Herbal Oregano Tea

Making Herbal Oregano Tea is as easy as steeping fresh oregano leaves (or dried oregano) in a cup of boiling water.  Homemade herbal tea made with fresh herbs are light, deliciously aromatic and rich with nutrients. And there are many Oregano Tea Benefits you can take advantage of from sipping this cozy drink.

Herbal teas can easily be made at home using fresh herbs plucked from your garden or purchased at the market.  This oregano tea is a great herbal tea to sip on during cold winter months to help boost the immune system, promote healing and reduce inflammation.

Homemade herbal tea using fresh or dried herbs is another easy drink for you to add to your daily wellness plan.  It helps strengthen the immune system and has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.  

Oregano Tea Recipe

Herbal Oregano Tea uses a sprig of fresh oregano leaves steeped hot water to make a cozy tasting herbal tea.

• Fresh Oregano
• Boiling water
• Slices of lemon or orange
• Honey

If you don’t have fresh oregano on hand, then you can add dried oregano instead.  Use 2 teaspoons dried oregano per 1-1/2 cups water.

How to Make Oregano Tea

1. Boil water:  Place 1-1/2 cups water in a saucepan or tea kettle and bring to a boil.
2. Muddle leaves:  Place sprig of fresh oregano leaves in cup and lightly mash herb leaves to release their oils.
3. Steep tea:  Pour hot water over fresh oregano leaves.  Let steep 5 minutes before removing herb leaves.
4. Add citrus:  Add a slice of lemon, lime or orange to cup as oregano steeps for added fresh flavor. Optional
5. Sweeten:  Stir in 1 teaspoon (or more) of honey.

If using dried oregano:

• Boil water:  Place 1-1/2 cups water in saucepan or tea kettle and bring to a boil.  
• Steep tea:  Add 2 teaspoons dried oregano in strainer and place in tea cup.  Pour boiling water over dried oregano and let steep for 2 to 4 minutes.
• Enjoy:  Remove strainer, sweeten with honey and add a slice of lemon or orange.

What is Oregano?

Oregano is a flowering herb that comes from the same family as mint.  It’s a fragrant herb that brings warming flavors  to a dish and it’s often added to Italian, Mediterranean and Mexican foods.  Oregano has a slightly bitter and peppery taste.  

Oregano Benefits

There are numerous health benefits of oregano.  Oregano has been used to treat everything from sore throats, coughs, nausea to reducing inflammation and fighting viruses and bacterial infections.  Oregano also may have potential diuretic benefits

• Antioxidants: Oregano is rich with antioxidants, in particular carvacrol and thymol – two antioxidants that help prevent damage by free radicals. (1), (2), (3)
• Antiviral: May help to inactivate norovirus (infection that can cause nausea and diarrhea with stomach pain) and may inactivate 90% of the herpes simplex virus within one hour. (4)(5)
• Antibacterial:  Oregano is one of the most effective essential oils against bacteria (coming in second to thyme). According to one study, oregano showed that it was effective against 23 types of bacteria (6) (7)(8)
• Anti-inflammatory: The powerful antioxidants found in oregano help to neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation.  It may help ease muscle and joint pain and dry coughs. (9), (10)

What is Herbal Tea?

Technically, herbal tea isn’t really a “tea” because it does not come from the Camellia Sinensis (tea plant).  Herbal tea is merely an infusion of any edible plant, and can be made by using herbs, flowers, roots, spices, seeds and fruit.

List of Herbal Teas

Here’s a list of some common herbal teas you can easily make at home.

• Cammomile Tea:  Chammomile is rich with antioxidants and is known for treating insomnia, reducing anxiety and soothing an upset tummy.  
• Peppermint Tea: Peppermint is best known for soothing an upset stomach.  It may also help treat headaches (opening up constricted blood vessels like ibuprofen) and reduce congestion and sinus inflammation.
• Holy Basil Tea: Holy basil has been used to treat bronchitis and relieve congestion.  It also can be used to help soothe an upset stomach.  
• Fennel Tea: Fennel has a delicious flavor similar to black licorice.  It has healing properties for the digestive system and may help reduce spasms.  It has antibacterial properties that may inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, like Ecoli and Staph. It’s also rich with vitamin C and quercetin which may help reduce inflammation. PRECAUTION:  FENNEL HAS STRONG ESTROGENIC PROPERTIES (IT ACTS SIMILAR TO ESTROGEN), SO IT MAY BE UNSAFE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.  (11) (12)
• Ginger Tea: Ginger tea may help reduce inflammation, heal respiratory system and reduce congestion associated with the common cold.  It aids with blood circulation and may help lower bad cholesterol.  
• Lavendar Tea: Lavendar is commonly used in aromatherapy to help relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression and fatigue.  It may help improve mood and provide a calming effect to aid sleep. (13)

How to Use Oregano 

Add fresh or dried oregano to your favorite Italian, Mexican and Mediterranean dishes.

• Vinaigrettes: Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette, Italian Salad Dressing
• Mains: Grilled Turkey Burgers, Mexican Avocado Chicken Burgers, Greek Chicken Bowl
• Soups: Minestrone Soup Recipe, Vegan Tortilla Soup
• Sauce:  Classic Marinara Sauce

Immune Boosting Tea Recipes

• Elderberry Tea
• Chamomile Tea
• Immune Boosting Ginger Tea
• Lemon Ginger Morning Detox Drink
• Antioxidant Rich Blueberry Green Tea
• Fruit Infused Turmeric Tea
• Iced Green Tea with Apple and Ginger

Disclaimer: Just a reminder, I’m neither a doctor or a nutritionist and I make no health claims. This post and all other posts on this site are for  entertainment and informational purposes about healthy eating only and should not be considered medical advice.