TEA:Politics reminds me very much of the measles. The measles don’t hurt much if you will take a little saffron [herbal] tea or something else to keep them on the surface. But if they once set in on you, they turn your hide yellow and sometimes make you cross-eyed. So do not let politics set in on you. I believe absolutely in the best men for the office.
1.the dried and prepared leaves of a shrub, Camellia sinensis, from which a somewhat bitter, aromatic beverage is prepared by infusion in water.
2.the shrub itself, extensively cultivated in China, Japan, India, etc., and having fragrant white flowers.
3.the beverage so prepared, served hot or iced.
4.any kind of leaves, flowers, etc., so used, or any plant yielding them
5.any of various infusions prepared from the leaves, flowers, etc., of other plants, and used as beverages or medicines.
Sounds to me that President Grant, even though it was not the focus of his statement, here acknowledges the usefulness, the healthful benefits, of herbs, And in this instance even uses the word "tea" to describe their appropriate preparation. Perhaps it may be wise to help children make this same kind of distinction in the use of the word "tea" so that they do not grow up condemning those who perfectly reasonably partake of herbal drinks prepared in "tea" form. The word "tea" does not refer solely to drinks made from the leaves of the "tea" tree, which are the "teas" specifically proscribed in the Word of Wisdom. President Grant did not need to contort the language by referring to "...a little steeped saffron infused herbal preparation" to make his point about politics. He appropriately and simply used the word "tea" in its alternate definition.
In a similar vein, we don't eliminate the use of the word "herb" just because some "herbs" happen to be tobacco and marijuana.
Let it also be understood that in Joseph Smith's day, the word "herb" referred not just to flavorings, spices, and leaves, but to ALL of what we now call "vegetables". In our day we refer to "fruits and vegetables". In his day, the phrase would have been, "fruits and herbs". This sheds a clarifying light on the Word of Wisdom. But let's not get bogged down in semantic silliness.