flipVerbena and Linden Digestive Herbal Tea
Verbena and Linden Digestive Herbal Tea
Why this dish? For a man "renowned for his gourmandise and love of good food," the evening infusion was the gentle remedy for the excesses of the table. This bourgeois habit of digestive tisane closed the long evenings, whether spent at the Villa Saïd or later in the countryside at La Béchellerie.
A clear and soothing infusion of verbena and linden, slightly bitter, lightly sweetened with honey. It is taken lukewarm, after a too-rich meal, to aid digestion and bring on sleep.
When one has, like me, sinned at the table — and it is the most amiable of sins — one must do penance gently. I would then infuse a few verbena leaves from the garden and a handful of linden flowers, which smell sweetly of June. Let it steep for the time it takes to read a page, strain, sweeten with a tear of honey. Believe me: there is no better companion for digesting a good dinner than this tisane and an indulgent book.
- •Lemon verbena leaves — a handful (aromatic digestive)
- •Dried linden flowers — a pinch (soothing)
- •Spring water — one cup (infusion)
- •Honey — a drop (sweetness)
Verbena and Linden Digestive Herbal Tea
A clear and soothing infusion of verbena and linden, slightly bitter, lightly sweetened with honey. It is taken lukewarm, after a too-rich meal, to aid digestion and bring on sleep.
Why this dish? For a man "renowned for his gourmandise and love of good food," the evening infusion was the gentle remedy for the excesses of the table. This bourgeois habit of digestive tisane closed the long evenings, whether spent at the Villa Saïd or later in the countryside at La Béchellerie.
When one has, like me, sinned at the table — and it is the most amiable of sins — one must do penance gently. I would then infuse a few verbena leaves from the garden and a handful of linden flowers, which smell sweetly of June. Let it steep for the time it takes to read a page, strain, sweeten with a tear of honey. Believe me: there is no better companion for digesting a good dinner than this tisane and an indulgent book.
Ingredients (period version)
- Lemon verbena leaves — a handful (aromatic digestive)
- Dried linden flowers — a pinch (soothing)
- Spring water — one cup (infusion)
- Honey — a drop (sweetness)
Ingredients
- Verbena (fresh or dried) — 1 tbsp (digestive)
- Dried linden flowers — 1 tsp (soothing)
- Water — 25 cl (infusion)
- Acacia honey — 1 tsp (optional) (sweetness)
Method
- Bring the water just to a simmer (do not boil vigorously).
- Pour over the verbena and linden placed in a teapot or infuser.
- Cover and steep for 5 to 7 minutes — no longer, or it becomes bitter.
- Strain, optionally sweeten with a little honey.
- Drink lukewarm, in the evening, after a heavy meal.
How it was made : Herbal teas were the quintessential domestic remedy of the 19th century: every bourgeois household dried verbena, linden, mint, and chamomile from its garden for the pantry. Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora), brought from South America in the 18th century, was naturalized throughout France by the Belle Époque.
The contemporary twist : Add a lemon zest and a fresh mint leaf for an iced tea version in summer, to serve on the terrace.
Anatole France · Charactorium
