How to Make Herbal Tea With Sage

Sage is a traditional herbal remedy used to treat several minor ailments. According to the "Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines," sage can be used to treat digestive problems such as upset stomach and diarrhea, irritation of the throat or gums, and by breastfeeding women to correct an oversupply of breast milk. Because sage tea occasionally causes serious side effects (see Warnings), limit your consumption to one or two cups per day.

Things You'll Need

• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh sage or 1 tsp. dried sage leaves
• Tea ball or sieve
• Lemon wedge (optional)
• Honey or other sweetener (optional)

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Instructions

• 1

  Bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil in a teapot, kettle, or small saucepan. Although you'll only need about six ounces of water, some will evaporate as you heat it.

• 2

  Put the sage into a tea ball or place it directly into the tea cup.

• 3

  Pour boiling water over the tea ball or sage in the cup. Allow the tea to steep for about five minutes. The longer you steep the tea, the stronger it will be. Very strong sage tea may be unpleasantly bitter, but tea that is too weak may not have therapeutic benefits.

• 4

  Remove the tea ball from the cup if you're using one. Otherwise, use a sieve to strain the sage from the water.

• 5

  Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and honey or other sweetener if desired.