Image courtesy of Pixabay/Truongmad
I live in the Northeast of the United States but spent my childhood in the cooler temperatures of Eastern Europe.
Summers still feel pretty hot to me despite living in Boston for the past several decades.
One specific episode really got stuck in my mind.
My family recently immigrated to the US at the time. It was a particularly hot summer day with absolutely no wind.
I was asked to do some type of paperwork in the downtown area. Being a new immigrant, I had a lot of time on my hands but very little money to spare. I remember thinking it would be good to take a long walk home instead of taking a bus back.
Hot July sun was not very kind that day. And unfortunately, my path home took me through the cement jungle with very little shade.
By the time I got home, I was exhausted, hot and pretty miserable. You can’t imagine how grateful I was to my mom for making some iced tea.
Fast forward to now, several days ago I was reading a fun article with suggestions for how to keep cool during the summer heat. Some of the best recommendations (other than using air conditioning) included chilling your feet, taking freezer pack to bed, having water fights to cool off and snacking on frozen fruits.
Have you tried any of these lately? 🙂
As I read these suggestions, I thought back to one of my favorites – drinking some iced tea. It certainly worked well after that tiring walk many years ago, and many times since.
If you’re looking for some extra power in bringing the heat down, make your iced tea with the following three cooling herbs.
1. Hibiscus
Hibiscus is known by its’ Latin name Hibiscus sabdariffa. This beautiful red flower is native to the warmer climates of subtropical regions. This plant is known for its heat reducing properties like blood pressure lowering and cooling inflammation. (If you have low blood pressure to begin with, use it with caution. I was also taught that hibiscus in larger amounts should be avoided in pregnancy.) I love adding hibiscus flowers to anything that could benefit from the beautiful red color and its pleasant tart taste.
2. Lemon balm
Lemon balm is also known as Melissa officinalis. This common garden plant often grows as a weed. When I think of Lemon balm, I picture pure sunshine in a cup. Often recommended to kids and adults for mood elevation and its calming effects, Lemon balm is a great plant to know and use. (If you have thyroid issues and especially if you take thyroid medications use lemon balm with caution.) This citrusy mint makes a lovely ice tea that efficiently cools your body (probably one of the reasons it’s given to kids with colds and flu.)
3. Peppermint
Peppermint or Mentha piperita is the last plant I’d like to tell you about today. Whether you like peppermint patties or mint gum, you have experienced Peppermint’s ability to cool you down. Much like Lemon balm, this is a member of Mint family. And in a similar fashion, it’s used for colds and flu, as well as digestive concerns. You’ve probably tried hot mint tea before to settle your stomach, but have you ever made a cold peppermint infusion? Putting mint leaves in some cool water extracts the volatile oils responsible for its smell very nicely. I typically prefer this method of preparation to other.
Most of the times I make my iced tea by boiling some water, infusing leaves or flowers for 10 minutes and then cooling that infusion with ice cubes to the desired temperature.
And if you are interested in going one extra step, here is a recipe for some hibiscus peppermint popsicles for you. If you try them, please let me know how you liked them.
Now your turn!
How do you cool down during the heat of summer? What are your favorite recipes for cooling foods/drinks?
Please tell me in the comments and feel free to share with your friends.