Are you a fan of zero waste or Home Made? Here are a few tips for making your own herbal tea/infusion recipes with simple and easily found ingredients. You won't have any excuses!

The benefits of infusions

In addition to the comforting side of hot drinks, infusions can treat small ailments, soothe and relax. And, as an added bonus, it can be done with aromatic plants from the garden!

Infusions can be declined endlessly by associating leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, herbs, spices, ... In this article we will propose you some recipes but do not hesitate to test some associations by yourself. Chances are you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Homemade infusion: step by step

Although your herbal teas can be made with fresh produce in season, if you wish to enjoy your herbal teas during the winter months, we recommend drying your plants and herbs. Here is a step by step guide on how to make your own homemade infusions.

Homemade infusion:harvesting, step 1.

As mentioned above, most of the ingredients needed for your infusions can be found in your garden. However, if you don't have a garden or if it doesn't provide you with the necessary ingredients, it is always possible to buy them already dried, in bulk, in an organic grocery store or a herbalist shop. 

In your garden, you can harvest thyme, rosemary, lavender, parsley, sage, mint, lime leaves and flowers, mallow flowers, nettle, lemon balm, rose petals...

A little zero waste tip: In your kitchen, you can collect lemon, orange or other citrus peels and peelings of organic seasonal fruits. 

For citrus fruits, remove the white membrane and cut the skin into thin strips. 

Are there any ingredients that are not in your garden and are not kitchen scraps? No worries, go buy them but remember to choose them Bio. This is the case with ginger or spices such as cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, turmeric or star anise.

Step 2: drying.

In order to preserve the ingredients needed to make your infusions, it is recommended to dry them. There are several options available to you. You can dry them on paper or cardboard near a heat source such as a stove or radiator, you can dehydrate them with an electric dehydrator or you can dry them in the oven at a low temperature or once the oven is turned off at the end of your meal preparation.

Depending on the type of ingredient and the type of drying chosen, this will take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks.
When it comes to oven drying, you have to be pretty careful, or your crop may burn. 

Flowers, herbs and aromatic plants can be dried whole. However, other ingredients such as citrus peels, fruit peelings and ginger should be cut into strips or small pieces before drying.

Step 3: Preparation

You can choose to prepare your infusions minute or in advance and store them in jars. If they are airtight, remember to check that your ingredients are dry to prevent them from going mouldy.

Contrary to tea which fears heat, it is recommended to prepare your infusions using water at 100 degrees and to let infuse for a long time, so that the aromas diffuse well.

DIY indusion: recipe ideas

Here are some ideas for infusions for all seasons. 

Winter Infusion

Ingredients:

Mix of spices, fruits and berries: 

• Orange peel (dehydrated)
• Cloves 
• Cinnamon stick
• Lemon peel (dehydrated)
• Goji berries

Spring Infusion

Ingredients: 

• 40g of chamomile flowers
• 30g of lemon balm leaves
• 30g of lime leaves

This infusion can also be used to soothe you at night before going to bed.

Summer Infusion (Mojithé)

Ingredients: 

For 1 liter of Mojithé : 

• 1 handful of fresh mint or dried mint
• 2 tablespoons of agave syrup
• 1 or 2 limes
  
  

To prepare the day before:
In a carafe, pour 1 liter of tempered water, before adding the mint leaves and agave syrup. Leave to infuse overnight in the refrigerator.

To make just before eating:
Cut the limes into quarters and crush them with a pestle. Add crushed ice and agave syrup as desired. Pour in the iced tea. Finally, add a sprig of fresh mint.

Fall Infusion

Ingredients: 

• One organic apple, diced and dehydrated
• A cinnamon stick
• ½ vanilla bean

Here you are with all the keys in hand to start making your own infusions!