Herbal tea Herbal tea Herbal teas — less commonly called tisanes (UK and US , US also ) — are beverages made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material in hot water. They do not usually contain caffeine. Herbal teas should not be confused with true teas (e.g., black, green, white, yellow, oolong), which are prepared from the cured leaves of the tea plant, "Camellia sinensis"), nor with decaffeinated tea, in which the caffeine has been removed. Like beverages made from true teas, herbal teas can be served hot or cold. Some feel that the term "tisane"
Camellia sinensis Robert Sweet shifted all formerly "Thea" species to the genus "Camellia" in 1818. The name "sinensis" means "from China" in Latin. Four varieties of "Camellia sinensis" are recognized. Of these, "C. sinensis" var. "sinensis" and "C. sinensis" var. "assamica" (JW Masters) Kitamura are most commonly used for tea, and "C. sinensis" var. "pubilimba" Hung T. Chang and "C. sinensis" var. "dehungensis" (Hung T. Chang & BH Chen) TL Ming are sometimes used locally. There are hundreds, if not thousands of cultivars of "C. sinensis." Some Japanese cultivars include: "Camellia sinensis" is native to East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast