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A Soothing Herbal Tea

September 18, 11:46 AMFood ExaminerEric Burkett
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Finally, a beverage you can enjoy with your cat.

It’s late in the evening and you’re in serious unwind mode, preparing to go to bed. For many, a cup of relaxing herbal tea is just the thing to help that along.

For years now, I’ve been drinking a concoction of my own a friend once dubbed “Dream Tea” for its propensity to promote lucid dreams. Relaxing and soothing, it’s made from three ingredients: chamomile, peppermint, and catnip. Catnip? Stay with me here.

Unlike its effect on Thomas, catnip (Nepeta cataria) has a very different effect on human beings. As Mrs. M. Grieve notes rather colorfully in A Modern Herbal: “It is good in restlessness, colic, insanity and nervousness” in addition to its ability to induce sleep. Who doesn’t need a good antidote to insanity?

Catnip is a member of the mint family and has a refreshing, astringent flavor. Chamomile, of course, enjoys an ancient reputation as a soothing herb, and peppermint, in addition to simply tasting good, is known for its anesthetic properties. Steeped together, you have a very relaxing beverage and – nicer than buying premixed, prebagged herbal teas – something you’ve made yourself. You’ll find all these ingredients at your local co-op, herbal shop, or health food store.

        1 oz dried catnip
        1 oz dried chamomile
        1 oz dried peppermint


Mix the herbs together and store in an airtight container, preferably out of direct sunlight. When it’s time to make yourself a cup, place one heaping tablespoon of the mixture into a tea strainer, and steep in a cup of not-quite boiling water. Let steep for about 3 to 5 minutes. Occasionally, I’ll add honey but I like it unsweetened, too.

 

Sometimes, herbs can seem a little esoteric. Expanding your herbal vocabularly, however, can greatly enhance your culinary repertoire. There are plenty of good books and web sites devoted to herbs. I own "The Spice Lover's Guide to Herbs & Spices" by Tony Hill and "Simon & Schuster's Guide to Herbs and Spices" and chances are you'll find good breakdowns on various herbs and spices in your own cookbooks. Of course, the best way to become familiar with herbs and spices is to taste, taste, taste. 

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