Herbal Infusion
Picture: My own herbal infusion, made with stinging nettle and red raspberry leaves, ready to be strained and enjoyed.
Herbs are most commonly used in dishes and teas. However, many herbs offer significant health benefits that may not be fully obtained when added to foods or drinks. Sometimes, stronger herbal extracts are needed, and this is where herbal infusions enter the picture.
Herbal infusions are similar to herbal teas, as both involve steeping herbs in hot water. However, there is an important difference between the two, which is the potency of the infusion. In teas, we usually use a small amount of herbs and steep them for a few minutes, whereas with infusions, we use a larger amount of herbs as well as steep them for much longer. The result is a potent herbal infusion, rich in the health benefits of the specific herb we are working with. This is a simple, effective and enjoyable way to experience some of the many benefits, that the medicinal herbs have to offer.
Therefore, I have curated this recipe for you to use for your infusions. You can make herbal infusions with almost any herb you like - just remember to check for any potential side effects the herbs may have. I have many blog posts about the health benefits of different herbs, which you can explore about here.
Recipe
1 L of filtered water
30 g of dried herbs of your choice - use a single herb or mix multiple herbs as desired
Measure out the herbs of your choice and place them in a heatproof container, preferably made of glass.
Boil the water and remove it from the heat once it reaches a boil.
Pour the hot water over the herbs.
Put a lid on your infusion and set aside.
Let the infusion steep for at least 8 hours or overnight.
Once the infusion has steeped, strain the herbs from the liquid and pour the liquid into bottles.
Drink the infusion over the next two days - add ice cubes and honey if preferred.
Herbal infusion made with stinging nettle and red raspberry leaves - perfect for restoring iron levels and help with cramping during menstruation!
Tips for making herbal infusions
Most herbs have a rather bitter taste when prepared in such a potent form as herbal infusions. That is why I like to add a small amount of raw honey as well as a few ice cubes to my infusions - it makes them taste almost like a refreshing iced tea, just much healthier. There are many different natural sweeteners you can choose from instead of honey, such as agave syrup or monk fruit.
As mentioned earlier, herbal infusions are a great way to enjoy the many health benefits that some herbs have to offer. Some of my favourite herbal infusions are made with stinging nettle, red raspberry leaves, or calendula flowers. I especially love drinking nettle infusions while menstruating, as nettle is particularly rich in iron, which we lose during menstruation.
I wish you the best luck with making your own herbal infusions and encourage you to experiment with different herbs to discover which ones you like the most, while gaining a variety of benefits from the different herbs you may try.
