Tea Time for You & Your Horse!

When herbs are drenched with very hot water, the herbs become a tea and release their volatile oils into the water. If this oils are captured and retained by placing a lid on the seeping tea, and the tea is seeped for long enough (20 minutes to an hour) and allowed to cool, the specific constituents of the herbs can be retained and its unique tastes magnifed.

Some teas may have a powerful anti-oxidant effect. For example, Peppermint helps to inhibit iron absorption. This is wonderful news for the majority of grass hays in this country are far too high in iron -- and once a horse absorbs iron, it can not "unabsorb" iron! Feeding Peppermint tea may at least help to block further absorption. (Please note that medicinal trials were were done with humans using only 100 percent, certified organic herbs.)

Herbal teas may have a soothing effect for both human and horse. Our Meadow blend, Herbal Terrain Hay Mixer makes a wonderful recipe for you to enjoy, too. After all, why should your horse have all the fun?

While strainers and cloth satchels are used for convenience sake, the most flavorful tea is made with the largest strainer available or no strainer at all (so if you do use a strainer, use one that's horse-size!) This is because the more space the leaves have to unfold in the water, the more they are able to release their full flavor.

In keeping with the fact above, buying herbal teas in loose leaf form allows the herbs to stay freshest longest.

All teas have flavors that fit into one of three categories: Sweet, bitter and astringent.  The sweetness comes from the larger amounts of amino acids found in higher quality teas after cooling. In general, boiling water "burns" tea leaves -- especially delicate Peppermint leaves.

While many people associate tea with Europe, tea actually was first discovered and enjoyed in China. The earliest  known book about tea was written by Lu Yu in 800 A.D.

Some information sourced from: www.tea.sg

TEA FACTS

Teas are a wonderful way to add natural, delicious variety to your horse's diet, as well as providing a soothing way to refresh your horse's body and and senses on a hot Summer day. .