Tea, Tisane, and Infusion: What's the Difference?

True tea

Strictly, tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant — green, black, white, and oolong are all the same leaf processed differently. These contain caffeine and a distinctive character.

Herbal infusions (tisanes)

Most 'herbal teas' are technically tisanes — infusions of herbs, flowers, roots, or fruits. They are typically caffeine-free. Chamomile, peppermint, and rooibos are tisanes, not true teas.

Infusion vs. decoction

• An infusion pours hot water over delicate parts (leaves, flowers) and steeps them briefly.
• A decoction simmers harder parts (roots, bark, seeds) for longer to extract their compounds.

Ginger root, for example, is often decocted; chamomile flowers are infused.

Cold brew

Cold brewing steeps herbs in cool water for hours, yielding a smoother, less bitter cup with different flavor and (likely) a different compound profile than hot brewing.

This article is educational and is not medical advice.