What is the difference between an infusion and a decoction?

A simple hot infusion is hot water poured over herbs. A long infusion steeps longer for fuller extraction. A cold infusion uses room temperature or cold water, mainly for mucilaginous herbs. A decoction simmers herbs and is usually reserved for woody bark, roots, seeds, dried berries, or dense plant material.

How long should I steep medicinal herbal tea?

Short infusions of leaves, flowers, and aromatic herbs usually steep 10 to 30 minutes in water just off the boil (about 200F). Long infusions for nutritive and mineral-rich herbs may steep 4 hours to overnight. Cold infusions for mucilaginous herbs steep 4 hours to overnight. Decoctions of roots, bark, and dense material simmer 20 to 40 minutes.

What herb-to-water ratio should I use?

A general starting point is 3 tablespoons of dried herb per 1 liter of water. Adjust to the blend and your practitioner's directions.

Should I cover the tea while it steeps?

Yes. Cover the vessel while steeping. Aromatic and volatile compounds leave with the steam, so a lid or small plate over the mug makes a real difference in the medicine retained. Use water just off the boil, not a rolling boil, which can damage delicate constituents in aromatic herbs.

When should I use a cold infusion?

Cold infusions are for mucilaginous herbs such as marshmallow root, slippery elm, and licorice root. Add herb to room temperature or cool water, cover, and leave overnight. Do not use heat. The strained result should be noticeably thick and slightly slippery from the mucilage.

How to Steep Medicinal Herbs: A Quick Reference

Published April 24, 2026

Steeping Loose Leaf Herbal Tea

I have had enough clients ask questions over the years about the specifics of how to steep their loose leaf herbal tea blends that I thought I’d do a breakdown guide on some of the simple methods. The majority of tea blends that I send out into the world are a simple hot infusion. Below it breaks down different types of infusions but a simple hot infusion is just hot water poured over herbs. A long infusion is just leaving it to steep longer, and a cold infusion is cold water over herbs. A decoction is boiling herbs and is usually reserved for woody bark, roots, or mushrooms.

Method	Best For	Temperature	Time
Short infusion	Leaves, flowers, aromatic herbs, tannin-rich herbs	Just off boil (~200°F)	10-30 min
Long infusion	Nutritive herbs, mineral extraction, fuller spectrum	Just off boil (~200°F)	4 hrs-overnight
Cold infusion	Mucilaginous herbs only (marshmallow root, slippery elm, licorice root)	Room temp or cold	4 hrs–overnight
Decoction	Roots, bark, seeds, dried berries, dense plant material	Low simmer (~180–200°F)	20-40 min

Ratio

3 tablespoons dried herb per 1 liter of water is my general starting point

Equipment Options

Glass Tea Pot

Get one with a metal strainer basket and pour hot water over herbs in basket. Cover while steeping. Best for short and long infusions – easy to make a large batch.

French Press

Add herb, pour hot water over, steep covered, press and pour. Easy cleanup, good for larger batches.

Tea Basket

Best for single cup short infusions. Fill basket, pour hot water over into mug, cover mug while steeping.

Ball, stick, or sachet infuser

Convenient but limits herb expansion – use loosely packed and size up if possible. Fine for short infusions, not ideal for long ones.

Mason Jar or Pitcher

Add herb directly to jar, pour hot water over, cover tightly, steep, then strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Best method for long infusions and cold infusions.

Stovetop

Required for decoctions of hard woody bark and mushrooms but can damage delicate leaves and flowers. Add herb and cold water together, bring slowly to a low simmer, cover and keep there for 20-40 minutes. Never boil hard.

Key Tips for Any Steep:

Cover your vessel while steeping. Aromatic and volatile compounds leave with the steam – a lid or small plate over your mug makes a real difference in the medicine retired.
Use water just off the boil, not actively boiling. Rolling boils can damage delicate constituents in aromatic herbs.
For cold infusions, do not use heat. Add herb to room temperature or cool water, cover, and leave overnight. Strain in the morning. The result should be noticeably thick and slightly slippery – that’s the mucilage
For decoctions, start with cold water and bring up slowly. Keep it at a low simmer, not a boil. Cover the pot to retain volatile compounds even in denser plant material.

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Cassidy Moss is a clinical herbalist and the founder of Moss Herbalism. She trained formally in clinical herbalism after managing a naturopathic clinic in Seattle, and spent eight years writing medical record chronologies before that. She came to plants through biodynamic farming and mycology, and still grows and forages much of what she recommends. She sees clients worldwide by video.

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