What is Essiac tea? It is a four-herb blend that a Canadian nurse named Rene Caisse first prepared in 1922. This guide explains what is in it, where the name and recipe come from, the formats it is sold in today and what to look for so you know you are buying the original formula.
Quick answer: Essiac tea is a traditional herbal tea made from four plants: burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm bark and Indian rhubarb root. The name is “Caisse” spelled backwards, after the Ontario nurse who prepared the blend in the 1920s. The Original Essiac company, based in Ottawa, still makes it in Canada and sells it as Essiac Tea Herbal Powder ($34.95), tea bags ($19.95), capsules, a liquid extract and organic daily drops.
What is Essiac tea made of?
The Original Essiac formula uses four herbs, listed on the company’s FAQ with their botanical names:
- Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
- Sheep sorrel leaves (Rumex acetosella)
- Slippery elm bark (Ulmus fulva)
- Indian rhubarb root (Rheum officinale)
The exact ratio is proprietary. Essiac says it uses the same ratio Rene Caisse specified in her original formula, and that this is why the blend contains only four active herbs when many herbal products list a dozen or more.
Does Essiac tea contain anything else?
According to the company, the original tea powder contains only the four powdered herbs, with no fillers, preservatives or additives. Essiac also states that all of its products are gluten free. The liquid extract is different: it includes grain alcohol as a non-medicinal ingredient, which is how herbal tinctures are typically made.
Where does Essiac tea come from?
The story starts in Ontario in the early 1920s. Rene Caisse, a nurse, learned of an herbal recipe used by the Ojibwa nation. She prepared her own version as a drink and named it Essiac, which is her surname spelled backwards. The company traces its formula to 1922, the year it says the first cup was made.
Caisse spent much of her life sharing the drink, and her story has become part of the product’s identity. The Original Essiac company sells a 165-page biography, Bridge of Hope, for readers who want the full history, and it offers a free e-book called The Patient’s Guide to Essiac that covers the history and the four herbs.
Who makes Essiac today?
Essiac is a registered trademark, and the products on essiac.com come from The Original Essiac company, which lists a mailing address in Ottawa, Ontario. Its key features note that the tea is made in Canada using the traditional blend. The company says herbs for its three original products (the tea powder, herbal extract and vegetable capsules) are sourced and extracted in Canada, while herbs for the newer Essiac Gold and Daily Drops are sourced in the United States.
What forms does Essiac come in?
Essiac started as a tea, and the tea is still the center of the range, but the same four-herb formula now comes in several formats. Here is the current lineup with listed one-time prices:
| Format | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tea Bags | Four-herb formula in ready-to-brew bags | $19.95 |
| Tea Herbal Powder | Powdered four-herb blend you prepare as tea | $34.95 |
| Vegetable Capsules | The formula in capsule form | $38.95 |
| Herbal Extract | Alcohol-based liquid in a 300 ml dark bottle | $38.95 |
| Organic Daily Drops | Drops made with certified organic and wild-crafted herbs | $27.49 |
| Essiac Gold with AHCC | The Essiac blend combined with AHCC mushroom extract | $49.95 |
The tea bags and the powder both offer a subscribe-and-save option on their product pages. If you are weighing tea against the other formats, our comparison of Essiac tea vs capsules vs liquid extract walks through the tradeoffs, and our guide to the original Essiac tea bags covers the bagged format in more detail.
Tea bags or powder?
The Original Essiac tea bags are the simplest way to try the tea: each bag is ready to brew, and the box is the lowest-priced item in the range. The herbal powder is closer to the traditional approach of preparing a batch yourself. Essiac says one bottle of powder makes 72 fl oz of tea, and the label gives adult directions of 2 fl oz twice daily, one hour before or after meals. Follow the directions on the package you receive, since preparation details are printed there.
How to tell you are buying original Essiac
Because the four herbs are widely available, many products online use the word “Essiac” loosely or sell similar blends. A few checks help:
- Look for the four named herbs. The traditional formula is burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm bark and Indian rhubarb root. Blends with extra herbs are a different product.
- Check who makes it. The Original Essiac company sells directly at essiac.com and describes its product as the authentic Essiac formula.
- Check the format details. Original Essiac lists the size of its extract bottle (300 ml) and the yield of its powder (72 fl oz), which makes comparison easier.
- Read the label notice. Essiac’s pages carry the standard FDA disclaimer for dietary supplements. Be cautious with any seller that makes bold promises about what an herbal tea will do.
How to store Essiac tea
Essiac recommends keeping the tea bags and powder in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight, and keeping the powder container tightly closed after opening.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Essiac mean?
Essiac is the surname of its creator, Rene Caisse, spelled backwards.
Is Essiac tea organic?
It depends on the product. The tea bags and capsules are listed with “USDA Organic” in their product names, and the company’s FAQ describes the Daily Drops as its first product made with 100% certified organic and wild-crafted herbs. Check the label of the specific product you buy.
Is Essiac tea gluten free?
Yes. The company states that all of its products are gluten free.
Is Essiac tea the same as Essiac capsules?
They share the same four-herb formula but in different formats. The company says its capsules contain an extracted form of the herbs rather than simply powdered raw herbs.
Should I talk to my doctor before drinking Essiac tea?
It is a good idea to check with your healthcare provider before starting any herbal product, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition.
Editor’s note: We have not used these products. Ingredients, history, formats, prices and directions come from The Original Essiac company’s website, read on November 6, 2026. Nothing here is medical advice. See how we choose for more on our process.
The bottom line
Essiac tea is a four-herb blend of burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm bark and Indian rhubarb root, first prepared by nurse Rene Caisse in 1922 and still made in Canada by The Original Essiac company. If you want to try the traditional tea, the tea bags are the easiest starting point and the herbal powder is the more traditional option.
Some of the brands mentioned in this article may have a prior working engagement with this publication.
