Wild Foraged Sleep & Relaxation Tea
This is simple evening tea made with locally foraged yarrow, wild chamomile (also known as pineapple weed) and lavender, gently blended with warming fennel, cardamom, cloves and ginger. We foraged the flowers locally, dried them naturally for a few days in indirect sunlight, then combined everything into a fragrant herbal blend ready to steep whenever you fancy a calming cup.
Takes 2 days 15 minutes
Serves 20
Ingredients
- 10 –15 dried yarrow flower heads
- 5 dried lavender flower heads
- 50 dried wild chamomile flower heads
- 1 tbsp fennel seeds
- 1 tbsp whole cloves
- 1 tbsp cardamom pods
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
Instructions
- Dry the foraged flowers: After foraging, gently check your yarrow, chamomile and lavender, removing any unwanted leaves or debris. Spread the flowers out in a single layer and leave them to dry for a few days in indirect sunlight, somewhere warm, dry and well ventilated, until completely dry.
- Prepare the flowers: Once dried, use your fingers to gently pull the individual yarrow flowers from their stems. For the pineapple weed, gently pull the individual flower buds from their stems using your fingers. Do the same with the lavender flowers.
- Make the blend: Add the dried yarrow, pineapple weed and lavender flowers to a bowl along with the fennel seeds, cloves, cardamom pods and ground ginger.
- Mix gently: Gently combine everything with your hands or a spoon, being careful not to crush the delicate flowers too much.
- Store: Transfer the tea blend to a clean, dry airtight jar. Store somewhere cool and dry, away from direct sunlight.
- To Serve: Add 1–2 teaspoons of the tea blend per mug to a tea strainer or infuser. Place in your mug and pour over freshly boiled water. Allow to steep for 5–10 minutes, depending on how strong you like it. Remove the strainer, let it cool slightly and enjoy as part of your evening wind-down.
Notes
Foraging note: Only forage plants you can confidently identify, and choose clean, uncontaminated areas away from roadsides, sprayed land and dog-walking routes. If you're unsure about the identification of any wild plant, don't use it.