“It was such a pleasure to sink one's hands into the warm earth, to feel at one's fingertips the possibilities of the new season.”
― Kate Morton, The Forgotten Garden
The bounty that we already have is sometimes overlooked. In our gardens, home container plant collections, and balcony pots, as well as community gardens and natural settings, we have an abundance of materials at our disposal.
We are fortunate to have a large garden, and every year I look for opportunities to use and share more of what we have with everyone.
Exploring herbal infusions is a great way to enjoy a refreshing beverage and learn about how you can utilize what you already have to create something new.
I love how easy it is to grow and forage many herbs, berries, and flowers. Many of these can be grown in containers, or their wild versions can be found on a nature trail.
Note: You can create an infusion by steeping the following leaves, herbs, flowers, and fruit in hot water for 5-10 minutes or more, or by cold brewing them overnight in a jar with water in the fridge. If you dry them before brewing, their flavors grow stronger.
Strawberry Leaves: The leaves of strawberry plants can be infused fresh or dried for a stronger tasting infusion. I found the fresh brew to be light and refreshing.
Raspberry Leaves: Young, spring leaves from raspberry canes or bushes can be harvested before the plant flowers. They may be infused fresh or dried for later use.
Mint: These plants come in many varieties. I grow peppermint, strawberry mint, and chocolate mint. They add great flavor to fruit infusions, as well. I recommend growing these in containers or an enclosed area of the garden because they spread easily.
Lilac Flowers: These have a short season and are best picked when they are in full bloom. Make sure to only use the flower and not any green parts of the plant. You may want to infuse them into a syrup for the best flavor.
Apple Blossoms: You may infuse the apple flowers fresh or dry them to infuse later. Apple tree leaves may also be dried for a delicious tea. Keep in mind that if you pick a large number of flowers, there will be fewer apples later.
Fresh Tea Leaves: I have two tea bushes in my garden (Camellia sinensis). The young leaves on this plant are used to produce green, black, white, oolong, and other varieties of true teas. Every spring, I collect the tiny young leaves to make white tea. The leaves are sun-dried and dried indoors. Then, the second leaves that emerge are for making black tea. Sometimes, I like to infuse fresh tea leaves. It is a delightful, fresh flavor of spring in a cup!
You can also create overnight cold brews with herbs, fruits, and leaves from your garden. I made one with raspberry leaves, strawberry leaves, strawberry mint, and a few cut-up strawberries and their tops. It is a tasty concoction!
I encourage you to experiment and explore what is possible to make from the natural world. You will be pleasantly surprised by the results.
*Caution*: Please properly identify any plants you use for herbal infusions or cold brews before you begin. It is important to make sure you use the correct leaves, flowers, and fruits.
Biography:
Trista Signe Ainsworth is a mom, wife, pastry chef, and author who loves to garden. She enjoys working weekends at a local tea house where she creates treats for afternoon tea. In her free days, she writes on Medium in her publication Optimism and Light and on Substack in Letters From Your Inner Being. She published her first book in 2024, Letters From Your Inner Being. Her YouTube channel, Zerocasualteas, focuses on home creativity including mindful gardening, tea, decluttering and more.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in articles and submissions to Solidarity Tribune are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the collective as a whole. We publish diverse perspectives rooted in solidarity, liberation, and mutual aid, but we recognize and respect a range of voices within our broader movement.
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Some articles may discuss topics like state violence, systemic oppression, or personal trauma. Reader discretion is advised.
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