The garden is planted. The cottonwood trees are shedding their pollen and it is officially allergy season. Our family has been in a long-standing battle against seasonal allergies for as long as I can remember. The stuffy, itchy, watery eyes. The incessant and never ending sneezing. The constant reminder to pack a hankie or small pack of tissues whenever we go out… I think you get the picture.
Over the past few years, I have been working on finding ways to support our bodies during allergy season so that it doesn’t hit us as hard. One of our favorite ways to do this is with an infusion of stinging nettles and hibiscus. Let’s cover a couple of basics before I share the recipe.
Isn’t an herbal infusion the same as herbal tea? While herbal teas use dry plant material and are steeped in hot water for a short period of time, herbal infusions typically use more plant material and are steeped for a much longer period of time. Herbal infusions generally contain higher nutrition than a tea would as well.
This nettle-hibiscus infusion is an excellent way to support your body during Springtime. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals, tastes yummy, and is a great way to stay hydrated as the weather turns warmer and you’re busy with outside tasks. I like to keep this infusion “on tap” throughout the Spring. I mix up a gallon in the morning to infuse all day. By evening, it is ready to strain and put in the fridge to chill overnight. The next morning I begin a new infusion and the process repeats.
Nettle-Hibiscus Infusion
1 gallon hot water
1/4 cup dried stinging nettle leaves
1/4 cup dried hibiscus
Steep/infuse 12-18 hours.
Strain. Add juice of one lemon or two limes and raw honey to taste (I do a few TBSP but we don’t like overly sweet). Mix well. Chill and enjoy!
*Please note: babies under 1 yr should avoid raw honey.
How Theology Brought Me to Homesteading