"Its (tea) proper use is to... relax the studious, and dilute the full meals of those who... will not use abstinence."
–Samuel Johnson
"...we call this Friday good."
–T. S. Eliot
Herbs have been used long before the days of recorded history... man may have learned his first herb lore by watching animals. I have always been fascinated that our cats (who are much brighter than most) eat a little of Catharine’s dill when their stomachs are upset, use her mint to keep their breath fresh, and take in an occasional spot of catnip for relaxation purposes.
Early man had various but limited options for injury and disease. Herbs were highly regarded because of their medicinal potency. The Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans have practiced herbal medicine for nearly four thousand years, and along the course of time, many remedies and traditions have been passed on to our continent. It has been recorded that man has discovered a herb for nearly every malady.
Over the ensuing several millenniums, our ancestors discovered that herbs were useful for reasons other than medicinal... namely for fragrance and flavor.
During the so-called Dark Ages, the air was considered unhealthful. Little wonder, the streets served as garbage sites and probably smelled similar to Aliso Creek on a bad day. Strewing, nosegays and aromatheraphy, all derived from herbs, provided fragrance to mask many of these everyday aromas. The learned even considered herbs to contain properties that could ward off disease.
Old recipe books show that cooks used herbs to flavor beverages and season food. Of course, without refrigeration, meats were served in some state of decay. Without heavy seasoning, it would have been difficult to stomach most meals.
Today, the tradition of herbs continues. Modern science allows us to isolate and identify the active ingredients of most plants. Scientists have discovered that certain herbs used for healing have a firm foundation in medicine. One of the best examples is the foxglove, which is used in treating heart disease.
Renewed interest in aromatheraphy and landscaping uses represents our continued reliance on herbs. Many of us grow herbs for culinary uses because of their great taste and the pleasure of cultivating our own fresh food. Next week, we will discuss how easy it is to grow a great variety of herbs and their uses.
One of my favorite uses of herbs is in teas. It has been said that tea can relieve a thousand different ailments, and provides a sense of decency and luxuriousness. There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour the English dedicate each day to the afternoon tea. I present my favorite beverage...
Catharine’s Herb Tea
11/2 cups cold water
1 tablespoon parsley
1 tablespoon sage
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon mint
1 teaspoon raw, unfiltered wild honey
Combine water and herbs in your teakettle. Cover and boil about 10 minutes. Uncover and simmer about 5 minutes. The tea is ready when the liquid is reduced by 1/3 and darker than a strong coffee. Strain into a suitable cup and add wild honey. Most relaxing and a wonderful diluent for CC’s husband.
Although I call every Friday good, this 13th day will mark the beginning of the Easter holiday. I will soon be "opening" my Easter basket...and nestled amidst the artificial grass will be brightly colored, hard boiled eggs and jelly beans, which I will set aside for later. At that moment, heart racing, I only want to satiate my addiction (and Catharine will ensure that it will be there)...the foil wrapped, chocolate Easter bunny. See you next time.
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