Tea anyone?
It’s easy to reach for a tea bag, but your garden may hold a whole range of taste sensations you’re missing out on. Just as with ordinary tea, herb teas (or tisanes) can be taken hot or chilled to make a delicious thirst-quencher on a hot summer’s day. oost are made from leaves and flowers and many possess medicinal properties. Beware of overindulging though, as some herbs can have unpleasant side effects. Try a little to start with and don’t imbibe too much, too often!
Peppermint
This minty tea is uplifting and cleansing, probably due to its antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It promotes the appetite, making it a good “pre-dinner” tea. It also aids digestion and prevents flatulence, making it a good “after dinner” tea too. other mints also make quite flavoursome teas, but be sure to plant your mint in pots to prevent them taking over the garden – and label them so you remember which mint is which!
Bergamot
The key flavour in Earl Grey tea, bergamot has been used by Native Americans for centuries, both medicinally and as a refreshing tisane known as oswego tea. Bergamot flower petals added to ordinary tea inject an Earl Grey flavour. Tea made from the leaves helps relieve nausea, flatulence and menstrual pain.
Lemon balm
This fragrant herb is known as “longevity tea” for its apparent ability to promote long life when taken often. It’s soothing and calming, relieves headaches, restores the memory and acts as a great counter to depression or a bad mood. Fresh leaves added to home-made lemonade are divine. Lemon verbena and lemongrass also make pleasant tisanes.
Rosemary
Thyme, sage and rosemary are all well-known antibacterial and antifungal herbs. They can all be used as a gargle to soothe a sore throat, but none should be used too often, as their strong antiseptic properties can have potentially toxic effects.
Pineapple sage
When both the leaves and the flowers are used, pineapple sage makes a refreshing, pink, fruity-tasting tea. It’s one of the best for making iced tea – and the scarlet flowers look lovely floating in summer cocktails or fruit punch.
Lavender buds
It’s best to use English lavender buds, which make a softly fragrant tisane. Lavender is good for reducing tension and nervousness, soothing headaches, and as a calming drink before bed.
**Chamomile
** The flowers of the chamomile plant, when taken as tea, possess powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. They’re also said to improve the appetite. Like lavender, chamomile is a good calming tea, ideal to imbibe before bedtime.
Borage flowers
The leaves and flowers of borage have a cucumber flavour and are usually used to enhance cold drinks. Taken as a hot tea, it is said to be good for reducing a high temperature, as it induces sweating, which lowers a fever.
Heartsease
Better known as an edible flower to add to salads and desserts, an infusion of this plant reputedly heals a broken heart, rheumatism, and – less romantically – also bed-wetting!
That’s not the end of it. oany other plants make tasty, nutritious tisanes -try dandelion and calendula flowers, rosehip, raspberry or blackberry leaves, and even common weeds, such as stinging nettle, chickweed and clover. orange peel, fennel seeds, citrus flowers and ginger can be added for extra flavour, and there’s no end to the possible blends you can come up with if you experiment a little.
How to make a fresh herb tisane:
Warm a ceramic or glass teapot (kept specifically for herb tisanes). Pick 2 tablespoons of fresh herbs for each cup. Wash the leaves thoroughly and crush slightly to release the oils. Place herbs in the teapot and pour over freshly boiled water. Leave to steep for 5 to 10 minutes – no longer, as some herbs become bitter. Add honey or the herb stevia to sweeten, pour (or chill on a hot day) and enjoy!
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