Herbal Tea from the Berry Fields
An infusion of field herbs gathered in the good season — linden, lemon balm, mint, hawthorn flowers — drunk in the evening to soothe and aid digestion. The gentle remedy of the countryside, halfway between the kitchen and the garden apothecary.
An infusion of field herbs gathered in the good season — linden, lemon balm, mint, hawthorn flowers — drunk in the evening to soothe and aid digestion. The gentle remedy of the countryside, halfway between the kitchen and the garden apothecary.
I have always loved roaming the meadows with a green box slung over my shoulder, identifying herbs and pressing them in my herbaria. Many of these simples, which the peasants of the Berry have known for centuries, make gentle tisanes for the evening. Gather linden in June, when the flower is fragrant, dry it in the shade, and keep it for winter: an infusion will refresh you better than any apothecary's syrup. I see no sorcery in it, only the wisdom of those who live close to the land.
- •Dried linden flowers — a pinch (soothing)
- •Lemon balm — a few leaves (digestive and calming)
- •Field mint — a few leaves (freshness, digestion)
- •Hawthorn flowers — a pinch (soothing)
- •Honey — to taste (sweetener)
Herbal Tea from the Berry Fields
An infusion of field herbs gathered in the good season — linden, lemon balm, mint, hawthorn flowers — drunk in the evening to soothe and aid digestion. The gentle remedy of the countryside, halfway between the kitchen and the garden apothecary.
Why this dish? A passionate botanist, Sand collected plants in the Berrichon countryside and around Gargilesse, building herbaria and botanist's boxes. The "simples" — medicinal plants from meadows and hedgerows — were used in domestic remedies well known in the countryside she described.
I have always loved roaming the meadows with a green box slung over my shoulder, identifying herbs and pressing them in my herbaria. Many of these simples, which the peasants of the Berry have known for centuries, make gentle tisanes for the evening. Gather linden in June, when the flower is fragrant, dry it in the shade, and keep it for winter: an infusion will refresh you better than any apothecary's syrup. I see no sorcery in it, only the wisdom of those who live close to the land.
Ingredients (period version)
- Dried linden flowers — a pinch (soothing)
- Lemon balm — a few leaves (digestive and calming)
- Field mint — a few leaves (freshness, digestion)
- Hawthorn flowers — a pinch (soothing)
- Honey — to taste (sweetener)
Ingredients
- Dried linden flowers — 1 teaspoon (soothing)
- Dried lemon balm — 1 teaspoon (digestive and calming)
- Mint — 1 teaspoon (freshness, digestion)
- Dried hawthorn flowers — 1 pinch (soothing)
- Simmering water — 25 cl (infusion)
- Honey — 1 teaspoon (optional) (sweetener)
Method
- Combine the dried herbs in a teapot or infuser cup.
- Bring water to a simmer, then pour over the herbs.
- Cover and let steep for 7 to 10 minutes to extract the flavors well.
- Strain, sweeten with a little honey if desired, and drink hot in the evening.
How it was made : In the 19th century, tisanes of "simples" were the domestic pharmacopoeia of the countryside: people gathered, dried, and kept medicinal plants to treat minor ailments and promote sleep. Knowledge of herbs, passed down orally, complemented the garden apothecary that rural families cultivated.
The contemporary twist : Serve it as a cold infusion in summer: let the herbs macerate for a few hours in a pitcher of cool water, with a slice of lemon, for a "botanical water" from Gargilesse.
George Sand · Charactorium
