The days are getting shorter and the nights cooler. Thats when I start to prepare for the long winter months that we all don't really want to think about quite yet. I'm a coffee drinker in the wee hours but then I switch to a non-caffeinated tea so that I can sleep at night. We keep our house at a pretty cool temperature in the winter, so if you aren't moving around you are covered by a blanket or drinking tea! My fav is lemongrass and ginger. It not only tastes great, but there are lots of healthy benefits to drinking natural herb teas. I found a great link here for this tea. with all the great benefits.
Last summer I planted lemon grass in my herb garden and in the fall I cut it all off and stuck the grass in my freezer. So all winter long I made the tea. I also keep my ginger in the freezer so it doesn't spoil. and just cut or use a peeler to shave off what I need. You can even use the outside layer for tea so dry it or freeze it for later. This summer I looked high and low for the lemongrass plant and potted it so I can bring it in this winter. It's an annual so in our area it doesn't come back in the spring. It's great with chicken cooked in coconut milk as well!
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| I cut about an inch of ginger into smaller pieces and use a stem or two of the lemongrass, just wind it up in a ring to fit inside your tea pot. Steep for 3 minutes and remove. |
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| I keep my pot under a tea cozy to keep it warm for a long while. Then you can microwave the reserve or drink it on ice. |
