Herb drinks for summer

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 270, 17 January 1989, Page 8

Herb drinks for summer

With the summer season comes thoughts of fresh salads, barbeques, and the chance to experiment with something different: fun-food - things young people might enjoy trying.

A herb drink is known as a tisane and these have been valued since time immemorial. But how many know that they became, as the result of harsh taxes and one of the earliest women's protest groups, a staple drink 200 years ago? This, of course, was in America when 300 women bound themselves to use no "store" tea until the import clause of the Revenue Act was repealed. Their men boarded the ships and tipped hundreds of chests into Boston Harbour.* The women looked among the wild

plants and flowers for substitutes. Recently, newspapers have given publicity to findings by the medical prdfession regarding the adverse effects of artificial colouring and flavouring, synthetic additives and flavour boosters on children (presumably adults, too). , A tisane is made simply by putting about five washed leaves of herbs such as bergmot, mint, or lemon balm into a teacup and filling with boiling water. A little lemon juice and honey can be added. This may be drunk straight away or cooled and served in glasses 'prettied up' with flower heads such as borage or chamomile daises. Recipes Green glow: Take four comfrey leaves, one stalk of celery and a whole daisy plant, roots, leaves and flowers. Wash very thoroughly. Put all through a liquidiser with a little water. Dilute with iced water or apple juice, a little honey if liked. Float a daisy head on

each glassful. Crimson lake: Put through the juicer a combination of apple, carrot, and beetroot. Chill but don't dilute. W eight- watchers ' noggin. A combination of celery, carrot and apple juices, add crushed ice, decorate with marigold petals. Strawberry cup: To a bottle of white wine add two sprigs each of sage, mint, lemon balm or marjoram, crushed. Stand for three

hours in a fridge. Strain, add a bottle of iced soda water. Put one or two small strawberries in each glass. Did you know that the humble field turnip can be "magicked" into a good vitamin drink? Milk absorb's oils and flavours easily. Pour off the top milk, bruise the chosen herbs and invent some new milkshake flavours. Have fun and experiment1.