Herbal Tea Infusions

Recipes That Get Right to the Scoop

Refreshing, healthy, delicious — this herbal combination of lavender, lemongrass, lemon peel, ginger, licorice and spearmint is absolutely fabulous with a drizzle of honey and fresh lemon. Packed with health benefits, and coming in at only a third of the calories of traditional lemonade (35 per cup vs. 99 per cup — less if a zero calorie sweetener is substituted for honey), this cold-brew herbal infusion is the perfect health-conscious alternative to lemonade. It makes amazing homemade popsicles as well!

Ingredients

Note: You can make this herbal blend using all (or some) of these nutrient-packed herbs or request a sample below.

To make a two-cup serving for an infuser bottle or 16oz mason jar, you will need:

• 1 Tbsp. dry herbs (combine dried lavender, lemongrass, lemon peel, ginger, licorice and spearmint or purchase Poetic Tea’s, “Sestina” with lavender

• 2 c. cold, filtered water

• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice

• 2 Tbsp. pre-dissolved honey-based simple syrup (dissolve 1 part honey in 1 part boiling water, stir until dissolved and refrigerate in airtight jar for up to a month), or 1 Tbsp. honey (you’ll need a tad of boiling water to dissolve it). Adjust sweetener for preference.

or…To make a three-cup serving for an infuser pitcher, you will need:

• 1 1/2 Tbsp. dry herbs (combine dried lavender, lemongrass, lemon peel, ginger, licorice and spearmint or purchase Poetic Tea’s, “Sestina” with lavender

• 3 c. cold, filtered water

• 3 Tbsp. lemon juice

• 3 Tbsp. pre-dissolved honey-based simple syrup (dissolve 1 part honey in 1 part boiling water, stir until dissolved and refrigerate in airtight jar for up to a month), or 1 1/2 Tbsp. honey (you’ll need a tad of boiling water to dissolve it). Adjust sweetener for preference.

or… To make a standard 8-cup pitcher, you will need:

• 1/4 c. dry herbs (combine lavender, lemongrass, lemon peel, ginger, licorice and spearmint or purchase Poetic Tea’s “Sestina” with lavender)

• 8 c. cold, filtered water

• 1/2 c. lemon juice

• 1/2 c. pre-dissolved honey-based simple syrup (dissolve 1 part honey in 1 part boiling water, stir until dissolved and refrigerate in airtight jar for up to a month), or 1/4 c. honey (you’ll need a tad of boiling water to dissolve it). Adjust sweetener for preference.

Have you tried using an infuser bottle before?

Infuser bottles are absolutely amazing for throwing together creative hot infusions, cold-brewing tea, reusing once-brewed leaves, creating herbal or fruit-infused water, and for grab-and-go, eco-friendly tea drinking. Both bottles can withstand hot and cold temperature fluctuations so they’re great for brewing hot and either taking on the road or immediately refrigerating for enjoying later.

The Process

Here’s the scoop:

• Measure loose herbs into infuser bottle, mason jar, or pitcher (as long as it has a lid, it should be fine);

• Add honey simple syrup (or plain honey and enough boiling water to barely cover herbs to dissolve honey);

• Stir and add lemon juice;

• Add cold, preferably filtered water, tighten lid, give a little shake, and refrigerate overnight or for at least eight hours before enjoying (if using a mason jar or pitcher with no built-in strainer, catch the herbs with an over-the-glass strainer as you pour over ice). If using an infuser bottle, just ensure the filter is in place and sip or pour through it.

• Serve over ice and garnish with fresh lemon and even fresh lavender if you happen to have it on hand. Enjoy!

Pro Tip:

• Once you get this recipe down to your preference and adjust sweetener and lemon so it’s just right for you, try adding the cold-brewed infusion to ice cube trays to so once your herbal lemonade is poured over ice, it doesn’t get watered down and is good to the last drop. Also try adding to popsicle molds. Yum!

Want to try Sestina with Lavender?