Turkish Herbal Teas: Ihlamur, Sage, Rosehip and More

Black tea is Turkey’s national drink, but there’s a second world of tea in Turkish homes: bitki çayı, herbal tea. Grandmothers brew linden flowers for a cold, cafés sell mint-lemon on winter afternoons, and markets in every city have sacks of dried sage, chamomile and rosehip. For Pakistanis, who already know qehwa and joshanda, these teas feel natural.

The main herbal teas

Ihlamur (linden): the most loved winter tea in Turkey. Dried linden flowers and leaves make a pale golden, honey-scented tea. It’s the tea people reach for at the first sign of a sore throat.

Adaçayı (sage): strong, slightly bitter and very aromatic. It’s brewed lightly, often with a slice of lemon, and drunk after heavy meals.

Kuşburnu çayı (rosehip): tart, fruity and deep red, made from the dried fruit of the wild rose. It tastes like a cross between hibiscus and dried apricot, and children usually like it with a little honey.

Papatya çayı (chamomile): mild, apple-like and gentle, a bedtime tea.

Nane limon (mint and lemon): dried mint and lemon slices steeped in hot water. It’s sold in cafés in winter and is very easy to make at home.

Rezene çayı (fennel): sweet and aniseed-like, close to the saunf water many Pakistani families give after meals.

Kış çayı (winter tea): a blend of dried fruit, cinnamon, cloves and herbs, popular in the colder months.

How Turks drink them

Herbal teas are usually drunk in the evening or when someone feels unwell, while black çay is for the rest of the day. They’re served in the same tulip-shaped glasses or in mugs, almost always with a slice of lemon and honey or sugar on the side. Many families keep a jar of their favourite herbs next to the çaydanlık.

Brewing tips

• Use water just off the boil for flowers like linden and chamomile; boiling water makes them taste flat.
• Cover while steeping to keep the aroma in the cup.
• Don’t over-steep sage. Five minutes is plenty; longer turns it bitter.
• Simmer rosehip for a few minutes rather than only steeping; the dried fruit is tough.
• Add honey once the tea has cooled slightly.

Finding herbs in Pakistan

Chamomile, mint, fennel and dried rose are easy to find at any pansari. Rosehip and sage are sold by some herbal shops and online. Linden is the hardest; look for imported “ıhlamur” or “linden flowers” in larger supermarkets and online stores. Always buy dried herbs that are fragrant and colourful, not dusty and brown.

An honest note on health claims

Herbal teas are part of traditional home care in Turkey, and many people find them soothing. But a warm drink isn’t a medicine. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or take regular medication, check with a doctor before drinking herbal teas daily; sage and fennel in particular aren’t recommended in large amounts during pregnancy. And a cold that lasts more than a week deserves a doctor’s visit, not just more tea.

Enjoy them for what they are: fragrant, warming, caffeine-free drinks that are lovely on a winter night.