Minty Holiday Tea Blend
a soothing tea for stressful times
With so much going on during the holiday season, it doesn’t take much to start feeling run down or or even a little depleted this time of year.
While taking some time to rest and relax might not be immediately doable, there are little ways to to give yourself some extra support that don’t require a ton of time or money.
I mean, what’s more soothing after a long day than curling up with a hot cup of tea?
Herbal infusions are an easy and effective way to enjoy medicinal herbs, since many herbal properties are extracted well in water. The ritual of making infusions, or “herbal tea,” is one of my favorite ways to take a few moments to ground during the day.
Herbal infusions refer to making tea with more delicate parts of plants, such as the leaves and flowers. A decoction is the term used when you make tea with the hardier parts of plants like roots, seeds, and barks.
To get the full therapeutic properties from herbs that support the whole body, sipping 3 to 4 cups of herbal tea a day is ideal. These plants tend to be more gentle and nutrient rich like nettle, lemon balm, or raspberry leaf for example.
To make this process easy, make a quart of an infusion all at once rather than individual cups of herbal tea throughout the day. If you get pressed for time in the morning, make the tea before going to bed so it’s ready to strain in the morning.
Longer steeping will lead to a stronger tea, so be mindful of more bitter herbs in your blend if you’re not a fan of that flavor.
It’s good to note that when working with fresh plants, roughly chopping them creates more surface area for the water to extract the plant constituents. The instructions that follow are for a seasonal tea blends, not for acute situations such as a cold or flu.
This Minty Holiday Tea Blend is one of my favorites from The Kosmic Kitchen Cookbook. It has a really nice balance of sweet and spice from the rooibos and the mints.
Plus—it’s got digestive and nervous system soothing properties from all the herbs in the blend, which makes it a wonderful tea to enjoy after a heavy meal or a stressful day.
Here’s a little info on the herbs in the blend:
FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare)
A sweet and cooling seed, fennel is great for stomachaches, cramping, and spasms in the digestive system. It can be chewed after meals or included in curries and soups for extra digestive support.
PEPPERMINT (Mentha x piperita)
Peppermint is one of the most refreshing digestive aids to help relieve gas, bloating, and nausea. Its diaphoretic, or sweating, action can be helpful to use during colds and flus. Add peppermint in herbal tea formulas to balance the flavor of other less pleasant-tasting plants.
LEMON BALM (Melissa officinalis)
Most widely used for its ability to soothe and calm the digestive and nervous systems, lemon balm is a powerful yet gentle nervine. Especially, when you’re overwhelmed, overworked, or just plain exhausted, lemon balm can bring in a feeling of lightness and calm, so you can have space to unwind. It doesn’t necessarily make you sleepy, it just gently reminds the nervous system that it doesn’t need to be on guard, which can be exhausting in and of itself.
If you love this recipe and want more herbal holiday inspo, I also included this recipe in my DIY Herbal Gift Guide with 10 easy to make recipes that are perfect for last minute gifts or delicious treats to share with the ones you love.
Minty Holiday Tea Blend
Ingredients
Makes 1 cup dry tea blend
6 tablespoons dried rooibos
6 tablespoons dried lemon balm
2 tablespoons dried peppermint
2 tablespoons dried fennel seeds
Milk of choice
Honey to sweeten
Optional toppings: sprinkle of ground cinnamon and dried rose petals
NOTE: All herbs should be cut and sifted
Directions
Mix the herbs and spices in a bowl to combine.
Add to a jar and close with a tight fitting lid to store.
For tea
In a quart-sized mason jar, add 3 tablespoons of the tea blend, then pour almost boiling water on top.
Make sure to saturate the herbs by stirring with a spoon if needed.
Cover lightly with a lid or saucer to trap the beneficial essential oils and let it steep for 15 minutes.
Use a small mesh strainer or French press to strain out the herbs and compost or discard.
Pour the infusion into a clean quart-sized jar.
Serve in your favorite tea cup and add a splash of your favorite milk then lightly sweeten with honey, if you’d like. Top with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and dried rose petals.
If not using immediately, let cool and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Note: Be mindful of dosage when giving herbal teas to children or elders, as their bodies respond differently and usually require smaller dosages.
Happy Holidays!
xx - Sarah Kate
DIY HERBAL GIFT GUIDE
There’s nothing like giving a handmade gift, packed with healing herbs for the season. This digital download takes the guess work out of what to make and includes:
10 easy to make herbal recipes
ideas on adding special touches to gifts
where to buy herbs and spices
recipe amounts to make a single gift or a batch
ingredients that are easy to find in your pantry or grocery store