For thousands of years, long before tea was sipped from porcelain cups or poured at modern cafés, humans turned to plants for healing. Herbal tea—sometimes called a tisane—has long held a sacred place in folk medicine, ancient wellness practices, and everyday rituals across cultures. From the mountains of China to the forests of Appalachia, tea herbalism has helped soothe bodies, calm minds, and connect people with the land.
Let’s take a walk through the roots of herbal tea, and why this ancient tradition still has so much to offer.
Ancient Origins: Tea as Medicine
The earliest recorded uses of medicinal teas date back to ancient China, where legend credits Emperor Shen Nong with discovering tea around 2737 BCE. As the story goes, leaves from a nearby tree drifted into his boiling water—he drank it and felt restored. From there, Chinese medicine evolved an entire philosophy around herbs and balance, using blends of roots, leaves, and flowers to address imbalances in the body.
In India, Ayurvedic medicine developed its own herbal tea practices using spices like ginger, turmeric, tulsi (holy basil), and fennel. These weren’t just drinks—they were daily tonics for digestion, immunity, and mental clarity.
In the Middle East and North Africa, teas infused with mint, rose, and anise served both social and medicinal purposes, cooling the body in heat or calming the stomach after meals.
Across Europe and the Americas, folk herbalism drew on local plants like chamomile, elderflower, peppermint, and lemon balm—remedies passed down through generations.
The Ritual of the Remedy
Herbal tea isn’t just about what’s in the cup—it’s also about how you drink it. The act of steeping, pausing, and sipping slowly has long been viewed as part of the healing process. Many traditions even incorporate prayer, intention-setting, or seasonal rituals around their herbal brews.
Today, modern herbalism blends ancient knowledge with scientific insights. At Full Moon Tea Company, our blends honor these roots—designed not just to taste good, but to nourish body, spirit, and story.
