Everyone’s Cup of Tea

Recipes courtesy of Psychologies Magazine (February 2017) and taken from Cleanse, Nurture, Restore with Herbal Tea by Sebastian Pole.

Forgive Me for I have Sinned

This is a help-you-feel-good tea to sip slowly after a night of indulgence.  It aids digestion, stimulates sluggish circulation and refreshes your mind.

Makes : 2-3 cups

Ingredients :
1 handful fresh peppermint leaves (or 1 tblsp dry)
3-5 slices fresh ginger root
2 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 1 tsp dry)
1/4 tsp turmeric root powder (or a sprinkle) per cup
Angostura bitters (a dash per cup)
1 tsp honey per cup

Place the mint, ginger and rosemary in a pot.  Add 500ml freshly boiled, filtered water.  Leave to steep for 10-15 minutes and then strain.  Add the turmeric, bitters and honey.  Breathe in the aromas of the infusion while you drink it, as they will help you feel better.

Golden Milk of Bliss

A warm, deeply nourishing nectar to replenish your nervous and sexual energies.  This tea is a great relaxant, so drink warm before bedtime.  Calming bliss in a cup.

Makes : 1 cup

Ingredients :
150ml almond, rice or other milk
2 tsp ground almonds
2 cardamom pods (gently crushed or split)
5 saffron strands
Pinch of turmeric root powder
Pinch of nutmeg powder
1/4 tsp ashwagandha root
Honey, to taste

Gently warm the milk in a pan, then add all the other ingredients, except the honey.  Pour into a cup, sweeten to taste with honey and stir before drinking.  (If you don’t like the taste of ashwagandha, take a capsule of it when you drink the milk instead).

Mint Digestif

There is an Ayurvedic saying: ‘All disease starts with poor digestion.’  This tea will help boost your digestive fire without over-heating it.  It is a pitta-balancing infusion made for sipping after a sumptuous meal.

Makes :  2-3 cups

Ingredients :
4g peppermint leaf
2g licorice rot
2g hibiscus flower
1g fennel seed
1g coriander seed

Put the ingredients in a pot, add 500ml boiled, filtered water.  Steep for 5-10 minutes, strain and drink.