Healthy Vitamin C Herbal Tea | Recipes to Nourish (2024)

Published: Jul 30, 2011 · Modified: Aug 20, 2019 by Emily Criswell · I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article · 40 Comments

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Healthy Vitamin C Herbal Tea ishigh in vitamin C and bioflavonoids. It’s refreshing on a hot summer day and great to have on hand during cold and flu "season".

This healthy vitamin C herbal tea is so refreshing.

It's hydrating, nourishing and has some medicinal properties when prepared as an herbal tea infusion.

One of the great benefits of drinking herbal infusions is that the vitamins and minerals are readily available for your body. You can’t get that from a synthetic vitamin supplement.

Rose Hips

High in vitamin C, more so than many other herbs and foods. They also contain vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin E, calcium, iron, manganese, selenium and zinc. They have a wonderful sweet taste.

Lemongrass

High in calcium, iron, magnesium and manganese.

Has medicinal properties, is known for it warming effect and for supporting digestion. It also adds a wonderful sweet and spicy flavor to teas.

Hibiscus

High in vitamin C and is known for its cooling properties.

Fennel seed

Known to help support digestion and is said to be excellent for nursing moms. It's known to help support breastmilk production and to support digestion.

Lemon peel

Added for flavor and adds a bit of vitamin C.

Healthy Vitamin C Herbal Tea Infusion

Yield: 4 cups

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Inactive Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 58 minutes

Healthy Vitamin C Herbal Tea is high in vitamin C and bioflavonoids. It’s refreshing on a hot summer day and great to have on hand during cold and flu "season".

Ingredients

4 tablespoons rose hips
1 tablespoon lemongrass
1 tablespoon cinnamon chips {broken up cinnamon sticks}
1 teaspoon hibiscus flowers
1 teaspoon fennel seed
½ teaspoon lemon peel
4 cups filtered water
Ice (optional)
Raw honey or fresh fruit juice (optional)

Instructions

Combine all dried herbs in a medium size bowl, store extra herb mixture in airtight glass container.
Bring water to a boil in a medium-size saucepan or in a tea kettle, remove from heat.
Add 4 tablespoons of herb mixture to water. COVER (this ensures that you receive all of the nutritional benefits from the herbs).
Steep 45 minutes.
Strain tea.
Sweeten with small amount of honey or fresh fruit juice if desired.If you want to retain some of the beneficial properties of raw honey or fresh juice, add after tea has cooled some.
Store extra tea in the refrigerator up to a week.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 106Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 48mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 18gProtein: 1g

This nutritional information was auto-generated based on serving size, number of servings, and typical information for the ingredients listed. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circ*mstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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About Emily Criswell

Emily Criswell is a chocolate- and sweet treat-loving, holistic-minded mom of 4. She's a 4-time cookbook author -The Art of Great Cooking withYour Instant Pot {ranked in Amazon's top 10 new releases - gluten free recipes}, Amazing Mexican Favorites with Your Instant Pot{ranked as a #1 New Release BEST SELLER!}, Low-Carb Cooking with Your Instant Pot, The Big Book of Instant Pot Recipes, food photographer, homeschooler and the founder of Recipes to Nourish, a gluten-free blog focusing on real food and natural living. She works to empower her readers by showing them that there is a healthier way to eat and live. Her passion is to make healthy, natural living as uncomplicated and enjoyable as possible.Find Emily’s latest recipes and natural living tips atRecipes to Nourish. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram,Pinterest, Twitterand YouTube plus grab her free eBookHolistic Tips to Keep Your Family Healthy. Read more >>About Emily.

