Page 28 - ALG Issue 2 2015

Feature on... herbal teas
Grow your
own herbal teas
Many of the common herbs that we grow for culinary use can also be used to make tisanes or herbal tea. The leaves can be used fresh or dried and as well as being refreshing and caffeine free, may have digestive or calming properties. Like most food and drink, herbal teas should be drunk in moderation and if you have a health condition or allergies please check with your GP that drinking a particular herbal tea will not exacerbate your problem.
Herbs such as thyme, chamomile flower heads and lemon verbena can be dried and stored, but others such as basil and mint are better used fresh. To use fresh herbs, just snip off a few leaves - around a tablespoon’s worth, cover with boiled but not boiling water and steep; this could take from 3 to 10 minutes depending on the herb and individual preference; add sugar, honey or lemon to taste.
Use a tea ball or teapot to make tea
with dried leaves, use about one teaspoon per person, steeping time will depend on the herb and personal tastes, as will the addition of sugar, honey or lemon. Leaves can be air-dried, hung up in a bunch or laid on a screen; they can also
be dried in a microwave
or conventional oven. The
herbs are ready for storage
when the leaves are dry
and crackly; store in airtight
containers away from direct
sunlight for up to a year.
• Basil and Thyme - digestive, can also help with dealing with respiratory infections
• Chamomile flower heads - calming
• Chicory, Fennel, Hyssop, Lemon balm,
Lemon grass - digestive
• Lemon verbena - digestive and calming
• Varieties of Mint, peppermint, Moroccan mint, spearmint etc. - digestive
Herbs are easy to grow either from seed or bought as small plants
Create your own unique tea by combining different herbs or adding elements such as dried citrus peel, fresh ginger or spices.
Herbs are easy to grow either from seed or bought as small plants from your garden centre but make sure that you give them the right conditions. Mediterranean herbs such
as fennel and thyme like sunny spots with not too fertile soil, but mint does better in rich, damp soil. Basil and lemon grass need a very sheltered, sunny spot.
HooksgreenHerbs
Culinary, Medicinal and Scented
Pot-Grown Herbs and Seeds www.hooksgreenherbs.com
Suppliers of pot grown Herbs and Herb Seed
Visit ediblescape.co.uk for herbs, veg plants, original applecrate planters, dwarfing fruit trees and soft fruit.. based at Brogdale. The compact growing space specialists..with capacious trousers Read my Blog... 100% not endorsed by any trendy TV gardeners!
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