People who follow us know that Cat has a passion for wild tea. But what is wild tea? Wild tea is tea made from plants that grow naturally in the wild. The ingredients are often foraged for, but Cat also grows a lot of her ingredients in her garden. This technically makes it not wild anymore, but it does make it safe and available.
There is a bit of controversy in the wild tea community about buying your ingredients for wild tea in the shops, because then it’s not wild. But we think you can totally do that if you want to. You might not be into foraging or growing your own food or certain things might not grow in your area. For example, Cat often fuses her wild tea with lemon, but that doesn’t grow in Ireland. The essence of wild tea for us is that you make it from natural fresh ingredients. No matter where you get them.
Today we would like to share the recipe for Cat’s Blackberry and mint tea. We also talked about this in our Beneath the Canopy Podcast.
For one cup:
- Pick a couple of Blackberries
- Wash them first
- Crush them a little to get the juice flowing
- Add one or two sprigs of mint
- Add hot water
- Let steep for 5 to ten minutes before drinking
Some tips:
- Make sure you pick berries that are ripe
- Pick high hanging berries (dogs and other animals might pee on lower hanging berries)
- Always wash them before use
- Make sure you’re safe while out foraging
- Pick just what you need, leave the rest for nature
- If you want to grow mint yourself, grow it in a container. Otherwise it will take over your whole garden.
Disclaimer:
Wild tea is good for you, but it won’t cure illness. It can be seen as a supplement. Visit a doctor if you’re sick.
Always consume wild tea in moderation, one cup a day is plenty, more can actually in some cases be bad for you.
If you are pregnant, are breastfeeding, or have any illnesses, talk to your doctor first before consuming wild tea.