer through November.
- The name “sage” comes from the Latin word “salvia,” which means “to heal.”
- It was consumed for its medicinal value in the 17th century.
- Sage can be used to ward off evil spirits. – By the way, sometimes that sounds like good advice for the times we are in.
Fresh vs Dried Herbs
With the exception of the summer months, we all use mostly dried herbs. Sage is an herb that retains much of its flavor once it is dried. However, it will not have the same vibrant flavor found in fresh sage. Yes, you can use dried sage to brew a cup of sage tea, but fresh is always preferred. Sage has a long growing season. Since this herb is evergreen in most zones, you can harvest sage well into late fall. Use the following standard conversion formula when using fresh herbs in place of dried. The proper conversion ratio is 3:1, or three times more fresh than dried. If your recipe calls for 1 tbsp dried herb, plan to use 3 tbsp of the fresh herb. Generally, you use more fresh herbs because dried herbs have a more robust flavor, as their oils are more concentrated.
If you want to know more details on how to use fresh vs dried herbs
please follow my link that talks in detail about
Fresh Herbs, Storage, & Handling.
Benefits of Sage
While research on the health effects of sage is limited, there’s some evidence to suggest that sage tea provides certain health benefits
- Sage tea is great to drink when you’re nervous, tense, and stressed, or when you feel anxious.
- It is believed that sage tea can help decrease sweat production, which is especially beneficial for dealing with hot flashes.
- Try using hot sage tea as a remedy for menstrual cramps and pain.
- It lowers bad cholesterol levels and increases good cholesterol.
- Sage is loaded with antioxidants that may aid in lowering the risk of certain types of cancer.
- It may promote skin, oral, and brain health, as well as decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, among other benefits.
Precautions and potential side effects of Sage tea
Healthline published an evidence-based article about the emerging benefits and uses of sage. Commonly used in cooking, sage also has a long history of use in alternative and traditional medicine. Sage is an herb and sage tea is packed with potential health benefits — although scientific research on this drink is still in its preliminary stages.
Having said that, sage tea may also have a few downsides. When consumed responsibly, sage tea benefits you in a totally healthy way. Consuming too much sage tea could result in the consumption of unsafe amounts of thujone, which is a neurotoxin. This may cause vomiting, tremors, and dizziness. If you have diabetes, excessive sage consumption could cause blood sugar to drop. In any case, the consumption of sage by pregnant, lactating, or people who have epileptic seizures should be avoided.
Medical opinion before consumption is recommended by those who have health problems. While you should not drink large amounts of this tea for extended periods, it is safe to drink. A study published in Chemical Central Journal suggests that three to six cups of traditional sage tea could be consumed daily.
The Taste
Great clean flavor with somehow minty, earthy notes.
Sage tea is one of my favorite herbal teas.
The Process
As easy as it gets
There is nothing more satisfying for me than plucking a few leaves from my sage plant
and steeping them in a hot cup of water
Steeping sage should be a 7 to an 8-minute thing, add a little honey and lemon and enjoy
The Verdict
I love sage tea however, however in terms of taste, sage tea isn’t for everyone
Sage has a wonderful clean flavor, especially if you add lemon and a touch of honey
The Power of Sage Tea
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 20 sage leaves fresh
- 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
Preparing Sage Tea
- Remove the sage leaves from the stems, and rinse with cold water
How to make Sage Tea
- Bring the water to a boil, remove from heat, and add sage leaves, lemon and honey
- Allow steeping for 7 to 8 minutes, strain and serve hot or chilled with Ice
Chef Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate