The Difference Between Infusions, Decoctions, & Teas

When you’re stepping into the world of herbs, one of the first things that can feel a little confusing is all the different ways to prepare them. Infusion? Decoction? Tea?

Don’t worry — it’s a lot simpler than it sounds.
Let’s break it down like you’re sitting here in the kitchen with me, learning step-by-step. 🌿

☕ HERBAL TEA — The Quick, Everyday Brew

Tea is the simplest and the most familiar.

These release their medicine quickly and don’t need harsh heat.

A tea is:

💧 Hot water poured over herbs

⏱ Steep for 10–20 minutes

🌼 Strain & sip 

Teas are perfect for:
– Soft, delicate plant parts
– Leaves
– Flowers
– Aromatic herbs (like lavender or chamomile)

Tea is gentle. They perfect for everyday wellness, womb nourishment, calming the nervous system, and daily boosting daily mineral in-take. 

🌿 DECOCTION — The Slow, Strong, Ancestral Brew

A decoction is what you make when your herbs need a little more work to give you their medicine.

These are the herbs you simmer, not steep.

In a decoction you:

🔥 Simmer herbs in water

⏱ 15–45 minutes (depending on the plant)

⭐ Strong, potent, grounding 

Use a decoction for:
– Roots
– Barks
– Seeds
– Hard, woody plant parts (like burdock root, sarsaparilla, ginger, dandelion root)

These herbs are tougher, so you let them simmer on the stove for 15–45 minutes to pull out the full medicine.

Decoctions feel grounding, strengthening, and ancient — like something your ancestors absolutely made in their day-to-day healing routines.

🌱 INFUSION — A Deeper, Stronger Steep

Now this is where we get intentional.
When I talk about an infusion, I’m not talking about infusing in water — I’m talking about infusing herbs in an organic oil.

This method is perfect when:
✨ You want to apply the herb to the skin
✨ You want a remedy that can blend into body butters, salves, or hair oils
✨ You want a food-safe herbal oil
✨ You want long-term preservation of the plant’s healing properties

How an oil infusion works:

1. Place your dried herbs in a clean glass jar

2. Cover them fully with an organic oil (olive, coconut, grapeseed, etc.)

3. Seal the jar

4. Allow it to sit and steep — anywhere from 4–6 weeks is beautiful

5. Strain

6. Store in a cool, dark place

Oil infusions are a whole different kind of medicine — they carry the essence of the plant, and you can use them:

💛 On the skin (massages, irritated skin, womb space, joints)
💛 In butters & salves
💛 In hair and scalp treatments
💛 In small amounts for food-based healing (depending on the herb)

It’s a gentle, powerful way to build your apothecary.

✨ A Quick Way to Remember

• Tea: quick + gentle

• Infusion: long steep + mineral-rich

• Decoction: simmered + strong

🌿 Why This Matters

When you know how to choose between a tea, a decoction, and an oil infusion, you step deeper into your herbal empowerment.
You’re not just using herbs — you’re working with them, intentionally, intuitively, and correctly.

And that’s how healing becomes a lifestyle instead of a moment.

✨ Want more Herbal Wisdom?

Visit our website & explore our courses, products, and healing tools:

👉 https://linktr.ee/LionLionessPresents

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