What Is Herbal Tea?
What herbal tea (a tisane) is, how it differs from true tea, which drinks contain caffeine, why preparation matters, and a plain map of this library.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read herbal tea and extract safety before you use anything on this page.
Short answer: herbal tea, also called a tisane, is a drink made by steeping plants other than the tea plant. It looks and is prepared like tea, but it is not tea. This page explains the words, the main safety points and where to read next. It is information only, not medical advice.
Herbal tea versus true tea
A review of tea and herbal beverages defines herbal tea, or "tisanes," as the infusion of plants other than Camellia sinensis. [6] Green, black and oolong teas all come from Camellia sinensis and differ in how the leaves are processed. [7] Herbal teas can be made from flowers, roots, leaves, seeds, bark or berries. [6] Green and black tea are covered in Functional Foods. The full explanation is in Tisane vs tea.Caffeine
The same review says herbal teas do not contain caffeine, unlike other types of tea. [6] Treat that as a general statement, not a guarantee for every product. Some herbal drinks do contain caffeine: a lab study measured it in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) infusions. [8] Blends can also mix herbs with Camellia sinensis. [6] Read the ingredient list, and see caffeine in herbal teas.How the drink is made: infusion, decoction, maceration
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) herbal committee defines herbal teas as one or more herbal substances prepared by decoction, infusion or maceration, made immediately before use. [9] Its 2016 leaflet template describes the three methods:| Method | What the EMA document describes | Plant parts it says suit it |
|---|---|---|
| Infusion | Boiling water poured over the herbal substance and left to steep, usually 5 to 15 minutes when not otherwise specified [9] | Leaves, flowers and delicate parts [9] |
| Decoction | Herbal substance heated to the boil and simmered, usually 15 to 30 minutes when not otherwise specified [9] | Roots, rhizomes and barks [9] |
| Maceration | Herbal substance soaked in water at room temperature, usually 30 minutes when not otherwise specified [9] | Roots, rhizomes and barks [9] |
These are regulatory descriptions, not instructions for you. Follow the label of the product you have, and ask a pharmacist if unsure. The EMA also notes that boiling water helps lower the microbial load of herbal material. [9] More in How herbal tea is prepared and EU monograph tea amounts.
Preparation changes what ends up in the cup. In one lab study, hot-prepared yerba mate infusions contained considerably more of the measured active compounds than cold-prepared ones. [10] That was one plant and one set of measurements, so it does not predict other teas.
Tea, tincture or capsule: not interchangeable
Research on one form of a plant does not carry over to another form. The review notes that research on the specific chemicals in herbal teas and their effects is scarce. [6] A few teas have been tested as teas. In a randomized trial of 65 adults with pre- or mild high blood pressure, brewed hibiscus tea or a placebo drink was given for 6 weeks, and the tea group had a lower systolic pressure at the end. [11] We label that promising but limited: one trial, one tea, one population. For most teas, proper evidence not found in the sources we read for the tea itself; see what research tests the tea itself and tea vs tincture vs capsule.Very hot drinks
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, part of the WHO) classified drinking very hot beverages as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) in 2016. [12] "Very hot" meant above 65 °C, and IARC said the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, appeared responsible. [12] Read more in very hot tea and esophageal cancer risk.Where to read next
| If you want to know | Go to |
|---|---|
| A tea by name, with scientific names | More about A tea by name, with scientific names → |
| What the tea itself has been studied for | More about What the tea itself has been studied for → |
| Sleep and calm | More about Sleep and calm → |
| Teas with serious cautions | Safety essentials and laxative and detox tea claims |
| Tinctures and liquid extracts | More about Tinctures and liquid extracts → |
| Labels, blends and contamination | More about Labels, blends and contamination → |
| Side-by-side questions | More about Side-by-side questions → |
| What a word means | More about What a word means → |
Frequently asked questions
Is herbal tea really tea?
No. In the sources we read, tea comes from Camellia sinensis and herbal tea (a tisane) is an infusion of other plants. [6]
Is herbal tea caffeine-free?
A review says herbal teas do not contain caffeine. [6] Yerba mate infusions have been measured to contain it, and blends can include true tea, so check the ingredient list. [8]
Is herbal tea safe because it is natural?
Not automatically. NCCIH advises people who take any medicine to talk with their health care provider before using valerian or other herbal products, because some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. [1] Ask a pharmacist or clinician, especially if you take medicines, are pregnant or have a liver or kidney condition.
Does a tea work like the same herb in a capsule?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for a direct comparison. We read a review and EMA documents; they describe the forms but do not compare tea with capsules, and we did not run a systematic search. [6] Do not assume results transfer between forms.
What is the difference between an infusion and a decoction?
The EMA leaflet describes an infusion as boiling water poured over the herbal substance, and a decoction as heating it to the boil and simmering it. [9]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety first
- "Natural" does not mean risk-free. Some herbal teas interact with medicines. For example, NCCIH says valerian should not be taken with alcohol or sedatives. [1]
- Licorice contains glycyrrhizin, which NCCIH says can cause serious adverse effects. [2] See licorice in tea blends.
- People allergic to daisy-family plants can react to chamomile. The EU herbal agency says chamomile products must not be used by people allergic to matricaria flowers or other Asteraceae plants. [3]
- Lavender may theoretically add to the effect of sedatives, which NCCIH says matters before surgery. [4] Tell the surgical team about every tea and extract you use.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the FDA recommends talking to your health care provider about caffeine. [5] See pregnancy and herbal tea.
- Ask a pharmacist or clinician about any tea or extract if you take medicines. Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own. Read how interactions work.
- Severe allergic reaction, trouble breathing or collapse: call 911 (US). For a possible poisoning, Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222 (US). See poisoning: what to do first.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Valerian: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Licorice Root: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Matricariae flos (matricaria flower) - herbal medicinal product (public page). Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Lavender: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? Consumer update. Read 2026-10-23.
- Huda HS, Majid NBA, Chen Y, et al. Exploring the ancient roots and modern global brews of tea and herbal beverages: A comprehensive review. Food Sci Nutr. 2024. PubMed 39479640. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Green Tea: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
- Najman K, et al. Changes in the Physicochemical and Bioactive Properties of Yerba Mate Depending on the Brewing Conditions. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2024. PubMed 38893465. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Patient Leaflet template concerning advice on the preparation of herbal teas as (traditional) herbal medicinal products by end-users, EMA/HMPC/30603/2012, adopted 20 September 2016. Read 2026-10-23.
- Płatkiewicz J, et al. Antioxidant Capacity, Phenolic Compounds, and Other Constituents of Cold and Hot Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) Infusions. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). 2024. PubMed 39765796. Read 2026-10-23.
- McKay DL, et al. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. tea (tisane) lowers blood pressure in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. The Journal of nutrition. 2010. PubMed 20018807. Read 2026-10-23.
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO). IARC Monographs evaluate drinking coffee, mate, and very hot beverages. Press release no. 244, 15 June 2016. Read 2026-10-23.