Herbal Teas vs Herbal Infusions: What’s the Difference?

At The Hale Herbalist, we blend herbs, fruit and spices with purpose.

Each mix is crafted to nourish your body and lift your mood, naturally. But one question comes up often: what’s the difference between herbal tea and a herbal infusion?
The short answer is that they’re essentially the same thing. But the terms do have slightly different meanings, and it’s worth knowing the difference.

Herbal Tea: The Common Term

‘Herbal tea’ is the everyday name for any drink made by steeping herbs, fruit, flowers or spices in hot water. Despite the name, it’s not actually tea in the traditional sense. Real tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant – that’s what gives us black, green and white teas.

Herbal teas are caffeine-free, which makes them a good choice for relaxing in the evening or sipping throughout the day. At The Hale Herbalist, each of our twelve blends are created by a master herbalist and carefully formulated to support health and wellbeing. For example, our Detox blend combines nettle, hibiscus, dandelion, calendula, and fennel to not only offer a delicious flavour, but also support the body's natural purification process.

Herbal Infusion: The Method

‘Herbal infusion’ is a more accurate way to describe the process. It refers to steeping plant ingredients in hot water to extract their flavour and natural properties.
In other words, when you make a herbal tea, what you’re actually doing is making a herbal infusion. One is the name of the drink, the other is the way it’s made.
Think of it like this, herbal tea is what’s in the cup. Herbal infusion is how it gets there.

Why It Matters to Us

At The Hale Herbalist, we’re all about the process. Every ingredient is chosen for a reason, to work in harmony with the body and bring real benefits. Whether it’s calm, energy, immunity or digestion, our infusions are designed to support you naturally.
This isn’t just a cup of something warm. It’s a ritual, grounded in knowledge and made with care.

Whether you call it a herbal tea or a herbal infusion, the point is the same – a caffeine-free, plant-based drink that tastes good and helps you feel good too. Every The Hale Herbalist infusion is a natural pause in a busy day, made to support your health from the inside out.