Herbal Brews

There are many drinks that can be made from herbs, from dandelion coffee through to elderberry wine and a vast array of tasty beverages inbetween. In the Herbal Brews section I aim to cover a broad range of these drinks, how to make them and also share some recipes for teas, tisanes, cocktails, wines and other drinks that can be made using herbs. Proving that herbs can be more than just medicinal.
Before I begin I should issue a warning, don't use any herb to make a tea, tisane etc unless
1) You know that the herb is definately what you think it is. 2) You know the herbs properties and any contra-indications eg damiana, sage and rhubarb are to be avoided by pregnant women 3) You can be certain that the herb has not been sprayed with any harmful chemicals such as pesticides.

Herbal Tea Making herb teas isn't difficult and the end results can be very rewarding as well as tasty refreshing brews, they can also provide some rather beneficial side effects. Peppermint tea can ease a stomach ache, freshen the breath and help soothe heartburn. Tea makers are divided as to whether herb tea is best made in a teapot or in a mug using a tea ball. Myself I prefer to make my herb tea in my herb teapot, it seems much more satisfying, it all depends on how many people are drinking the tea as well. Sometimes it's worth it just to make a single cup. By the time you've finished reading this article I hope that you'll have a go at using mucking around with tea bags will be necessary. You can make much better tea yourself, out of fresh and dried herbs that you harvest or buy. I'm hoping that by the end of reading this article you'll..... What Can You Put In Tea? You can buy almost any dried herb from your local organic food, coop, or natural health store. Most stores stock many varieties in bulk and they're usually very inexpensive. With dry herbs used in a blend, just add about a teaspoon each to your tea ball. Use more for simples (one-herb teas). Some herbs to try are:- Rose Hips, Orange Peel, Lemon Peel, Hibiscus, Rose Petals, Lemon Balm, Peppermint, Spearmint, Chamomile, Sage, Nettles, Fennel, Burdock Root, Red Clover, Licorice Root, Juniper Berries, Elder Flowers & Berries, Horsetail & Lemon Balm. You can also grow herbs in your garden to use in tea. The way to use fresh herbs is to snip off leaves or sprigs and add them to your tea pot. If you have space in your house or are lucky enough to have a greenhouse, you can bring potted herbs inside for fresh leaves in the winter. Some herbs to grow are:- Sage, Thyme, Marjarom, Mint, Chamomile, Yarrow, Rose, Raspberry Leaf, Scented Leaf Geraniums, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Lavender, Rosemary & Juniper. Finally, you can wild harvest some herbs right in your own backyard. Just make sure they're not endangered in any way, or victims of pesticide treatments. Be sure to get a good field guide to edible and medicinal plants, and know for sure what you're harvesting before you use it. Obviously, you will not want to overharvest any wild plant. Some herbs to wild harvest are:- Red Clover, Plantain Leaf, Burdock Leaf and Roots, Dandelion Leaf & Roots, Yarrow, St John's Wort, Chickweed, Raspberry Leaf & Goldenrod. Choosing Herbs - There are a number of ways and reasons to enjoy herbal tea. You can take your tea as a simple, with just a single herb infused in boiling water. Simples are especially effective when you have an acute condition, like a headache or stomach disturbance, in which case you might drink just one herb in infusion. When drinking tea for pleasure or general health, it's perfectly alright to blend different herbs. You can choose herbs for their taste, colour, medicinal effect or nutritional value. Use your nose, imagination and a good herb guide to help you choose herbs for different effects. Unless otherwise stated all the following recipes are for making a pot of tea. Tonic Tea 3 Slices Fresh Ginger Root 1 Tsp Spearmint Leaf 1 Tbsp Chamomile Flowers 1 Tsp Netlte Leaves 1 Tbsp Burdock Root 1 Tbsp Red Clover Flowers 1 Tsp Rose Hips Steep for 5-15 minutes for a balanced, healthful tea. Best drunk over the period of a few months, for maximum effectiveness as a tonic. One cup a day is good. Be Calm Tea This tea can be made truly sedative by adding valerian, but it's best to start without it and see how the base tea affects you first. 1 Tbsp Linden Flowers 1 Tsp Chamomile Flowers 1 Tsp Skullcap 1 Tsp Spearmint 2 Lemon Scented Geranium Leaves 1 Tsp Lemon Balm Again, steep 5-10 minutes and sweeten with honey if desired. Exotic Spice Tea 2 Handfuls Fresh Rose Petals 1 Tsp Hibiscus Flowers (fresh or dried) 1 Tsp Orange Peel 3 Slices Fresh Ginger Root 1 Tsp Red Clover 1 Clove 2 Nutmeg Scented Geranium Leaves 1 Tsp Lemon Verbena Steep for 5-10 minutes and enjoy with a teaspoon of honey. Cold & Flu Tea This recipe makes one mug. 3 slices fresh ginger (spicy, warming, immune balancing) 5-10 leaves chopped sage (spicy, antihistamine) 2-3 springs fresh thyme (spicy, antibiotic, antiviral) 1 tbsp. honey (sweet, simple sugar) Juice of half a lemon (sour, vitamin c) This mug of hot grog will make you feel stronger while it gives you a break from cold symptoms. Magical Drinks & Cocktails Herbs and spices can make some marvellous drinks other than herb tea.They can add zest to cocktails, and make some refreshing drinks. I've included a few recipes for drinks that can be drunk during rituals, although they can be drunk at anytime. I've also added some Witchy cocktails that you can serve up for fun at Yule or anytime. Mabon Cider 1 Litre Sweet Apple Cider 1 Litre White Grape Juice 2 cinnamon sticks 1 Tsp Ground Allspice ½ Tsp Ground Cloves In a large saucepan, heat the cider and grape juice. Add the cinnamon, allspice and cloves. Bring just to boiling. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Triple Goddess Shot Made of three layers. Bottom layer is Creme de Cacao, the middle layer is Amaretto liqueur and the top layer is Baileys Irish Cream. To make this cocktail pour each layer slowly into your shot glass using the back of an inverted spoon , so as not to disturb the layers and make then turn into Triple Goddess sludge! Black Magic 10ml Vodka 10ml Tia Maria 10ml Creme De Cacao Crushed Ice Cola Use a tumbler, put the ice in first then add the 3 measures of alcohol, top up with the cola and sip slowly. Green Witch 15ml Vodka 15ml Midori 10ml Pineapple Juice 10ml Fresh Lime Juice 10ml Fresh Lemon Juice Crushed Ice Lemonade Mix all the ingredients except the lemonade. Stir and add into a ballon or goblet glass and top up with lemonade Love Potion 100g Clove Pink Carnation Petals 5g Ground Cloves 5g Ground Cinnamon 1 Litre White Rum 125g Sugar ½ Litre Water: Seperate the carnation petals and throw away the white heal at the base of each petal, as this will give the drink a bitter taste. Let petals and spices marinate in the alcohol for 2 months. Once the mixture is done steeping, prepare a syrup with the sugar and water and blend the two together. Mix well and pour into a pretty decanter. More recipes will be added in the future, including some for home made wines using herbs and spices and more herb teas. If you have a recipe you'd like to share then send it in to Debs.