Twice recently we’ve been to eat with friends at their houses and at the end of the meal each brought out the splendid selection of tisanes.
My impression was that they had their favourites. But there were at least a dozen varieties.
What happens to the ones they don’t like?
Someone is bound to like them. I loathe tilleul by itself or in combination with anything else because of its mucilaginousness, but I love verveine, even with other things. In variety packs you’ll often get at least a few tilleul+whatever so luckily I know people who love it, and pass them on.
Also you don’t just choose your tisane according to likes and dislikes, there is the one for good digestion, the one to calm you, the one to wake you up, the one for sore throats, the one for wheezing etc etc
But I don’t care how good for you tilleul may be, it is vile.
I think they all taste like boiled grass.
Madame bought some pot pourri recently. Blokey behind the counter described it as thé, as I did.
When we got home, she discovered that it was.
Maybe B-b-t-c was a bit misinformed? IKEA used to do a Christmas loose herbal tea which smelt so delicious I put bowls of it on my radiators.
Never tried boiled grass, I like grass jelly which I don’t think is grass at all 
and though it’s mucilaginous it’s not disgusting unlike a certain tisane we sha’n’t mention.
We have a mixed box, and over time we know which ones our friends like best so just restock those ones.
Maline!
I thought that matcho tea stuff was grass cuttings, it certainly tasted like it at a week old from the compost heap.
Try this version, it’s quite tasty 
I like verveine (lemon verbena) and also lemon balm, both of which I use from the garden rather than bought versions. Some of the tisanes do taste of nothing much, but those two have a refreshing lemon flavour. I also uses mint leaves the same way.
I’ve never tried tilleuil… think I won’t bother
Ginger tisanes are wonderful, especially the Yogi-Tea ones. I recently discovered their ginger and orange version - delicious!
Twinings ginger, honey and lemon version is also good.
Tisea also do an excellent night-time tea - douce soirée, which does contain tilleul but mixed with other flavours.
Freshly dried (rather than sat on shop shelf for a year) it has the same character as walking along unter den linden in Berlin in spring.
Their main problem is they like to stick blasted liquorice in almost all of their tisanes, I love eating it but not drinking it.
Pukka are nice too.
At home we do the cheat version: a couple of slices of ginger root, stick a clove in one, add boiling hot water and then lemon once it has cooled so you don’t trash the vit C, if you want it.
Verveine and mélisse 
the best!
I’d forgotten the French for lemon balm 
Thanks for reminding me, @vero !
I used to like réglisse-menthe, made by Saveurs du Sud.
From here, brands to consider are Yogu-Tea (mixed reviews ), Twinings and Tisea (opportunities for puns, too).
Any others? I fancy one of those grand coffrets to hand around while we toast our feet against the gnomic stove.
Go to your local yoghurt-knitter shop, it will have a great selection. Bien-être du foie is a good one for this time of year and surprisingly palatable, if you like fennel. Also specialist tea shops or an herboristerie who can compose you a special.
Oh! You probably know this but liquorice root /réglisse isn’t fab if you’re at all hypertensive (like st John’s wort, millepertuis).
Personally I can’t stand the stuff but Stuart likes the Pukka brand Ginger, Manuka Honey and Lemon. In fact we’ve got a standing order with Amazon to send it out every 3 months. @SuePJ - I didn’t realise Twinings do the same one but as I’ve not seen it in our local shops I’ll continue with Amazon.
The first one or two cups can taste pretty gross, but after that, they are wonderful:
Make your own nettle tea . Take a tip from a lifelong anaemic: nettle teabags are an absolute swindle. In Britain, nettles grow just about everywhere, all year round. Wearing gloves, pick just the tips of the plant (about five heads will make a decent cuppa), rinse them in warm water to remove any nasties, then pop them in a mug and cover with boiling water. In a minute or two you’ll have a bright green, iron-rich tea that tastes like growth itself. NF
In fact it’s possible to pick the tops of nettles without using gloves - just avoid the bigger leaves lower down.
Or cook em up with a lot of butter so delicious
Didn’t know that. I absolutely love the taste of licorice, but it doesn’t like me so I avoid it.
Had one of those night before last. Very nice and does seem to help to relax me at night. I’m going to get some more.
Currently, I have a Nutrisanté Digestion next to me, sitting up in bed. Mainly fennel, coriander and chamomile. It does have a very small amount of licorice but not enough to be a problem.
Have a happy and relaxing tea.