Guide
Golden September: products for the transition from summer to autumn
by Stephan Lamprecht
I’m keeping it simple this Christmas and giving homemade tea blends as gifts
12.12.2024
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Still racking your brains over what to get your in-laws? How about tea blends you’ve made yourself? I’ve got three simple recipes that will conquer the tastebuds and hearts of your nearest and dearest.
Wonderfully fragrant and ready in five minutes: I’ll show you how to make three tea blends to suit every mood.
Camomile’s also said to reduce anxiety and nervousness. Its aroma is on the subtle side. Visually, the whole camomile flowers make the mix look like a wild herb meadow. The third calming herb in this blend is lemon verbena, which has an intense, slightly lemony aroma.
Brewing time: four minutes
Invigorating morning blend
This blend is also simple, as it only contains white tea and mint or lemongrass. As it’s a wake-up drink, it needs to pack a punch. In this blend, the boosting tea tastes nice and smooth, as white tea’s made from the same plant as black tea, but dried shortly after harvesting. This gives the herb a mild, floral flavour.
Brewing time: two to three minutes
The dried oranges and apples give off a fragrant and warm scent that harmonises perfectly with cinnamon and aniseed. The liquorice adds some natural sweetness, while the pepper and ginger provide a fiery finish. The tea tastes intense, depending on how much of each ingredient you add. I recommend using cinnamon, aniseed and pepper sparingly, while you can add plenty of dried fruit.
Please keep in mind that liquorice root’s said to increase blood pressure if consumed in excess. So probably best to hold back. Better safe than sorry.
Brewing time: three to five minutes
Want to dry the oranges yourself? I’ll show you how it’s done using a regular oven in the following article.
A sight to behold
Jam jars or preserving jars are great containers for tea blends you want to gift. They protect the tea from moisture and look really pretty, too. You can add a personal touch and help the person receiving the gift navigate the varieties by labelling the jars with the name of the tea blend.
Header image: Stefanie Lechthaler
Painting the walls just before handing over the flat? Making your own kimchi? Soldering a broken raclette oven? There's nothing you can't do yourself. Well, perhaps sometimes, but I'll definitely give it a try.
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