Monday, March 15, 2010

Detox and Heal with Tea!

By Kaitlin Koppenal

Not only do I love tea, but I also love to cook. Naturally, I love to find recipes that not only taste good but are healthy for me. While browsing the Internet I came across some recipes for tea! I love that these recipes are all natural and that they are easy to make with things that are common around the house.

Honey Lemon Tea

For sore throats, this is one of the most delicious teas. Lemon and honey is very good for treating the throat. This tea can also be served cold with ice.

Ingredients:

  • ½ a lemon
  • 3 cups of water
  • 2 tsp black tea
  • ¼ cup Honey
Directions:
  1. Wash and cut half of lemon.
  2. Crush and put lemon into teapot.
  3. Add black tea and honey into teapot.
  4. Pour boiling water into teapot.
  5. Allow tea to stand for 2 - 3 minutes.
  6. Pour tea into cup and allow to cool slightly before drinking.

Rosemary Ginger Tea

Are you feeling a little under the weather? This tea helps combat the congestion, upset stomach, and all-around “icky” feelings caused by colds, allergies and flu.

Ingredients:
  • 2 slices of fresh ginger root, each about 1/2 inch long
  • 1 3 inch sprig of fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest (if you are feeling too sick to grate orange zest, just slice an orange and put it in the tea cup)
  • 1 clove
  • 1 star anise
  • Honey
Directions:
  1. Fill the tea kettle with approximately 1 cup of water and put it on the stove to boil.
  2. Place the herbs and slices in a large tea ball
  3. Pour boiling water in the cup. Cover the cup with plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or even a clean cloth. (The idea is to keep the as much steam in the cup as possible, so that the active chemicals in the herbs are preserved in the tea.)
  4. Allow to steep for 5-10 minutes.
  5. Remove the tea ball and sweeten with honey.
Bedtime Tea

This soothing tea will help you relax, unwind and let you drift off to sleep.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 teaspoon dried passionflower
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried chamomile
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried lavender
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried catnip
  • 1/2 inch of vanilla bean, or a splash of vanilla extract
  • Honey
Directions:
  1. Place 1 cup of water in the kettle to boil.
  2. Place dried herbs in a tea ball or tie them up in a cheesecloth bag, then place them in your teacup.
  3. When the water comes to a boil, pour it over the tea leaves. Cover the cup as described in the recipe above, and let them steep for 10 minutes.
  4. Remove the tea ball or the cheesecloth bag, and sweeten with honey to taste.
Ginger and Peppermint Tea

This simple tea is excellent for nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and other "digestive disturbances."

Ingredients:

  • 2 inches of fresh ginger root, sliced into 1/2 inch long slices
  • 2 tablespoons fresh peppermint leaves or 1 teaspoon dry peppermint leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry lemon balm leaves
  • Honey
Directions:

  1. Place the kettle on the stove to boil.
  2. Place the ginger root and peppermint into the tea ball, or tie them up in cheesecloth. Put the tea ball or cheesecloth into the tea cup.
  3. Pour boiling water over the herbs, and let them steep for 5 minutes.
  4. Remove the herbs, and sweeten with honey if desired.
I love these “tea” recipes. Most of these are considered herbal teas, but they are all so delicious. I hope these delicious recipes will help heal your ailments.

1 Comments:

Electronic Medical RecordsMedical Billing Software said...

Lovely tea recipes for the tea lovers...it is a great herbal retreat .It keeps the healthy good and the mind very peaceful.