Rosemary Herbal Tea

Steeping a rosemary wreath

We've had the sniffles at my house, and the DH and I have been sipping mugs of rosemary (above) and thyme herbal infusions.

I'm fond of rosemary.  I love its aroma and flavor.  It's featured in my favorite cucumber sandwich recipe.  It's the herb of remembrance.  (Friend Nancy and her sister have a tearoom, herb store and blog related to this tradition.) 

Where I live, it grows year-round and I feel fortunate to be able to snip a few branches even in the winter!  It 's not fussy.  Here, I just rinsed the leaves, coiled them and poured boiling water over to steep for 10 minutes.  In later spring, the bush provides another gift:  pretty pale blue blooms.

There are many uses for the herbal infusion.  It has antioxidants as well as other compounds that are anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-fungal and anti-septic.  It's also a good source of folic acid, vitamins A, and C and iron.  There are probably many other benefits.

Have you ever tried a rosemary infusion?  I've found it to have a very pleasing aroma and flavor.