While colloquially named “tea,” peppermint tea is actually an infusion, or
tisane. True teas (such as black, green, oolong, and white tea) are all derived from the
Camellia sinensis plant, while tisanes are made from the flowers, leaves, roots, seeds, bark, or berries of a variety of different plants. Like true teas, mint tea may be consumed hot or cold, and served with milk or sweeteners such as sugar or honey. True teas contain
caffeine and
tannins, compounds that can produce a bitter taste. The levels of these compounds in a cup of tea can vary based on steeping time and water temperature. To achieve a pleasant drinking experience, true teas are prepared using specific brewing times and temperature ranges. Mint tea, as a tisane, does not contain these compounds at similarly high concentrations,
Brewing dried leaves Dried leaves may be brewed loose or in tea bags. When brewing with tea bags, the most common way to brew tea, most brands recommend one bag per 8oz ounces of water. Brewing recommendations vary by brand, with suggested steeping times ranging from about 3 to 15 minutes and temperatures generally between 200°F and 212°F. == Health Effects ==