Reader Interactions

Comments

Amy
September 07, 2011 at 6:41 am

This is a good idea,I normally buy herbal tea,but never try of making at home.Now I want to try this.Thanks for sharing
Reply
Emily Sunwell
September 07, 2011 at 7:09 am

Hi Amy, thanks! I think you'll enjoy it, it's nice to be able to put together your own blend at home, then you can come up with any combination too. 🙂
Reply
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Unknown
November 24, 2011 at 4:13 am

I bought the herbs, made the tea. I"m struggling with how much herbs to buy at one time. I'm making this tea, your cough drops, your elderberry syrup, this cough syrup: http://frugallysustainable.blogspot.com/2011/11/building-your-medicine-chest-diy-herbal.html,and your Herbal Tea. Any suggestions on how much herbs to purchase at a time, so I dont run out and have to pay shipping again? Thanks!
Reply
- Ben
  October 13, 2023 at 12:46 pm
  
  Hi. I buy one scoop of each herb at a time, at my local store. A scoop is 1/2 cup. My tea has 8 ingredients, including Gotu Kola, so I'm buying 4 cups of herbs at a go. I use 1/4 cup of herbs for one 2 quart set of infusion. Which last me a week. That leaves me 8 weeks before I need to re-stock. I wouldn't want my herbs sitting around longer than that anyways, but you can do the math for yourself to get a purchase schedule you want. How many cups of herbs to make how many cups of tea divided by weeks.
  Reply
Emily Sunwell
November 24, 2011 at 5:18 am

I always buy the pound bags of herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs, but that's because there is the extra discount if you purchase larger quantities and I also use a lot of herbs. If you can and if you plan on making any or all of them a lot, I would buy the pound bags of each of the herbs, however, buy smaller bags of the hibiscus and lemon peel because you won't use those as much. I hope that helps some, I just figure the pound bags last longer and if you purchase 5-9 pounds (you can mix and match), you get 10% off.
Reply
Herryponting
December 01, 2011 at 5:35 am

Outstanding stuff also helpful information. Best of luck Admin..
Syntol
Reply
Emily Sunwell
December 01, 2011 at 5:38 am

Thank you.
Reply
ahnn
February 16, 2012 at 10:21 pm

Such a brilliant idea! I will definitely try this at home. I love your photo with the kid, super cute. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Herbal tea
Reply
- Emily Sunwell
  February 17, 2012 at 12:03 am
  
  Thank you.
  Reply
Elizabeth
July 18, 2012 at 6:58 pm

Isn't vitamin C very heat sensitive?
Reply
- Emily Sunwell
  July 18, 2012 at 9:05 pm
  
  Possibly in a supplement form, but coming from an herb, the only way to make infusions is by steeping the herbs. Herbalists have been making infusions for hundred of years, rose hips specifically are one of the best sources of vitamin C, and making an infusion with them is the best way to get all of those good nutrients.
  Reply
- Emily Sunwell
  July 18, 2012 at 9:06 pm
  
  I also am not a health care practitioner, but I base what I make on things I have learned from very wise friends, midwives, herbalists, etc.
  Reply
- Jacqueline
  January 03, 2013 at 12:57 pm
  
  Hibiscus is an herb/plant that is heat sensitive...it only retains it's health benefits if made as a cold infusion instead of a hot water infusion.
  Reply
- Emily Sunwell
  January 04, 2013 at 2:06 am
  
  Hmm, I've never heard that Jacqueline. That's not the info that I am familiar with, I get most of my herb info from herbalists Rosemary Gladstar and Susun Weed, and a friend of mine who is an herbalist too.
  Reply
Summer
November 26, 2012 at 6:42 pm
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This tea sounds so refreshing and delightful! I was searching for hibiscus tea and happily found your site. Thanks much! I will be visiting your site often~
Reply
- Emily Sunwell
  November 26, 2012 at 7:15 pm
  
  Thank you Summer, that's so kind of you. I hope you enjoy the tea as much as we do. Thanks for visiting 🙂
  Reply
Amanda Armstrong
November 07, 2013 at 1:00 am

So beautiful. It makes me want to hit up a herb store in Boulder... but I have enough pricey DIY's going (pricey as in I would buy more things in there than I should, lol). But what a a great DIY project for Holiday prezzies. I do try to make healthier tea drinks with what I have on hand, I rely on good ol' ACV! I will be joining your site ♥ This is as close to a refreshing tea drink I do: http://thecherrymama.blogspot.com/2013/04/apple-and-aloe-cleansing-slim-tea.html
Reply
- Emily Sunwell
  November 07, 2013 at 1:04 am
  
  Thanks for sharing, I will check it out 🙂
  Reply
Laura
January 04, 2016 at 12:19 pm

Thank you for this amazing herbal tea recipe! I am new to herbs so the information about each ingredient was particularly helpful. Also, you have a BEAUTIFUL blog! Glad I found it. 🙂
Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  January 04, 2016 at 1:03 pm
  
  Thank you so much Laura! So happy you found it too 🙂 Glad the info was helpful. Hope you'll come back again.
  Reply
Kristy
February 02, 2016 at 3:10 pm

What do you think about adding hibiscus to the elderberry rosehip syrup?
Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  February 02, 2016 at 3:27 pm
  
  I've never thought of that before, I'm sure you could. I love hibiscus in herbal tea infusions.
  Reply
Megan
April 07, 2016 at 7:32 am

Thank you os much for this recipe. I will be making it for my family soon! Love herbal infusions.
Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  April 10, 2016 at 2:33 pm
  
  Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
  Reply
linda spiker
April 07, 2016 at 7:39 am

Beautiful recipe Emily. I don't drink tea unless it's medicinal, but if I did, I would drink your teas:)
Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  April 10, 2016 at 2:33 pm
  
  🙂 you're sweet
  Reply
Abbey Sharp
April 07, 2016 at 9:15 am

omg love this- an easy yet healthy alternative to water!
Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  April 10, 2016 at 2:32 pm
  
  Thanks! It's a really nice change from water.
  Reply
Andrea Fabry
April 07, 2016 at 12:37 pm

I have some camu camu powder on hand and might add it. This is awesome!
Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  April 10, 2016 at 2:30 pm
  
  That's a great idea! 🙂
  Reply
Beth
April 07, 2016 at 1:25 pm

We are hitting 80 degrees in Seattle today and this sounds so refreshing! Love the nutrient boost, as well. I've been doing a lot of nettle tea lately; this sounds much tastier. 😉
Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  April 10, 2016 at 2:30 pm
  
  Sounds like we're having similar weather. I love nettle tea 🙂
  Reply
Jolene @ Yummy Inspirations
April 07, 2016 at 3:20 pm

Sounds so refreshing!
Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  April 10, 2016 at 2:27 pm
  
  Thanks, it is, especially on hot days 🙂
  Reply
Shelley Alexander
April 08, 2016 at 11:45 am

Emily, your herbal tea recipe sounds fantastic! I drink tea almost every day so I will have to try your blend. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!
Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  April 10, 2016 at 1:27 pm
  
  Thanks Shelley! Enjoy your tea, I love drinking it daily too 🙂
  Reply
Rebecca
April 08, 2016 at 4:48 pm

I've never made my own tea before, but this sounds totally doable & delicious!
Reply
- Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
  April 10, 2016 at 1:26 pm
  
  It's super easy to do 🙂 I hope you get to at some point.
  Reply
Ben
October 13, 2023 at 12:53 pm

Hi Emily,
I agree with you about heat sensitivity. I do the same thing, where I brew the infusion off the heat at about 206 degrees, which is ideal for coffee. I let it cool (your 45 minutes), then into the fridge. Then I get cold extraction overnight, which I'm sure brings more and different vitamins out. Do you have you any access to science on the amount of each vitamin makes it into the infusion? Say, 1/4 cup of rosehips gives 50 mg vitamin C. I have heard that each vitamin leaves each herb a different way. Sometimes you need to eat the herbs to get the vitamins. Does the magnesium come out of the lemongrass during a 45 minute infusion? Has anyone done infusion testing to see how much infusions actually extract? Thanks
Reply
- Emily Criswell
  October 29, 2023 at 11:37 am
  
  Hi Ben, that's great that you make the infusions the same way. 😊 I really don't know the science behind it, I'm sure there's some out there that's accessible - but I don't have that info. I bet herbalists like Rosemary Gladstar might have more info on that.
  Reply