Many teas provide health benefits. Eucalyptus tea is one of those. Though technically, eucalyptus and eucalyptus oils are toxic, they can also provide health benefits if used in moderation. This is why tea is often better than oil, as the tea has smaller doses which are safer to consume.
Drinking this tea can help with anything from lowering blood sugar to decongestion during a cold. To learn more about the benefits of eucalyptus tea, keep reading.
What Is Eucalyptus Tea?
Eucalyptus tea is considered an herbal tea. It does not have traditional tea leaves in it. All teas that aren't herbal teas including, black, oolong, white, pu-erh, and green, they all come from one plant. That is the Camellia sinensis plant.
However, eucalyptus tea does not contain any trace of this plant. Instead, it is made solely with the leaves of the eucalyptus plant (Eucalyptus globulus).
How to Make Eucalyptus Tea?
To make eucalyptus tea, you need the tea leaves. You can often find these in tea shops where loose-leaf tea is sold, or online. Some stores additionally sell eucalyptus tea in tea bags. If you have your own eucalyptus plant, you can use fresh leaves as well.
For an eight-ounce cup, you will need roughly a teaspoon of tea leaves. However, you can add more or less based on your needs.
For the ideal flavor of Eucalyptus tea, you want to use water that is somewhere between 194 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit (90 to 95 degrees Celsius). However, if you don't have a way to check or control the temperature of your water, just let it boil and then give it a minute to cool before using the water.
How Long Should Eucalyptus Tea Steep?
For store-bought tea, there are usually instructions that you should always follow. However, the general time is about seven minutes for dried leaves and ten minutes for fresh leaves.
What Are the Benefits of Eucalyptus Tea?
When you look at the benefits of eucalyptus, it is mostly focused on eucalyptus oil. This can be difficult to figure out how the tea is beneficial. While theoretically, tea and oil should have the same benefits, since oil has much higher concentrations, it tends to have more benefits than tea.
But that doesn't mean that the tea isn't useful. There are five primary benefits to drinking eucalyptus tea.
1. Lower Blood Sugar
Both those pre-diabetic or with diabetes can benefit from drinking eucalyptus tea without sugar or honey. Something in the leaves of eucalyptus provides a complement to dietary needs for those suffering from high blood sugar.
2. Provides Antibacterial Benefits
Studies have shown that eucalyptus tea can reduce the growth of bacteria that cause strep throat, yeast infections, and E. Coli.
3. Help Reduce Cold Symptoms
Mixed with honey, Eucalyptus tea can help to reduce symptoms of colds, such as sore throat, congestion, and thick mucus.
4. Anti-Inflammatory
While eucalyptus oil works better, tea can help reduce inflammation as well. The warmth of the tea mixed with the oil from the plant itself can help to break down mucus and open up the airways.
5. Reduces Bad Breath
Since eucalyptus tea helps to inhibit the growth of bacteria, it can also reduce bad breath and provide freshness.
Does Eucalyptus Tea Have Caffeine?
Usually, black, white, and green tea contain caffeine. Since eucalyptus tea does not actually contain tea leaves, it doesn't have caffeine, though it is often called invigorating. This allows even those that have caffeine sensitivity to drink eucalyptus tea.
How Often Can You Drink Eucalyptus Tea?
If you buy eucalyptus tea that comes in traditional tea bags, you can often have two to three cups a day. However, too much eucalyptus can be dangerous, so if you are using fresh eucalyptus that you bought from the store or from your own garden, one cup a day is your safest option.
Who Should Not Drink Eucalyptus Tea?
Eucalyptus tea is considered safe for most adults. However, children should not drink eucalyptus tea unless approved by a doctor. This is because technically, eucalyptus is a toxin for humans. While small amounts are fine, too much can cause health problems.
Eucalyptus oil can also mess with some medications. If you are on medications, check with your doctor before drinking eucalyptus tea. Additionally, while eucalyptus tea can help with blood sugar, you should talk to your doctor first before drinking, just to make sure it's safe.