Does Fruit Tea Count as Herbal Tea?

December 18, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the UK Tea & Infusions Association, beverages not made from the Camellia sinensis plant, like fruit infusions, are technically not tea. This distinction brings up a common question: Does fruit tea count as herbal tea, or is there a more nuanced definition that separates these popular brews?

Quick Summary

Fruit tea is a type of herbal tea, or tisane, made from dried fruits, flowers, and spices rather than leaves of the traditional tea plant. It is naturally caffeine-free and differs from true teas in its base ingredients and flavor profile.

Key Points

Categorical Connection: Yes, fruit tea is a type of herbal tea, and both are non-traditional teas called tisanes because they don't contain leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant.
Ingredient Difference: The main distinction lies in the primary ingredient; fruit teas are flavored by dried fruit, while general herbal teas use other botanicals like leaves, flowers, and roots.
Caffeine-Free: Both fruit tea and herbal tea are naturally caffeine-free, making them popular alternatives to traditional black or green teas.
Tisane is the Proper Term: For tea purists, both are more accurately referred to as tisanes or herbal infusions to differentiate them from true teas.
Flavor Variation: Fruit teas tend to be sweet and tangy, while herbal teas offer a wider range of flavors, including floral, earthy, and minty.

Defining Herbal Tea and Tisanes

At its core, a true tea is derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. This is the source of green, black, white, and oolong teas. However, the term "tea" has been colloquially applied to any plant-based infusion steeped in hot water. This is where the term tisane comes in. The word tisane is the more accurate, scientific term for any herbal or fruit-based infusion, acknowledging that it is not a traditional tea.

Herbal teas are infusions made from a variety of botanicals, which can include the leaves, flowers, roots, or seeds of a plant. Common examples include chamomile, peppermint, and rooibos. The defining characteristic is the use of herbs known for their medicinal or aromatic properties.

The Role of Fruit in Herbal Infusions

So, where does fruit tea fit into this? Fruit tea is essentially a specialized subset of herbal tea, using dried fruits as the primary flavoring ingredient. These blends often incorporate other components like hibiscus petals, spices, or leaves to create a more complex flavor profile. For instance, a blend might contain apple pieces, hibiscus, and rosehip, with hibiscus providing a tart, cranberry-like flavor and vibrant red color.

This is why the answer to the question "Does fruit tea count as herbal tea?" is generally yes, but with a clarifying sub-category. While not a conventional herbal blend like peppermint, it falls under the same broader classification of tisanes because it lacks Camellia sinensis leaves and is made from infused plant matter.

The Blending Process

The creation of a fruit tea infusion involves careful selection and blending of dried ingredients. The process can be broken down into several steps:

Sourcing: High-quality dried fruits, flowers, and spices are sourced to ensure the best flavor.
Blending: Master blenders combine ingredients in specific ratios to achieve a desired taste and aroma.
Steeping: The blend is steeped in boiling water, often for a longer period (8-10 minutes) than traditional tea leaves to fully extract the flavors.

Fruit Tea vs. Herbal Tea: A Comparison

To better understand the relationship, let's compare the characteristics of fruit teas with typical herbal teas.


Feature	Fruit Tea (as a subset)	General Herbal Tea	True Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Base Ingredient	Dried fruit, flowers, spices	Various herbs, roots, botanicals	Leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant
Caffeine Content	Always caffeine-free	Typically caffeine-free	Contains varying levels of caffeine
Flavor Profile	Sweet, tangy, and fruity	Often earthy, floral, or minty	Astringent, earthy, or floral, but distinctively 'tea'
Health Benefits	Often rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants	Based on specific herb properties (e.g., chamomile for calming)	Rich in polyphenols and antioxidants
Brewing Time	Longer, often 8-10 minutes	Varies by herb, generally longer than true tea	Shorter, usually 2-5 minutes

Health Benefits and Hydration

Both fruit and herbal infusions offer significant health benefits, often linked to their rich antioxidant content. They are also excellent, flavorful alternatives to sugary drinks and can help increase daily water intake.

For fruit teas, ingredients like hibiscus and rosehip are known for being rich in vitamin C, which can support the immune system.
General herbal teas, depending on the blend, can offer specific therapeutic effects. Chamomile is famous for its calming properties, while peppermint can aid digestion.

A Broader Perspective on Tisanes

Considering the expansive world of tisanes helps clarify the relationship. The term is a broad umbrella that covers any botanical infusion that is not from the traditional tea plant. Under this umbrella, fruit tea is a specific, well-loved variety. Other sub-categories include:

Herbal Tisanes: Made exclusively from non-fruit plant parts, like mint, ginger, or chamomile.
Rooibos and Honeybush: Infusions from South African plants, known for their unique flavor and antioxidants.
Spiced Infusions: Blends that focus on warming spices like cinnamon, clove, and cardamom, often mixed with other herbs or fruits.

Ultimately, whether you call it fruit tea or herbal tea, you are referring to a delicious, caffeine-free infusion. The distinction lies in the primary flavoring ingredient, but both fall under the larger category of tisanes.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict

In summary, does fruit tea count as herbal tea? Yes, in a practical sense, it does. Both are types of tisanes—infusions of plant material that do not come from the traditional tea plant. While the flavor profiles and primary ingredients differ, fruit tea is a specialized form of the broader herbal tea category. So, the next time you enjoy a sweet and tangy raspberry brew or a calming cup of chamomile, you'll know that both are part of the same flavorful, caffeine-free family of infusions. Enjoy the vibrant tastes and health benefits that these versatile beverages offer.

How to Choose Your Perfect Brew

With so many options, finding your ideal tisane is a journey of taste and preference. Consider your mood and desired benefits: something refreshing and fruity for a summer afternoon, a spicy, warming blend for a cozy evening, or a calming floral infusion before bed. Look for quality ingredients and enjoy the exploration of a wide array of natural flavors.

For more information on the distinctions between different types of infusions, the UK Tea & Infusions Association website is a great resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, fruit tea is not the same as herbal tea, but it is a specific type of herbal infusion. All fruit teas are herbal teas, but not all herbal teas are fruit teas.

No, fruit teas are naturally caffeine-free because they do not contain any leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant, the source of caffeine in traditional teas.

A tisane, or herbal infusion, is the proper term for any drink made by steeping plant material, other than Camellia sinensis leaves, in hot water. This includes fruit teas, herbal teas, and spice blends.

Common ingredients in fruit teas include dried apple pieces, hibiscus petals, rosehip, elderberries, and citrus peels. Spices like cinnamon or ginger are also frequently added.

Yes, fruit teas can be very healthy. Many are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, and they provide a flavorful, sugar-free alternative to other sweetened beverages.

Yes, it is possible to find or create blends that combine fruit pieces with traditional tea leaves like black or white tea. These would contain caffeine.

Because they consist of larger, dried ingredients, fruit teas often require a longer steeping time than traditional tea, typically around 8-10 minutes, for the best flavor extraction.