Bring water to a light simmer (not a boil) and pour over the valerian root.
Cover the container so that the volatile oils are retained and let the tea infuse for 30 minutes. A small plate works well as a cover.
Strain out the root and serve.
Notes
Although many roots are boiled for 30-45 minutes to increase the extraction of precious compounds, with valerian tea we take a different approach in order to preserve its volatile oils.