Autumn comes to the garden faster than than my poor tomato plants can tolerate. This recipe was the result of frustrated attempts to make a spicy dip with my neglected tomatoes that would never enjoy the blush of ripeness. The cherry or pear tomatoes add a sweet flavor that balances the spark of the pepper and onion.
Summer is my favorite time to enjoy iced tea. This recipe is based on the sweet mint teas brewed in traditional Moroccan households to greet visitors and beat the heat. In Africa, gunpowder tea is brewed and flavored with spearmint or absinthe and then sweetened with copious amounts of sugar. This recipe hopes to honor the wisdom of using green tea and mint to cool the body but without quite as much sugar.
This tasty tea is designed to keep the body safe from nasty winter viruses. Nettle fortifies the body while Green Tea adds much needed antioxidants. Elderberry is a sweet addition that guards against viruses. Use organic herbs to be sure your body doesn’t have to fight off addtional pesticides too.
Pomegranate has 17 percent more antioxidants than red wine without the disadvantages alcohol possesses. It also tops green tea in rounding up free radicals without the damaging effects of caffeine.
Nettle is an herb that’s high in iron, so I drink a cup of nettle tea every day. I prefer to combine the nettle with green tea to help control my allergies. Raspberry leaf and horsetail also are high in iron, so I often throw a scoop of these herbs in the mix as an easily digestible supplement. I like to drink a cup of Iron Booster Tea every day when I’m feeling weary. It helps give me the charge I need to get through me day without relying on caffeine whether I am donating blood or not.
Lavender’s versatility through the centuries has made it a consistent favorite. Today, its balsamic, earthy, floral scent is added to a variety of beauty and cleaning products for its disinfectant as well as its relaxation properties. It can ward off a variety of bacterias and viruses, including staph, while it calms the nervous system. Lavender soothes as it heals.
Sambucus canadenses, Sambucus nigra a.k.a. Black Elderberry, Blue Elderberry, North
Fragaria vesca a.k.a. Wild Strawberry, Woodland Strawberry Nothing says summer
Listen to the newest Episodes of Real Herbalism Radio here: Our Website | iHeartradio | Spotify | Alexa
Listen to the newest Episodes of Real Herbalism Radio here: Our Website | iHeartradio | Spotify | Alexa
Gain access to even more with an additional 250 articles, recipes, and more in ad-free viewing.
Become a Member