pajarito-colibri

[pajarito-colibri]

some tea recipes

if you like tea rituals or giving tea offerings, then this post is for you! keep in mind, though, DEFINITELY do your research on any of the herbs/plants I've listed here if you've never put them in your body before. there's no harm in making substitutions or omitting certain things for the sake of your own health. i've gone ahead and highlighted some herbs that have potential side effects (although not everything i've highlighted may effect you, and not everything i haven't is for sure safe).

also, all of these teas can be made with one of those little tea strainer balls, or with a good mesh sieve. either way, have some way of removing the mix after it's steeped, because over-steeped tea can get sour. store any leftover tea mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place

if you need to replace any fresh ingredients with dried, divide the quantity in half. also, some of the floral teas will seem like it's a lot of mix just for one cup, but petals just aren't as strong as leaves/roots/etc.

CLEAR SKIES TEA

Ingredients: 1/2 cup dried peppermint, 1/4 cup marigold petals, 2 stalks of finely chopped lemongrass, 2 tsps orange zest, 1 tsp ground ginger Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup

EVERYDAY MORNING TEA

Ingredients: 1 rooibos tea bag, a thin slice of lemon/or a little bit of juice, two thin slices of ginger, 3 cloves (or 3/4 tsp of ground clove), top with a few lemon balm or spearmint leaves after steeping Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes to make 1 cup

COTTAGE TEA

Ingredients: 1 cup earl grey leaves, 1/4 cup dried lavender, 2 tbsps each of cornflower and sunflower petals, add a couple vanilla seeds or extract in each cup Extra Instructions: steep for 3 minutes, use 1-2 tsps to make 1 cup

GROUNDING TEA

Ingredients: 2 tsps/1 bag of black tea (assam or darjeeling is best), 2 tsps/1 bag of chamomile tea, 2 tsps elderflowers, add a pinch of lemongrass and a few vanilla seeds/a couple drops of extract to each cup Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, makes 2 cups

CALMING TEA

Ingredients: 1 cup lemon balm leaves, 1/2 cup valerian root (I use lavender instead), 1/2 cup rose geranium petals, 1/2 cup chamomile flowers, 1/2 cup comfrey leaves (or nettle leaf) Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes to make 6 cups

GODDESS TEA

Ingredients: 1 tsp each of hibiscus petals, marigold petals, rose petals, and thyme leaves Extra Instructions: steep 5 minutes, makes 1-2 cups

TEA FOR FAIRIES

Ingredients: 2 cups dried chamomile flowers, 1 cup green tea leaves, 1 cup lemon balm leaves, 1 cup calendula, 1/4 cup of rose petals Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 2 tsps to make 1 cup

DANDELION DIVINATION TEA

Ingredients: 1 tbsp fresh dandelion petals (although you can use the full flowers), 1 tbsp fresh marigold, top with a lemon/orange slice after steeping Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes to make 1 cup

ROSE VERBENA TEA

Ingredients: 1 cup Chinese green tea, 1/2 cup rose petals, 1/4 cup dried lemon verbena leaves Extra Instructions: use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup. steep for anywhere from 3-10 minutes (3 is best for the tea, 10 is best for flowers)

FULL MOON RITUAL TEA

Ingredients: 2 tsps dried elderflower, 2 tsps dried lavender, 1 jasmine tea bag, 1/2 tsp dried yarrow leaves (or can use elderflower), 3 crushed cardamom pods Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, makes 2 cups

GREEN SPIRIT TEA

Ingredients: 2 tsps/1 bag green tea, 1 tbsp dried rose petals, 1 tsp each dried dandelion petals and dried nettle Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, makes 2 cups

APOTHECARY'S BREW

Ingredients: 2 cups dried echinacea, 2 cups dried chamomile flowers, 1 cup dried mint leaves, 1 cup dried anise seeds, 1 cup dried thyme leaves Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup

ROMANTIC TEA

Ingredients: 2 tsps/1 bag white tea, 4 tsps rose petals, 2 tsps each raspberry leaf and lemon balm leaves (can substitute jasmine and mint for these), add a couple vanilla seeds/drops of extract in each cup after steeping Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, makes 2 cups

MAGIC REALISATION TEA

Ingredients: 1/2 cup dried borage flowers, 1/2 cup dried thyme leaves, 1/4 cup dried dandelion, 1 tsp each fennel seeds and ground coriander, 1/2 tsp ground ginger Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup

FAIRY CIRCLE TEA

Ingredients: 2 cups dried chamomile flowers, 1 cup dried lemon balm or mint leaves, 1/2 cup dried calendula petals, 1/4 cup dried rose petals Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, use 1 tbsp for 1 cup

JASMINE JOY TEA

Ingredients: 4-5 jasmine tea bags, 2 tbsps each lemon balm leaves and rose geranium petals, top with a few sprigs of mint and a slice of lemon after steeping Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, makes 5-6 cups

AURORA TEA

Ingredients: 1 oolong tea bag, 1 tsp dried cornflower, 1/2 tsp dried peppermint leaves Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, makes 1 cup

KINDRED SPIRITS TEA

Ingredients: 2 cups dried thyme, 1 cup dried rosemary, a few cloves, 3 ground/torn up bay leaves, 1 star anise, the dried rind of a small orange Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 2 tsps for 1 cup

abridged from "Enchanted Tea Time" by Gail Bussi (a bunch of these recipes I changed to be a little easier to do for the average person, or provided alternatives for a "risky" ingredient)

[pajarito-colibri]

Cheesy Potato and Carrot Soup (with leftover thanksgiving ham) and Homemade Biscuits