Sage Summer Tea With Lemon
The event was a great success. Most importantly, it was an opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the garden space, talk about plants, and mingle. It was a fantastic afternoon and we hope to have more community events like this in the future.
While hanging out in the garden, I was talking to fellow member Theresa Racine about my sage (Salvia officinalis). I purchased it a few years ago from Lisena Garden Center (12-5 Cross Bay Blvd, Queens,). It was an impulse buy. I couldn’t help myself because the plant looked so beautiful and robust. I told Theresa I don’t know what to do with the leaves. Essentially, it’s just been ornamental for me. Theresa knows a lot about herbs and recommended making tea with it. I was totally into the tea idea!
Sage is an aromatic herb in the mint family. It is native to the Mediterranean region. This woody-stemmed shrub can grow two feet tall. It produces delicate purple, pink and sometimes white flowers in early June. The perennial has a rich history of medicinal uses, some of which are for oral health including cold sores, brain alertness, women’s health, skin health, anti-inflammatory properties, and antibacterial effects. The list goes on.
Here’s my recipe for a healthy herbal tea!
Summer Sage Infused Tea With Lemon
Ingredients:
8 cups water
3 large sprigs of sage
2 lemons
Directions: Thoroughly clean the sage and remove any unhealthy leaves. In a teapot, boil eight cups of water. Cut two lemons into halves. Combine the ingredients into the hot water and let the herb infuse for at least two hours. Serve over ice. Save the sage flowers for a beautiful presentation.
