The Blending Process
To ensure great flavor, potent health benefits, and safety, we blend herbs. Each of our Siddhi Teas has been carefully blended and tested by Swamiji Gananath Amritananda who is a seasoned chef and a master of Ayurvedic Herbology.
The Reason for Blending Herbs
Blends of herbs are more effective than single herbs because single herbs synergistically enhance the health benefits of one another when herbs with similar properties are combined. In a well-formulated blend, the therapeutic benefits of one herb are empowered by the other herbs in the blend and also strong or undesirable properties of any individual herb in the blend are balanced. Herbs do not have side-effects and many do have powerful effects. When herbs are taken as a part of a well-designed blend, it is safer than taking individual herbs because the amount of each individual herb consumed will be less.
The effects of herbs are most gentle when they have been carefully blended. For example, many nourishing tonic herbs are heavy to digest and may cause indigestion unless they are taken along with carminative herbs to increase digestion. In our blends, all herbs which have great potential for causing undesirable effects have been carefully balanced by the inclusion of antidotal herbs (which counteract any undesirable effects as they enhance the therapeutic benefits of the other herbs). As a result, none of our teas have extreme qualities and all may be safely taken by a person regardless of their constitution (however some teas will be better than others for each individual).
Herbal Teas now line the shelves of every grocer in America. These products are sold without a prescription and are placed on the market shelves next to coffee and fruit juice. People wrongly think that all herbal teas are safe, and they routinely consume large quantities. This is a dangerous misconception. Herbs are very powerful and therefore it is of the utmost importance that the right herbs are taken in the appropriate amount. People must be aware that many herbs can cause serious harm to young children, the elderly, pregnant or nursing women, women during their monthly cycle, or people who are weak or who suffer from specific health concerns. When the right herbs are blended with masterful knowledge of their properties, it is possible to create a blend which is safe and effective. Many medicinal herbs have a strong, unpleasant or bitter taste. Blending these herbs into teas which taste great requires great knowledge, skill, and years of experience.
The effects of herbs are most gentle when they have been carefully blended. For example, many nourishing tonic herbs are heavy to digest and may cause indigestion unless they are taken along with carminative herbs to increase digestion. In our blends, all herbs which have great potential for causing undesirable effects have been carefully balanced by the inclusion of antidotal herbs (which counteract any undesirable effects as they enhance the therapeutic benefits of the other herbs). As a result, none of our teas have extreme qualities and all may be safely taken by a person regardless of their constitution (however some teas will be better than others for each individual).
Herbal Teas now line the shelves of every grocer in America. These products are sold without a prescription and are placed on the market shelves next to coffee and fruit juice. People wrongly think that all herbal teas are safe, and they routinely consume large quantities. This is a dangerous misconception. Herbs are very powerful and therefore it is of the utmost importance that the right herbs are taken in the appropriate amount. People must be aware that many herbs can cause serious harm to young children, the elderly, pregnant or nursing women, women during their monthly cycle, or people who are weak or who suffer from specific health concerns. When the right herbs are blended with masterful knowledge of their properties, it is possible to create a blend which is safe and effective. Many medicinal herbs have a strong, unpleasant or bitter taste. Blending these herbs into teas which taste great requires great knowledge, skill, and years of experience.
The Blending Process
Each of our Teas is a masterpiece, carefully crafted and perfected over a period of years. Like any work of fine art, much knowledge, skill and attention has gone into the creation of each of our teas. The process of blending begins with a concept for a tea. This often originates with a desire to create a tea with certain health benefits, flavor notes, or specific ingredients. Many times, the concept has come from a thought like “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a tea to drink after dinner; which can cleanse the palate; which would complement a wide range of foods, which aids digestion, and which calms the mind for bed without causing drowsiness or putting a person to sleep?” This was the original thought which led to the creation of our Lemon Tea. Siddhi Tea favors herbs which are safe when used in large quantities for the major portion of each blend. Many of these herbs are common cooking herbs. Using such herbs as the primary ingredients of our teas ensures safety and also enhances the good taste of our teas, as these herbs often have the best flavor and their safety has been proven from centuries of regular use.
