There’s nothing more refreshing than a tall glass of iced tea on a summer day, right? Most traditional iced tea is made out of black tea that, because of it’s caffeine content, is actually dehydrating. Let’s take this classic, hot weather beverage up a notch by combining tasty medicinal herbs that are not only hydrating but cooling as well!
I love getting out all the ingredients out to make my herbal tea concoctions! For the particularly hot day ahead I decided to start with mint: one of the most cooling herbs I know! Some people love the simplicity of peppermint. I particularly like the subtle flavor qualities of spearmint. Its up to you!
My next choice was hibiscus, which is not only cooling but super flavorful and produces this beautiful, deep, red color. Great when entertaining!
Rose Hips were a fun addition to this blend! In addition to their cooling qualities they have a great, tart flavor and provide nutrients like vitamin C & bioflavonoids!
I rounded out this particular concoction with lemon balm. Among its many benefits its nervous system supportive. Folks have a tendency to feel a little frazzled or easily overwhelmed when its too hot. Lemon balm can help us feel a little more at ease so that we can get through the rest of our day. It just so happens to be delicious as well!
I placed all the dry herbs in a quart jar, the combination equaling one tablespoon per 8 oz of water. (In this case I used 1 T of each of the 4 herbs in the 32 oz. jar.) If you prefer your tea a little sweet then you can add a pinch of dried stevia leaves to the mix. Once you become more familiar with the benefits of each herb you could determine how much of each one you might utilize ; )
I covered them with boiling water, gave ’em a quick stir, twisted on the lid, and let them steep on the counter overnight. This makes for a good strong tea that can be diluted the next day or combined with ice if its particularly hot.
In the morning I simply strained the contents into a Pyrex measuring cup, poured it back into the clean jar, & composted the spent herbs. Voila! Delicious, medicinal, cooling, herbal tea to enjoy all day long!
You could make the same combo as a sun tea by putting the herbs & water in a jar at the beginning of the day and letting it sit in the sun all day long to infuse. This preparation produces a lovely tea that has a more subtle flavor. The choice is your’s!
We love getting our bulk herbs from small, local apothecaries whenever possible. When we’re traveling, and there’s not one nearby, we order online from Mt. Rose Herbs.
Be sure to stock up on these amazing herbs this summer! Your body, and your house guests, will thank you : )
China Rose Zamora is a functional nutritional therapist, clinical herbalist, & yoga teacher who has worked in the holistic health field since 1998 and has proudly served her community as China Rose Wellness since 2009. When she’s not coaching women to rise to their health potential, practicing herbal alchemy, traveling the country via mobile tiny house teaching inspirational workshops to demystify wellness, or co-facilitating transformational retreats with AJ, her-eco warrior partner in adventure, you can find her meandering on the nearest hiking trail or jammin’ at a local, live music venue. China Rose is a firm believer that wellness encompasses everything that nourishes us, body & soul!
