Winter herbal teas are not all the same. By using spices and herbs, we can prepare real panaceas in a few moments, each with its own properties and consequent benefits for our body. Between relaxing teas, draining teas, and digestive teas, the possibilities are vast, and able to prevent and resolve various body and mind issues that intensify in winter. For our well-being, an Ariete kettle and a few natural ingredients can make the difference. After all, the name itself says it: "ti-sana" (it heals you), something that makes us healthier.

In general, to obtain a curative and draining effect, the advice is to consume three herbal teas a day. If, however, we only want to enjoy the benefits of a pleasantly tasting tea with relaxing properties, it will be enough to sip one cup of herbal tea in the evening, with excellent flavor and aroma. Furthermore, purifying or diuretic teas should be drunk before meals - therefore on an empty stomach - while digestive teas should be consumed after eating.

To prepare a perfect herbal tea, just heat the water to 100 degrees Celsius (212°F) and leave the ingredients to infuse for between 7 and 10 minutes. Remember to cover the cup so as to maintain all the properties of the essential oils, which would otherwise evaporate with the heat. Between herbs and spices, the choice is quite rich: let's look together at the best winter herbal teas to prepare at home, and what their different effects are.

Draining herbal teas

Draining herbal teas are particularly effective in cases of water retention, and in winter they become even more useful because they help treat urinary tract infections and calm premenstrual syndrome pains. They are in fact natural anti-inflammatory and purifying agents, which can be beneficial by preparing mixtures with ingredients such as birch, cherry, corn, and couch grass, as well as dandelion, burdock, and chamomile.

Digestive herbal teas

Those who suffer from digestion problems, especially in winter, can opt for digestive herbal teas that are pleasant to drink and also have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and disinfectant properties. These problems can be more annoying and frequent in the winter season due to the higher-calorie and fatter menus usually associated with this period. Make way then for fennel, ginger, thyme, sage, nettle, cloves, anise, and mint, all ingredients available in a good herbalist shop. 

Relaxing herbal teas

Not having the possibility to go out and relax due to the colder temperatures, in winter we more often feel the need for a hot herbal tea to encourage moments of relaxation in which to "purify ourselves" from the tension accumulated during the day. In these cases, chamomile, lemon balm, valerian, mallow, hawthorn, and lavender are excellent against anxiety, known for their relaxing and antispasmodic capabilities. The best tea for sleeping, however, is the one prepared with poppy, sweet woodruff, melilot, hops, and orange blossoms, even better if accompanied by a teaspoon of honey. 

Herbal teas against colds and flu

In addition to being tasty, these natural remedies have beneficial properties that help counteract seasonal ailments such as coughs, flu, or colds. For medicinal teas, we can use ginger and cinnamon combined with citrus fruits, which have an antibacterial and disinfectant action. In case of coughs and sore throats, we can instead try eucalyptus, peppermint, licorice, basil, and rosehip, which act on spasms and inflammation.

Winter herbal teas with Ariete kettles

To quickly and relaxedly prepare a good steaming winter herbal tea, the electric kettles from the Ariete catalog are excellent kitchen helpers. Whether they have more modern shapes, those from the Vintage line. All Ariete kettles, thanks to the combination of steel and plastic, are equipped with a useful thermo-insulated layer that prevents them from heating up externally, and us from coming into contact with the hot parts. They are also very easy to use, with a few buttons and knobs to regulate the desired temperature, and convenient to transport, thanks to the presence of a cordless base.