L'Herbô 14 Winter Comfort Tea

How to Brew: Perfect Temperature & Steeping Time

Add 4 tablespoons (6-8 grams) of the herbal blend per liter of water. For a single cup, use 1.5-2 teaspoons for 250ml.

Heat fresh water to 80°C (176°F) just below boiling to preserve delicate compounds in green tea and maintain aromatic oils from mint and thyme. Boiling water can damage therapeutic properties and create bitter notes.

Pour the heated water over the herbs in a glass or porcelain vessel. Avoid metal containers as reactive materials can alter the infusion's taste and therapeutic properties.

Cover immediately after adding water to trap volatile essential oils that provide both flavor and benefits. Steep for 5-10 minutes depending on desired strength: shorter steeping produces a lighter, delicate cup while longer infusion creates robust, herbaceous character. Stir occasionally during steeping for even extraction.

Strain through a fine mesh sieve before drinking. Consume 1-3 cups throughout the day, particularly during afternoon or early evening hours. The moderate caffeine makes it unsuitable immediately before bedtime for sensitive individuals. During acute respiratory discomfort, increase to 4 cups daily for enhanced support.

Enhance with honey for additional throat-soothing properties and natural sweetness that complements the citrus notes. Adding fresh ginger intensifies warming effects and contributes immune-supporting compounds.

Pure Organic Ingredients: French-Certified Botanical Blend

This thoughtfully composed infusion combines three certified organic botanicals, each contributing 33.33% to create perfect balance and synergy.

Peppermint leaves (Mentha x piperita) are harvested at peak maturity, when menthol, menthone, and menthyl acetate reach their highest concentrations. These volatile oils create the signature cooling sensation while providing smooth muscle relaxation in airways. The bright green leaves are carefully dried to preserve their vibrant, refreshing character and therapeutic potency.

Green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) undergo minimal processing through steaming or pan-firing, preventing oxidation and maintaining high concentrations of beneficial polyphenols. These emerald-hued leaves contribute powerful catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), alongside L-theanine amino acids that promote alert relaxation without jitters.

Lemon thyme (Thymus vulgaris citriodorus) offers gentler, more aromatic qualities than common thyme while maintaining traditional respiratory support properties. The silvery-green leaves contain thymol and carvacrol phenolic compounds with antimicrobial properties, plus citral that delivers the distinctive lemony aroma. Harvested before flowering when essential oils peak, each leaf carries both therapeutic power and aromatic complexity.

All ingredients are certified organic under French Agriculture Biologique standards, cultivated without pesticides or synthetic additives.

Respiratory Support & Winter Immune Defense

This winter wellness blend centers around respiratory comfort and immune support during challenging cold-weather conditions.

Peppermint contributes natural decongestant properties that help clear nasal passages and soothe irritated airways. The menthol compounds create a cooling sensation that relieves throat discomfort while relaxing bronchial muscles, making breathing easier during congested periods. Many find inhaling the aromatic steam as beneficial as drinking the tea itself.

Key respiratory and immune benefits include:

• Clears congestion and supports easier breathing
• Soothes throat irritation with cooling menthol compounds
• Provides antimicrobial support through thyme's thymol and carvacrol
• Strengthens immune response with green tea antioxidants
• Supports bronchial health with expectorant properties

Green tea delivers powerful antioxidant compounds that strengthen the body's defense mechanisms against oxidative stress intensified by cold weather and indoor heating. The catechins (polyphenols) support cellular protection and enhance immune system responsiveness to seasonal challenges. Unlike coffee, the gentle caffeine content provides mild stimulation without overwhelming the blend's calming character.

Lemon thyme adds antimicrobial and expectorant qualities traditionally valued for supporting bronchial health and easing persistent coughs. The combination of thymol and citral creates a dual-action effect that both fights unwanted microbes and helps clear respiratory passages.

Beyond physical benefits, this aromatic infusion creates moments of mental restoration and stress relief. The ritual of preparing warm tea offers mindful pauses during busy winter days, while the warming nature helps maintain comfortable body temperature and encourages adequate hydration.

European Winter Herbal Wisdom

The tradition of winter herbal infusions spans centuries across European and Mediterranean cultures, where communities developed seasonal blends to address cold-weather ailments long before modern medicine existed.

Peppermint cultivation dates back to ancient Egyptian times, appearing in medicinal papyri around 1550 BCE. Medieval European monks recognized its value for digestive complaints and respiratory relief, cultivating it in monastery gardens where herbal knowledge was preserved and refined through generations. These monastic herbalists created the foundation for modern European phytotherapy.

Thyme holds particular significance in Mediterranean herbalism. Greek physicians like Hippocrates (460-370 BCE) recommended it for respiratory conditions and as a fumigant during plague outbreaks. The Romans spread thyme cultivation throughout their empire, valuing both culinary and medicinal applications. Folk traditions associated thyme with courage and purification, making it sacred during winter solstice ceremonies where communities sought protection during the darkest months.

Green tea's inclusion bridges Eastern and Western herbal wisdom, bringing centuries of Chinese and Japanese tea culture into a European botanical framework. This practice of blending green tea with Western herbs represents a modern synthesis of global healing traditions, something French herbal companies particularly excel at through their rich pharmaceutical history and generations of botanical knowledge.