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Botanical Glossary
A searchable A–Z of herbal tea terms, botanicals and brewing vocabulary in plain, clear English.
From "astringency" to "volatile oils", herbal tea has its own vocabulary — and understanding it makes you a more confident brewer and a sharper taster.
Search any term, browse alphabetically, or explore by category to get a clear, no-jargon definition every time.
How to use it
How to use the Botanical Glossary
Type any term into the search box for an instant definition, or browse the full A–Z list. Terms are grouped into categories — botanical, brewing, flavour and historical — so you can explore a whole domain at once.
- Type a word or phrase into the search box — results appear as you type.
- Or scroll the full A–Z list and click any entry to expand the definition.
- Filter by category to explore all brewing terms, all botanical terms, etc.
- Follow cross-reference links within definitions to related terms.
The glossary complements our Herbal Tea Ingredients Guide, which puts many of these terms into practical brewing context. For hands-on learning, try the Herbal Learning Flashcards to test your recall of key terms.
Definitions are written with two audiences in mind: complete beginners who need a plain-English starting point, and more experienced brewers who want a precise reference. Each entry is kept concise but includes a practical example where it helps — showing, for instance, how "tannin" relates to astringency in the cup rather than just defining it in isolation.
Questions & answers
FAQs — Botanical Glossary
The glossary includes definitions for over 150 terms, covering botanical names and plant part vocabulary, brewing techniques, flavour descriptors and key historical and cultural terms.
Yes — entries are reviewed alongside our guides to keep definitions consistent with the content across the site.
Yes — the glossary includes common names, botanical Latin names and any widely used synonyms, cross-referenced where relevant.
Absolutely. Definitions are written in plain English with examples wherever a technical concept needs one. You don't need any prior knowledge to use it.