Plants used for making recreational tea in Europe: a review based on specific research sites

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Renata Sõukand, Estonian Literary Museum; Cassandra Leah Quave, Emory University; Andrea Pieroni, University of Gastronomic Sciences; Manuel Pardo-de-Santayana, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Javier Tardío, Instituto Madrileño de Investigación; Raivo Kalle, Estonian University of Life Sciences; Łukasz Łuczaj, University of Rzeszów; Ingvar Svanberg, Uppsala University; Valeria Kolosova, Russian Academy of Sciences; Laura Aceituno-Mata, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Gorka Menendez-Baceta, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Iwona Kołodziejska-Degórska, University of Warsaw; Ewa Pirożnikow, University of Białystok; Rolandas Petkevičius, Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore; Avni Hajdari, University of Prishtina; Behxhet Mustafa, University of Prishtina
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-08-13
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 Sõukand et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
• Final Published Version (URL): http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/9/1/58
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
• ISSN: 1746-4269
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 58
• Grant/Funding Information: The research of RS and RK has been partially supported by ESF grants ETF9419 and SF0030181s08; IKD fieldwork was sponsored by NCN grant number: 2011/01/N/HS3/03332
• Keywords: Social beverages; Tea consumption; Recreational tea; Food culture; Local plants; Origanum vulgare
• Research Categories: Biology, Botany; Health Sciences, Nutrition

Abstract

This paper is a review of local plants used in water infusions as aromatic and refreshing hot beverages (recreational tea) consumed in food-related settings in Europe, and not for specific medicinal purposes. The reviewed 29 areas are located across Europe, covering the post-Soviet countries, eastern and Mediterranean Europe. Altogether, 142 taxa belonging to 99 genera and 40 families were reported. The most important families for making herbal tea in all research areas were Lamiaceae and Asteraceae, while Rosaceae was popular only in eastern and central Europe. With regards to botanical genera, the dominant taxa included Mentha, Tilia, Thymus, Origanum, Rubus and Matricaria. The clear favorite was Origanum vulgare L., mentioned in 61% of the regions. Regionally, other important taxa included Rubus idaeus L. in eastern Europe, Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. in southern Europe and Rosa canina L. in central Europe. Future research on the pharmacological, nutritional and chemical properties of the plants most frequently used in the tea-making process is essential to ensure their safety and appropriateness for daily consumption. Moreover, regional studies dedicated to the study of local plants used for making recreational tea are important to improve our understanding of their selection criteria, cultural importance and perceived properties in Europe and abroad. Keywords: Recreational tea, Social beverages, Local plants, Food culture, Tea consumption, Origanum vulgare