Herbal Lemon Tea Recipe

The beauty of this thirst-quenching herbal lemon tea recipe is that it has many medicinal benefits! It’s made with herbs that taste and smell like fresh lemons. Although it doesn’t include lemons, it’s just as delicious and refreshing as more traditional lemonade and lemon-based beverages.

Each of the herbs have a cooling effect on the body making this tea a perfect summertime treat. You can make this herbal lemon tea recipe simply for the flavor alone, or enjoy the many benefits of the healing herbs. The herbs are all very safe and gentle, even for children so the whole family can enjoy. Make it as often as you like.

Lemon Balm

Pick and choose any of the following herbs to include in your herbal lemon tea recipe based on their medicinal qualities. You can select one, a few or all of them. Since most of the herbs can be used dried, it’s easier to have them on hand then fresh lemons. You may wish to add a bit of stevia which is a healthy, natural herb that is even sweeter than sugar.

Lemon Verbena

Lemon verbena has the strongest flavor of the lemon-like herbs with mint overtones. It is both stimulating and relaxing at the same time and is best known for use to ease tension, reduce anxiety and calm nerves. Lemon verbena is excellent for many common digestive issues and can help reduce joint pain.

Lemon balm tastes much better when fresh, although the medicinal qualities are the same whether fresh or dried. Lemon balm has a tonic effect on the heart and cardiovascular system. It also is useful for tension, general exhaustion, stress, anxiety, grief and mild depression. Like the other lemon-flavored herbs, it’s used for many digestive issues.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is often included in Thai cooking for its wonderful lemony flavor. Medicinally, it has been shown to gently reduce cholesterol and blood pressure and help with digestion. Some also use it for pain including headaches.

Lemon Peel

Lemon peel is most often called for in culinary recipes, however it also aids in digestion.

Herbal Lemon Tea Recipe Directions:

If using a mixture of herbs, combine them together in equal parts. Since the herbs (except possibly lemon balm) are dried, you can mix up a large batch of the herbs so it will be ready to use at any time.

1) Boil 1 quart of water and pour over 2 heaping tablespoons of the herb mixture.
2) Add a pinch of stevia to sweeten (caution it is very sweet so a small amount will do).
3) Cover and let steep for 5 minutes.
4) Strain the herbs out.
5) For lemonade, cool the tea and serve over ice. You may also drink it as an uplifting hot tea in the cooler months.

Feel free to leave any comments or questions below. If you would like to learn more about herbal medicine, check out the Home Herb School at www.homeherbschool.com