Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Lemon Verbena Tea Time........


.......I have had a small but healthy lemon verbena plant growing for two or three years. It is a favorite herb of mine because of the great tea that can be made from the leaves - one of my favorite drinks.


 
So, why have I only made it a couple of times this summer!!! It is a deciduous plant so there are little to no leaves in the winter.
 
 
Except for the wonderful sweet lemon fragrance of the leaves and what can be done with them, the plant itself is quite non-descript. It's tiny flowers are hardly noticeable and the leaves are not especially attractive but, I try to keep one at all times just for the tea.
 
 
If you would like to know how I make the tea you can go to this post from last year.
 

 
So, yesterday I got my things together and went outside and snipped enough leaves for a nice big pitcher full of one of the best tasting teas in the world!
 

 
Actually, you don't need any lemons. They are only included here for the topic, lemon verbena tea,  and to make the pictures prettier.  This is one of my favorite types of blog posts to do - setting up a little vignette and taking a bunch of pictures.
 

 
I used this beautiful lemonade pitcher which was given to me by a very special friend, Lynda. It has a beautiful design and color.  The glass is also purple but, doesn't show in the picture. Anything tastes better when it is served in a pretty way.
 
 

 
I used all the sprigs of lemon verbena that are showing in the next picture.
 

 
There is no need for using much sugar as the leaves are a sweet lemon candy fragrance and taste. It is said that lemon verbena makes some people sleepy. I have never noticed that and I always drink more than one glass on the day that I make this tea.  I think the sleepiness might just come from the relaxing, enjoyable experience!  One of the special little pleasures of my life and made even better by remembering the beautiful friend that gifted me with the pitcher! Is there something you experience occasionally that soothes your soul?
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Linked to Mockingbird Hill Cottage - My Favorite Thing
 

7 comments:

  1. It looks so good that I wish I could have a glass with you right now!
    One of my aunts dries lemon verbena and puts it in her cabinets and drawers to prevent/remove that "old" smell. She brought some to me when we lived in an old farm house and it helped.
    --Joanne

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  2. Sounds lovely! I became an iced tea drinker for the first time this year. SO refreshing in summer. I also love the sight and smell of herb-y plants around! I like your beautiful pitcher.

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  3. You made that tea sound wonderful!! I swear I can smell it from here and your pictures are great

    Carol

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  4. I'm not big on tea - but I love lemon verbena and anything lemony flavored or scented. Your plant looks lovely! Glad to have found you on Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

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  5. Sounds wonderful! I have lemon balm, but not verbena. I think I will look for a plant. Thanks for sharing! Happy to be a new follower.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  6. It sounds wonderful and must smell heavenly too :-)

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