HERBAL TEA DELIGHT
by Vivian Ashcraft
*NOTE: The author, Vivian Ashcraft, is not a physician, nor trained in any medical field. The listed benefits of the herbs are just suggestions. If you have never ingested an herb before, it is best to rub a little on your skin for an allergy test. If you pass that, then just ingest a tiny bit of it to see if there are any further reactions.
While Spring excites us with the beginning of the growing season, Autumn thrills us with its tastes and smells. This is the time I begin to harvest and dry my herbs, to be used in many different ways. Some find their way into culinary concoctions, and some are in the creams and other skin care products I make for myself.
But the most sensual way to enjoy your homegrown herbs is in herbal tea. It is an involvement of all the senses, many in different ways. We see the herbs grow throughout the season, and we see in our mind’s eye the way they will look hanging in our drying place. We smell and touch them in the sunshine, and imagine how they will taste in the cold drabness of winter. We see the steam from the teakettle and hear the whistle blow. It’s time for tea. The smells, the sounds, and ultimately the taste, make all our efforts at natural gardening worth the time and sore muscles.
When I began to make my own teas, I began to learn that herbs are a very broad category, including some things I never considered an herb, such as yarrow and monarda. Almost every plant in my yard, whether for show, food, cut flowers, or wildlife, has a medicinal purpose. Sometimes the purpose may only be to balance a flavor (or mask a flavor!), but I put myself into all the plants and they continually give back to me.
When you learn some of the basic purposes of the herbs, it becomes easy to blend your own teas. If you need the healing qualities of a particular herb that does not taste good, you can add the flavors you like.
Teas can be blended as needed in your tea ball, or you can purchase empty tea bags and make them ahead of time. My grocery store provides the empty tea bags right next to the coffee filters.
To brew your tea, place about 1/2 teaspoon per cup into your tea ball or bag, and cover with the boiling water. Place a lid on it immediately to retain the essential oils. Let it steep for about 3-5 minutes, according to your taste. If you need to sweeten, use honey or sugar, or stevia, an herb that is reported to be 30 times sweeter than sugar. One fresh stevia leaf will sweeten a cup of tea.
Perhaps the most commonly used homegrown herb is mint. Any upset stomach in my family is treated with mint tea. Even if I run out of dried, I’ll use fresh. I sent a grandchild out once to dig through the snow and find a few sad-looking mint leaves, and we made a wonderful tea. To this day she insists on having her supply of dried mint, and a tea ball and tea pot.
Another delicious tea that will calm the stomach is chamomile. It’s naturally sweet and aromatic. Caution: This should not be drunk by pregnant women as it can bring early labor.
Try some of the following for their wonderful smells and flavors, and pay attention to the medicinal benefits you gain. If you’re not in a position to grow your own herbs, many health food and bulk stores carry dried herbs you can purchase.
- Red Clover [Shown above] – In large quantities, it emulates female hormones and can be used to ease menopause symptoms.
- Anise – Soothing and sleep-inducing
- Lavender – Gives energy and calms at the same time
- Lemon Balm – Counteracts stress
- Lemongrass – Mild diuretic
- Ginger – Nausea and indigestion relief. Its antispasmodic characteristics will also help to calm menstrual cramps. Ginger is also known as an immune booster.
- Rose Hips – Very high in vitamin C
- Sassafras Roots – Blood thinner and helps bronchitis
- Monarda (Bee Balm) – Used by herbalists to treat colds and respiratory ailments.
Enhance your teas with spices and fruit. Oranges, cinnamon, and cloves can make ginger tea a true comfort food, bringing in all the scents of the holidays. Add lemon zest in your monarda tea. Try your own favorite flavors. You can even use traditional tea as a base for your herbs.
I hope this small list will stimulate your appetite to try your own teas. It is very satisfying to drink and to serve a product that you literally created from the ground up.
Related Links & Resources
Grow a Bath & Beauty Pot
Make three skin care products from herbs you can grow in containers.
Our Favourite Fragrant Foods
The science behind the seduction of smell.
Herbal Vinegars
Making yourself some tasty and healthy herbal vinegars is as easy as stepping out into your own backyard.
From the Store
