Lavender Mint Tea
Some of my favourite hot drinks in the evenings are rooibos, camomile, peppermint and sometimes just hot water with a slice of lemon. But with fresh mint growing in abundance in the garden at the moment, and the lavender about to bloom, here's a recipe for one of my absolute favourites - fresh lavender mint tea.
What you'll need:
- 10 mint leaves
- 20 lavender petals (one stem approx.)
- 500ml boiling water
- French press
How to make it:
Wash the lavender and mint leaves, and tear the mint to release its aroma.
Put the mint and lavender into a French press and pour boiling water over the leaves. Many herbal teas require water at a lower temperature but mint and lavender are hardy so using boiling water is absolutely fine.
Stir the herbs and leave to steep for 5-10 minutes.
Once the mint and lavender have reached the required strength press down the plunger and pour into cups.
This soothing tea is delicious hot or cold, and fresh mint and lavender from the garden make it even more gratifying. Happy snoozing! Zzzzzz :-)
Good to know:
- Studies have shown that lavender may be able to effectively soothe symptoms of stress and anxiety. Peppermint can be a simple way to calm your nerves and combat stress.
- Harvest herbs in the morning as their flavour is most intense then. They can then be kept in the fridge wrapped in moist kitchen paper until they are ready to be used.
- To clean fresh herbs let them soak in a large bowl full of water. Lift out the herbs, drain the water and dirt and repeat a few more times. Finally, rinse under the tap and pop them on a piece of kitchen paper to dry.