Water infusions and decoctions are two ways of making herbal tea. Both bring plant material into contact with water, then separate the solids from the resulting preparation.
Water infusions
An infusion is made by pouring hot water over plant material and allowing it to steep. It is commonly used for leaves and flowers. Cold-water soaking is another approach, often described as maceration.[1]
Decoctions
A decoction keeps the material heating in water, usually by simmering. It is often used for firm materials such as roots, bark and seeds, where continued heating helps water penetrate the material and bring soluble constituents into the liquid.[1]
What water gathers
Depending on the plant, water can extract soluble sugars, mucilage and other water-compatible polysaccharides, together with constituents such as tannins, phenolic acids and certain flavonoids. These contribute to a preparation’s taste, color, texture and properties.[2,3]
A marshmallow-root water preparation, for example, can gather polysaccharides associated with its characteristic mucilaginous texture.[2]
In botanical preparations
A tea can be used as a preparation in its own right or incorporated into another product.
Our Frankincense Milk Face Wash provides a studio example: frankincense resin is simmered and strained to make the decoction used in the soap.[4]
Related entries: Extraction & solubility; Oil infusions; Tinctures; Hydrosols; Resins & balsams.
