Kawakawa infusion — the warming herbal tea
A warm infusion of kawakawa leaves, with a peppery, bitter flavor, traditionally drunk to warm and soothe the body. A simple, green healing beverage.
A warm infusion of kawakawa leaves, with a peppery, bitter flavor, traditionally drunk to warm and soothe the body. A simple, green healing beverage.
When the cold of the lake was still in my bones, despite the boiling water of the spring, they brought me something to warm me from within. Kawakawa, that holey leaf known to all the women of my people, is thrown into hot water and left to yield its peppery soul. Drink it bitter and burning, in small sips: it drives the dampness from the body and restores the breath. It is an everyday remedy, but that night, it was worth all the treasures to me.
- •Kawakawa leaves — a handful (aromatic and healing principle)
- •Water heated with stones — one gourd (infusion)
Kawakawa infusion — the warming herbal tea
A warm infusion of kawakawa leaves, with a peppery, bitter flavor, traditionally drunk to warm and soothe the body. A simple, green healing beverage.
Why this dish? After emerging from the icy waters of Rotorua, chilled, Hinemoa warmed herself in the hot spring of Waikimihia. A bitter, peppery infusion of kawakawa leaves, a daily Māori medicinal plant, prolongs this gesture of comfort offered to a body exhausted by the crossing.
When the cold of the lake was still in my bones, despite the boiling water of the spring, they brought me something to warm me from within. Kawakawa, that holey leaf known to all the women of my people, is thrown into hot water and left to yield its peppery soul. Drink it bitter and burning, in small sips: it drives the dampness from the body and restores the breath. It is an everyday remedy, but that night, it was worth all the treasures to me.
Ingredients (period version)
- Kawakawa leaves — a handful (aromatic and healing principle)
- Water heated with stones — one gourd (infusion)
Ingredients
- Dried kawakawa leaves (or, as substitute, a mild peppery herbal tea) — 1 tbsp (main infusion)
- Simmering water — 500 ml (infusion)
- A little honey — optional (softens bitterness)
Method
- Bring the water to a simmer without boiling vigorously.
- Add the kawakawa leaves to the hot water and cover.
- Steep for 5–8 minutes depending on desired strength: longer yields more peppery and bitter flavor.
- Strain, sweeten with a little honey if desired, and drink warm.
How it was made : Kawakawa holds a central place in rongoā (Māori traditional medicine): its leaves, often holey from an insect (a sought-after sign), were infused or applied to warm, soothe, and heal. Medicinal plant use was a respected and transmitted knowledge.
The contemporary twist : Served in a terracotta cup with a leaf floating on the surface, the infusion becomes a winter comfort ritual with the taste of damp forest.
Sources : Murdoch Riley, Maori Healing and Herbal (1994)
Hinemoa · Charactorium