Where does verbena come from?
Coming from the Verbenaceae family, the verbena is an aromatic herbaceous plant, native to Peru, Chile and Argentina. Requiring sun and heat to grow, they are found almost everywhere in the Mediterranean basin, but also in Italy, Spain and the south of France. It comes in several varieties of fairly similar plants. The best known are the “officinal verbena” (verbena officinalis), also called “Venus herb”, which has been attributed since Antiquity with magical virtues such as attracting love. But also the “fragrant verbena” (or lemon verbena), renowned as the most intoxicating, used most often in the infusions. It’s a plant that can be grown quite easily in gardens in temperate and tropical zones… if you want to give it a try!
Our advice for preparing a verbena infusion
Whether for its taste, for its supposed effects on the body, or for both (it's even better to combine flavor and benefits!), we tell you how to proceed to make an infusion with verbena leaves.
To go further: Infusion: how to choose and prepare it?
What are the benefits of verbena?
Recognized for its multiple virtues, verbena, whether medicinal or lemongrass, is an essential plant in herbal medicine. The benefits of verbena are multiple:
1 - Soothing effects to facilitate sleep
Verbena is a wonderful plant known for its soothing properties, particularly beneficial for sleep. An infusion of verbena, also known as verbena officinale or verbena odorante, acts as a natural relaxant, helping to relieve stress and anxiety.
2 – Aids digestion
Verbena is a plant known for its digestive properties. Its soothing effect promotes relaxation of stomach muscles, helping to relieve cramps, bloating and flatulence often associated with difficult digestion.
3 - Satiety effect, a daily slimming ally
Verbena is known for its beneficial effect in weight management. In infusion, it promotes a feeling of satiety and can thus reduce the tendency to snack between meals, a valuable asset when trying to lose weight.
4 – Reduces high blood pressure
Studies suggest that verbena tea may help dilate blood vessels, promoting better circulation and contributing to a slight reduction in blood pressure. The calming effect of verbena also helps relieve stress and anxiety, two factors that can influence high blood pressure.
5 - Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
Verbena is recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making it a popular plant in herbal medicine. The flavonoids and essential oils it contains give this herb the ability to relieve various inflammations. Its antioxidant action helps neutralize free radicals, responsible for cellular aging and many health disorders.
What does verbena taste like?
The verbena leaf aromatic is popular for its pleasant lemony scent. Some will even detect a slight taste minty even tangerine. Flavors that go very well with exotic dishes, fruit salads, ice creams, desserts or creams. Another idea: use the verbena in marinade, with other plants like ginger or the lemongrass, before marinating sea bass or sea bream. We'll let you test it!
What is the difference between verbena infusion and herbal tea?
Whether we go for an infusion or a verbena herbal tea, it is actually the same thing, the same result. Originally, thebrew, it is the preparation technique which consists of pouring simmering water over leaves, flowers or fruits. While herbal tea is the name given to the drink obtained after the infusion of natural plants. Except that over time, the termbrew is increasingly establishing itself as that of a hot drink, ready to enjoy.
How to prepare a verbena infusion?
Nothing could be simpler: you will just need water and verbena leaves, fresh or dried. Bring the water to a boil, at a temperature of 100 degrees, before letting the verbena infuse for 5 to 6 minutes. Depending on your tastes, you can add other beneficial plants, such as mint, lemongrass, chamomile, from ginger, and sweeten with honey.
When to enjoy a verbena infusion?
Unlike tea, which can sometimes prevent the most sensitive people from sleeping due to its theine content, the infusion does not have a stimulating effect. It can therefore be enjoyed throughout the day. Depending on the effects sought by the plants, you can drink an infusion after meals, to facilitate digestion, or at different times of the day to accompany a diet, for example. In the first case, we will choose a lemongrass infusion, known to calm digestive disorders. In the second, an infusion with licorice or mint, which promoted fat burning. In the case of the verbena, its potential anti-stress and anti-sleep disorder effects make it an evening infusion all found!
Verbena infusions from Kusmi
If there is no verbena growing in your garden (or you don't have a garden, which is an even better excuse!), we advise you to opt for a mixture of plants ready to infuse. And to make your (hot) mouth water, here are the recipes developed by the Kusmi Tea experts.
Organic kusmi tea infusions, eco-responsible and packaged in France
Since 2020, Kusmi made the choice of organic. All our ingredients come fromorganic farming, certified by strict specifications, and checked regularly. In addition, our entire range is based on a French know-how. It is in Normandy, in Saint-Vigor d’Ymonville, near Le Havre, where all of our organic teas and infusions are designed, created, mixed and packaged. Finally, our products are packaged in a manner eco-responsible, in biosourced, biodegradable or recyclable materials. What more could you ask for?
The infusion be cool organic, with mint-verbena-apple-licorice
To be Cool or not to be ? You have 4 hours to work on the subject. Or rather 5 minutes of infusion! Being cool means remaining zen in all circumstances. It’s letting the little worries of life “cool” while savoring our brew Be Cool organic. If you are interested in the virtues of verbena, try verbena with our BeCool organic herbal tea. The leaves of organic verbena and mint, accompanied by apple and liquorice, are enough to offer you a moment of sweetness and serenity while making you see the cup half full.
Sleep infusion, with a touch of verbena
Who says verbena, says relaxation and...good night. In any case, that’s what we hope! To accompany you in Morpheus' quest, fall for our evening infusion Sleep. Mixture of rooibos with mango, lemon balm and verbena to soothe you. Don't be surprised if you end up dancing with Morpheus after a cup of this organic infusion.