Solar Tea

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Although I've never attempted to make herb mead, wine or beer by the above method, I'm sure the process would work. Warning: If you try such an experiment, be careful to use all the precautions that go with the preparation of any fermented drink. A capped thermos of ours burst its inner container one summer when we accidentally left it out on the kitchen counter overnight with only about a tablespoon of honeyed solar tea inside.

The following are some of our favorite concoctions. (You'll notice, incidentally, that the first recipe calls for a brewing time of longer than one day. This is occasionally desirable to increase the tea's strength, but at some point the drink will degenerate — we've found three days of steeping to be the limit.)

Experiment!

PEPPERMINT FLOWER TEA

Mix together the following dried materials:
3 parts by weight of peppermint leaves
2 parts each by weight of rose hips, orange flowers and red hibiscus flowers

Use 1/4 to 1/3 cup of this mixture to every quart of water, and add 3 or 4 whole cloves per quart (optional).
Set the tea to brew in the sun for 1 to 3 days. Strain it and add 1/4 to 1/3 cup honey.

This mixture is especially good when allowed to carbonate. For variety you could add to the jar — before brewing — a few raisins, a slice or two of orange or lemon, the peel of the same citrus fruits, etc.

PEPPERMINT-ROSEMARY- TEA

For each quart of tea, use the following dried herbs: 2 to 3 tablespoons peppermint leaves
1 to 2 tablespoons rosemary leaves (and flowers)
Sunbrew, strain, and sweeten the tea. This beverage is very relaxing.

FENUGREEK-PEPPERMINT TEA

For each quart of tea, use the following dried herbs:

2 or 3 tablespoons fenugreek seeds
1/4 to 1/3 cup peppermint leaves
Proceed as above. The resulting brew is good for a cold, and tasty too.

LICORICE-FLAX TEA

For each quart of tea, use the following:

1/4 cup licorice root
2 to 3 tablespoons flaxseeds

Proceed as above (brew the mixture for one day only). Sweeten the tea with honey and add fresh lemon juice. The resulting beverage is demulcent and helpful in soothing sore throats and easing coughs. It's best drunk at room temperature for medicinal purposes.

Finally, check out the table in the Image Gallery for additional ingredient possibilities to try alone or in combinations. The quantities given are for dried herbs used singly, and should be adjusted if you're making a blend. Measure the ingredients without packing them down in the cup.

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