Tuesday, September 1, 2015

The Herbal Tea I Make

Ever since I decided to quit taking blood pressure medicine I've been making hawthorn tea.  Hawthorn berries, flowers and leaves work together to balance blood pressure.
If you have low blood pressure it will raise it up and if it is high it will lower it.  It does work.
I have not taken blood pressure pills for 2 years now.
I quit drinking soda many years ago and usually would drink water or iced tea. I've looked for something to drink that would not be unhealthy with food dyes or additives but found nothing.
One day while at Big Lots I found a Celestial Seasonings tea called "Zinger Ice".  An herbal ice tea with no caffeine!  It has hibiscus, rosehips, roasted chicory, orange peel, verbena, stevia, blackberry and raspberry leaves.  
I've made my own blend incorporating the hawthorn I need with hibiscus, rosehip, stevia and orange peel.  No sugar and no caffeine.
I tried to send pictures by way of my phone and they've shown as loading for 2 days.  So I found pictures on the Internet.
I bought the drawstring type bags so I wouldn't have to seal them with an iron. They work really well.  Generally, one teaspoon of herb to one 8oz. cup of tea.  I fill the bag and make an infusion in a quart jar.

Hawthorn berries - 1/2 tsp.





 Hibiscus flowers -1/2 tsp.


 Dried orange peel - 1/2 tsp.



Dried Rose Hips - 1/2 tsp.
 Dried Stevia leaf - 1/2 tsp.











Dried hawthorn flower and leaf











An infusion stays steeping for at least 8 hours.  It will make a stronger tea with less herb.  I drink this twice a day for the benefits of the hawthorn.  It is a delicious tea.