Borage Tea Benefits
Borage tea is believed to have some calming effects, useful for the treatment of nervous conditions, and the leaves are said to stimulate lactation in nursing mothers. It is thought good for reducing fever and restoring vitality during recovery from illness. Because it enhances perspiration, it is also thought to be of use in cleansing diets and detox programs.
Pronounced to rhyme with “porridge”, borage is also commonly called Burrage, Common Bugloss, and Komkommerkruid. Borage grows wild in the Mediterranean countries.
It has a rather pleasant cucumber-like taste. Some say it is cooling, others that it is spicy. Try it yourself to judge.
Just looking at the list of Borage’s properties should convince you that borage tea is something you can’t be without. It certainly does live up to its reputation as one of nature’s best stress tonics.
Combine that with the proper brewing technique you’ll learn in this recipe and you have a powerful tool – both for healing and enjoyment.
Borage is a cooling, cleansing and refreshing herb with adaptogenic, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties. Family herbalists use borage tea to restore strength during convalescence and as an adrenal tonic to balance and restore the health of the adrenal glands following periods of stress.
Borage is a hardy annual herb that grows easily, and super fast, from seed sown directly in beds. If your garden center does not stock borage seed – most do – you’ll easily find some online.
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The Perfect Pot of Borage Tea
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup fresh borage leaves and flowers packed lightly
- 1 cup water
- honey to taste or stevia
- lime and lemon to taste
Instructions
- Fill your kettle with cold water, which retains more oxygen for fuller flavour. As soon as the kettle starts warming rinse your teapot to heat it. Switch off your kettle the moment it starts boiling. When using fresh borage to make your brew, you actually need to switch the kettle off just before it starts boiling.
- Bruise fresh herbs slightly with a rolling pin. Crush dried herbs to release their delicate flavours
- Place your herbs in the teapot. Either loose or in an infuser.
- Pour one cup just boiled water over the herbs. Don’t pour boiling water over delicate fresh herbs.
- Allow your brew to steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Use patience and your sense of taste to determine when the brew is just right. If you want your herb tea to be stronger use more herb, not more steeping time. You don’t want the herbs to start releasing tannins. Tannin is great for curing leather, and for certain disorders, but it tastes awful.
- Strain and serve. You can add some honey (or Stevia) and lime or lemon. No sugar, milk or cream.
Notes
Rate This Recipe
Five stars are the highest and one star is the lowest. Everyone has their own thoughts on what each star represents, but for our purposes they’ll represent the following:
5 Stars = Best Ever!
4 Stars = Loved it!
3 Stars = Liked it
2 Stars = Not Bad
1 Star = Barely edible
Recipes and article by Di-Di Hoffman.
3 stars
Not sure what the taste will be but rating the method!
i know someone who can do with this tea.
I cant rate this until I have tried it. I am growing borage for the bees, so will have fresh leaves and flowers soon enough.
Interestingly, I had been debating whether or not to grow borage this year. I didn’t know all these benefits! I’ll be planting the seeds tomorrow
The tea sounds yummie, I just need to buy some borage.
This is wonderful! Borage grows all over my little acre. I let it grow where ever it shows up to attract pollinators. I have used the flowers to make pretty salads. I have new plants sprouting all over right now. I am going to harvest leaves and flowers and dry them for winter. And I am going to try a cup of tea from fresh leaves and flowers today.
I’ll definitely make this, just need to buy some borage 🙂
I can’t give a fair rating since I don’t have any borage to try…but I will definitely be looking for some
The recipe is well detailed and would love to try it but I still need to get Borage then will be in a better position to rate the recipe.
I appreciate the specificity of the recipe. I have borage in my garden right now!!!
Can’t wait to try it. Borage is such a beautiful plant. Don’t want to rate the recipe till I try.
Definitely interested in trying this technique out
Will definitely try this one.
I’ve never heard of Borage before, but I make herbal teas all the time. I’ll have to try this.
It seems a nice one that i have to try out
3stars
love to try this
I have to give it a 3 only because I have never made a fresh herb tea but I sure would try this.
Can not wait to try. Thank you.
Can not wait to try. Thank you
Can’t wait to try