Herbal Infusion from the Garden, Sweetened with Honey
A hot infusion of medicinal flowers and leaves — linden, lemon balm, chamomile — sweetened with a spoonful of honey. Bitter and floral beneath the sweetness, it is the balm of the evening.
A hot infusion of medicinal flowers and leaves — linden, lemon balm, chamomile — sweetened with a spoonful of honey. Bitter and floral beneath the sweetness, it is the balm of the evening.
Now that my eyes have abandoned me, I recognize my plants by scent alone, and it is a consolation that nothing will take from me. My daughter brings me this tisane every evening: linden for sleep, lemon balm for mood, a chamomile flower for the bitterness of body and soul. A little honey on top, and that is all. Science has fed me little, sir, but it has taught me which leaves soothe an old man at the end of his troubles.
- •Dried linden flowers — a pinch (soothing)
- •Lemon balm leaves — a few (lemony fragrance)
- •Chamomile flowers — a pinch (gentle bitterness)
- •Spring water — a bowl (infusion)
- •Honey — a spoonful (sweetener)
Herbal Infusion from the Garden, Sweetened with Honey
A hot infusion of medicinal flowers and leaves — linden, lemon balm, chamomile — sweetened with a spoonful of honey. Bitter and floral beneath the sweetness, it is the balm of the evening.
Why this dish? Blind and poor at the end of his life, cared for by his daughter Cornélie, Lamarck knew better than anyone the virtues of medicinal plants (he oversaw the department of *simples*). An infusion of flowers and leaves, sweetened with honey, was the evening comfort by the fireside.
Now that my eyes have abandoned me, I recognize my plants by scent alone, and it is a consolation that nothing will take from me. My daughter brings me this tisane every evening: linden for sleep, lemon balm for mood, a chamomile flower for the bitterness of body and soul. A little honey on top, and that is all. Science has fed me little, sir, but it has taught me which leaves soothe an old man at the end of his troubles.
Ingredients (period version)
- Dried linden flowers — a pinch (soothing)
- Lemon balm leaves — a few (lemony fragrance)
- Chamomile flowers — a pinch (gentle bitterness)
- Spring water — a bowl (infusion)
- Honey — a spoonful (sweetener)
Ingredients
- Dried linden flowers — 1 tsp (soothing)
- Lemon balm (fresh or dried) — 1 tsp (citrus note)
- Dried chamomile flowers — 1 tsp (bitterness)
- Simmering water — 25 cl (infusion)
- Honey — 1 tsp (signature sweetness)
Method
- Heat the water without bringing it to a full boil (around 90°C).
- Place linden, lemon balm, and chamomile in a teapot or cup.
- Pour the hot water over them and cover to keep the aromas in.
- Let steep for 5 to 7 minutes, then strain.
- Sweeten with a spoonful of honey and drink hot, in the evening.
How it was made : The *simples* — medicinal plants cultivated at the Jardin du Roi and later at the Muséum — provided the herbal teas for all households. They were picked, dried, and infused at home; honey, the poor man's sugar before the spread of beet sugar, was used to mask their bitterness.
The contemporary twist : Serve it chilled over ice in summer with a lemon zest: the naturalist's tisane becomes an iced garden infusion.
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck · Charactorium
