Herb Teas Free for the Picking

Why should herb teas cost an arm and a leg when the ingredients grow all around us free for the picking. In my childhood, I learned to pick the ingredients for teas and salads in the ditches and forests of Europe. The rampant use of herbicides and pesticides in North America, however, has made me careful about where I pick my edibles. My organic garden is the safest place close to home, but whenever I am hiking or camping away from civilization's reach, I have no problem collecting a good assortment of wild plants for a refreshing tea or for a munch-as-you-go salad. All summer long, I use tea ingredients fresh. I only dry or freeze the surplus for winter use. Let's see what we might find in my garden or along my hiking trails.

Take Your Pick

The various mints are well-known as herbal ingredients. Most of them are stimulating, but one of them, catnip, is a relaxant and may help to promote a good night's sleep. Raspberry and blackberry leaves taste like green tea. They are a well-known aid for female complaints but can be enjoyed by the whole family. Leaves from rose bushes have a flavor similar to those of raspberry leaves, and the delicate rose petals are reminiscent of jasmine flowers in Chinese teas. Rosehip is one of the best-known sources of vitamin C and is enjoyed by people who prefer a slightly sour taste. In some commercial teas, the acidity is intensified by the addition of hibiscus. The ascorbic acid, of course, is lost in water and heat, but the nutrients which accompany the vitamin C are not affected. Strawberry leaves have a delicate flavor. They are among my favorites. The whole fireweed plant is the tea staple of the aboriginals of British Columbia. The flavor is quite mild. Clover and alfalfa leaves are rich in minerals. Use them along with the flowers. A local health food manufacturer packages a tasty tea called Alfamint, consisting of alfalfa leaves and spearmint. It is quite refreshing, especially as iced tea, sweetened by a touch of honey. Red clover flowers are full of sweet nectar. The founder of the above mentioned health food producer, Gerhard Seier, recommends their daily use as a cancer preventive. Calendula is called pot marigold in England, because the leaves are used in cooking. I prefer the flowers in teas and salads. Go easy on them until you get accustomed to the taste. Basswood leaves are a soothing ingredient when the flowers are not available. The basswood flower tea is often referred to by its German name "Linde" or its English name "lime." It is easily the most palatable tea even for small children. I recommend it when you have a cold, because it will make you perspire even without a sauna.
The copyright of the article Herb Teas Free for the Picking in Natural Health is owned by Traute Klein, biogardener. Permission to republish Herb Teas Free for the Picking in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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