Once the concept and several main ingredients have been selected, supporting ingredients are carefully evaluated, selected, and tested. Though many of our teas began with a simple health-promoting quality in mind, their depth of flavor and range of health benefits truly blossoms in this stage of the creation of the tea. The main ingredients are evaluated for their health benefits and the potential unwanted effects they may have. Other herbs are selected to support and enhance the various health benefits of the main ingredients of the blend. Some herbs are added to complement and to reduce undesirable effects of the main ingredients. Herbs are added to ensure the blend will be digestible and to support elimination. The amounts of herbs are carefully selected to achieve the desired flavor and properties of the tea. Very potent herbs with strong properties, unpleasant flavor, or potential health concerns are used in small quantities. Some of the most potent herbs we use are added in minute quantities, sometimes as little as 1 gram for every 2 pounds of tea.
Once a test blend is created, various properties of the tea are carefully analyzed. The hot or cold nature is carefully examined to ensure a balancing tea for all constitutions which will neither be too heating nor too cooling. The cleansing or nourishing nature of the herbs in the blend carefully considered to ensure that the finished tea will not tend to be weakening through excessive cleansing nor create excess or congestion. The potential effects of the herbs on every system in the body and the mind is carefully considered, in order to create teas which are suitable for general use and useful for all sorts of people with various health concerns. The taste and aroma of the dried herbs and the steeped tea is evaluated and special fragrant seasoning herbs and spices are added to improve the flavor of the tea.
Then the blend is allowed to sit for several weeks, for the flavors and aromas to meld together. Newly blended herbs smell crude, rough and raw. Certain potent components will dominate the blend, and other subtler fragrances will be barely perceptible. When a blend sits together, it “matures,” as the aromas blend into a balanced tea. At this point the blend is tasted and smelled again for balance, and the amount of specific spices and aromatic herbs are adjusted to enhance the aroma and flavor of the finished product. Many medicinal herbs have a strong or bitter flavor. Blending good tasting teas from such herbs requires great knowledge and skill and the addition of fragrant herbs and spices to enhance the flavors. Aromatic herbs and spices all have specific healing properties. Our flavoring herbs have been carefully selected to complement and enhance the properties of the main herbs in the blend. Lavender, tarragon, and nutmeg are said to have calming properties. Cinnamon, pepper, and ginger are said to be heating. Vanilla, rose, and mint are cooling. Once the balance of these special fragrance and flavor enhancing ingredients are added, the blend is allowed to mature again before the finished product is smelled and tasted. Over a period of months or years, the tea is tasted regularly and detailed notes are taken with comments upon the flavor and effects of the teas along with possible additions or subtractions which may improve the blend. Multiple versions of the blend are tasted over a period years until the ideal formulation has been achieved.
We do not rely upon our own wisdom and experience alone as we test our teas; we get the input of our friends, family, and our customers, to whom we offer our unfinished teas in exchange for their comments, which we consider as we perfect each blend. For several years, we have been selling our teas to the public and providing samples at various farmers markets. We have asked our customers a lot of questions and gotten much useful feedback about our teas, their flavor, and their health promoting properties. We have taken note of comments and suggestions of a wide range of customers and incorporated their experiences into our considerations while perfecting pour teas. If the blend is not perfect it is discarded before the process is begun anew with the wealth of knowledge amassed from the process. This process has taken up to 5 years with several of our teas, and it ensures the best teas available.
