After traveling today to be with family, and a long afternoon spent awaiting good news, which we joyfully received, it was good to get home and consider which herbal tea to sip on this evening. I have been sampling different teas, brewed from herbs grown in my garden. I had one herb left to try. I brewed a cup of lavender tea.
I only have a few blooms left on the lavender plants in the garden, so I opted to use dried flowers that I saved from last fall. There is still beauty in this preserved lavender, and a rich scent. I used a couple of stems with flowers attached and a tablespoon of dried petals to create my tea.
As the tea steeped, I looked up the health benefits of lavender tea. I’ve used this aromatic herb for years in homemade skin products and in my own potpourri, plus I keep a bottle of lavender oil on hand. This was my first time to use the herb in a tea.
Health benefits include:
- Relieves headaches, including migraines
- Aids relaxtion & helps induce sleep
- Reduces anxiety & depression
- Aids digestion
- Anti-inflammatory
- Diuretic
- Antiseptic
- Anti-viral
- Improves heart health
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces symptoms from asthma, colds, flu & fever
- Alleviates dizziness
I appreciate the versatility of this easy to grow, fragrant plant. I have several varieties thriving in my garden and I enjoy brushing against the herb and catching a whiff of the distinctive scent.
I let the herb steep in very hot water for about 12 minutes. The tea was a light golden brown in color. And the aroma was amazing as I sipped the delicately flavored tea. What a deliciously satisfying drink to finish out my day.
I have no more herbs growing in my garden to try. I’ve enjoyed using each plant to create a flavorful, healthy tea. I’ll experiment now with different combinations, like mint/Rosemary and lemon balm/lavendar or sage/bee balm. The possibilities…and benefits…are endless!
