Maria Suzanne Plana | Vigorbuddy.com
Store-bought teas may be too much for the Filipino budget and come in limited varieties. If you are craving for a cup of tea but don’t want to spend too much, you should try these delicious Filipino friendly homemade teas.
Oregano tea
This aromatic herb can be found in the backyards of most Filipinos. If you don’t have it at home, try asking a few leaves from your neighbor or cheaply buy it at the local market. Oregano is full of antioxidants that fight free radicals to keep the well-being of your cells and help avoid cancer and heart diseases.
To make oregano tea you’ll need dried or fresh oregano tea, water, honey or sugar. Simply place a few teaspoons of oregano into a cup of boiling water, steep for 2-3 minutes then add honey or sugar to taste. Take note that if you are using fresh leaves, it is best to wash and bruise it before steeping to release its healthy juices and heighten its aroma.
Malunggay tea
Just like oregano, malunggay is a typical household produce of Filipinos and can also be bought at the local market. Malunggay is considered as a miracle plant because of its numerous health benefits such as fighting malnutrition, having anti-bacterial, and having anti-cancer properties.
Making malunggay tea is more tedious but its ingredients are as simple as the previous one. You will be needing fresh malunggay leaves, water, and honey or sugar. Before steeping, the leaves should be washed, carefully picked off their stems, and air-dried for at least three days. Place your leaves in an uncovered container and leave it at your counter for three days, afterwards you can crush it by your clean hands. It would be helpful to have a grinder if you prefer a finer texture. Setting that aside, you can then steep a teaspoon of the crushed leaves into a cup of boiling water for 2-3 minutes before adding honey or sugar to taste.
Talbos ng Kamote tea
You read that right! It is actually possible to make a delicious cup of tea from camote tops, you just have to steep it according to your liking.
Camote tops, like oregano and malunggay, are also rich in antioxidants that help lessen the risk of cancer and heart diseases. Aside from being rich in protein, fiber, and calcium, it is also beneficial for people with dengue, diabetes, high cholesterol, and irregular bowel movements.
To make this health tea, you’ll need talbos ng kamote, calamansi, water, and honey or sugar to taste. Boil a good amount of water in a pot. While waiting for the water to boil, thoroughly wash the leaves. Add the clean camote tops to the boiling water, let it boil for 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let steep for 5 more minutes. Transfer the tea into your favorite mug or cup, squeeze in a few drops of calamansi juice to your liking and add honey or sugar to taste.
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