Once the concept and several main ingredients have been selected, supporting ingredients are carefully evaluated, selected, and tested. Though many of our teas began with a simple health-promoting quality in mind, their depth of flavor and range of health benefits truly blossoms in this stage of the creation of the tea. The main ingredients are evaluated for their health benefits and the potential unwanted effects they may have. Other herbs are selected to support and enhance the various health benefits of the main ingredients of the blend. Some herbs are added to complement and to reduce undesirable effects of the main ingredients. Herbs are added to ensure the blend will be digestible and to support elimination. The amounts of herbs are carefully selected to achieve the desired flavor and properties of the tea. Very potent herbs with strong properties, unpleasant flavor, or potential health concerns are used in small quantities. Some of the most potent herbs we use are added in minute quantities, sometimes as little as 1 gram for every 2 pounds of tea.
Once a test blend is created, various properties of the tea are carefully analyzed. The hot or cold nature is carefully examined to ensure a balancing tea for all constitutions which will neither be too heating nor too cooling. The cleansing or nourishing nature of the herbs in the blend carefully considered to ensure that the finished tea will not tend to be weakening through excessive cleansing nor create excess or congestion. The potential effects of the herbs on every system in the body and the mind is carefully considered, in order to create teas which are suitable for general use and useful for all sorts of people with various health concerns. The taste and aroma of the dried herbs and the steeped tea is evaluated and special fragrant seasoning herbs and spices are added to improve the flavor of the tea.
Then the blend is allowed to sit for several weeks, for the flavors and aromas to meld together. Newly blended herbs smell crude, rough and raw. Certain potent components will dominate the blend, and other subtler fragrances will be barely perceptible. When a blend sits together, it “matures,” as the aromas blend into a balanced tea. At this point the blend is tasted and smelled again for balance, and the amount of specific spices and aromatic herbs are adjusted to enhance the aroma and flavor of the finished product. Many medicinal herbs have a strong or bitter flavor. Blending good tasting teas from such herbs requires great knowledge and skill and the addition of fragrant herbs and spices to enhance the flavors. Aromatic herbs and spices all have specific healing properties. Our flavoring herbs have been carefully selected to complement and enhance the properties of the main herbs in the blend. Lavender, tarragon, and nutmeg are said to have calming properties. Cinnamon, pepper, and ginger are said to be heating. Vanilla, rose, and mint are cooling. Once the balance of these special fragrance and flavor enhancing ingredients are added, the blend is allowed to mature again before the finished product is smelled and tasted. Over a period of months or years, the tea is tasted regularly and detailed notes are taken with comments upon the flavor and effects of the teas along with possible additions or subtractions which may improve the blend. Multiple versions of the blend are tasted over a period years until the ideal formulation has been achieved.
We do not rely upon our own wisdom and experience alone as we test our teas; we get the input of our friends, family, and our customers, to whom we offer our unfinished teas in exchange for their comments, which we consider as we perfect each blend. For several years, we have been selling our teas to the public and providing samples at various farmers markets. We have asked our customers a lot of questions and gotten much useful feedback about our teas, their flavor, and their health promoting properties. We have taken note of comments and suggestions of a wide range of customers and incorporated their experiences into our considerations while perfecting pour teas. If the blend is not perfect it is discarded before the process is begun anew with the wealth of knowledge amassed from the process. This process has taken up to 5 years with several of our teas, and it ensures the best teas available.
The Result
The result is a remarkable product. Taste it for yourself. Many herbal tea companies introduce dozens of new blends each year. The amount of care and attention to detail that goes into the formulation of each of our teas is completely lacking from such products. They are part of an ubiquitous and unremarkable group of mass marketed teas, produced almost haphazardly to fulfill the public’s desire to make their drinking water more interesting. Though there are thousands of teas on the market, most are bland and boring and they possess no distinctive qualities. Our teas are truly unique, each one made by hand, with love and careful attention to the finest details. They represent a high standard for herbal tea production , which we believe will lead the way in the establishment of a new standard for herbal tea in the US and throughout the world. The subtle blend of flavors and the subtle but notable health promoting qualities must be experienced to truly understand the result of this process.