Chill Out!
Iced tea became wildly popular at the 1904 worlds fair in St Louis. It was so hot, the fair-goers wanted nothing to do with hot drinks and went in search of cold drinks. It’s still a popular way to cool down and enjoy yourself when the temperature makes you melt! Stress is common in the summer months; there’s so much going on and adrenal support needs to be a part of your self care at this time.
Drinking your usual tea over ice is a tasty way to get more fluids when the weather is warmer and you may be perspiring. Making your own tea blend with medicinal herbs helps you get all the benefits of the herbs in a way that compliments the heat of summer days!
Herbs for Adrenal Support
Red Raspberry Leaf is an overall women’s hormone balancing tonic. Raspberry Leaf help the uterus stay ‘stretchy’ and is very beneficial when preparing for birth or reducing menstrual cramping.
Rose Buds made into a tea help to calm the heart, decrease anxiety and help with cramping. They also add a wonderful floral flavor.
Chamomile Flowers assist in calming the nervous system and relaxing the muscles. When made into a tea, Chamomile is especially beneficial to drink during the Luteal Phase of your cycle to calm mood swings.
Holy Basil is an adaptogen; it helps to regulate cortisol levels which reduces the impact of stress on the body. It’s calming effect is beneficial to drink throughout the day when you are working on a stressful project.
Lemon assists with detoxing the liver and promotes glowing skin with high Vitamin-C content. Iced tea has been traditionally made with fresh lemon.
We chose some herbs that support the adrenal glands; which control your stress response, sleep quality, metabolic rate and energy levels.
Iced Tea for Summer Adrenal Support
Ingredients
½ cup Red Raspberry Leaf
1 Tbsp Rose Buds or Petals, dry or 2 Tbsp fresh
OR
4 Tbsp Chamomile Flowers
4 Tbsp Holy Basil
½ a lemon, juiced, reserving a couple slices for garnish
Optional
fresh or frozen berries to make berry ice cubes
fresh mint
raw, local honey
Place herbs in a glass mason jar, fill it with boiling water and steep for 30 minutes or overnight for a stronger infusion.
Make berry ice cubes by placing berries in each mold of an ice cube tray, fill with water, and let set overnight. You can make these ahead of time and store in a sealed bag in the freezer.
Strain herbs from the liquid. You may use the herbs 1-2 more times for tea. Add the fresh lemon to the tea. Fill a glass with ice and pour tea over top and garnish with a slice of fresh lemon and some fresh mint leaves.
Save to Pinterest for your next hot-weather gathering!
Photos by Sarah Steffens of Savor & Fancy
Sarah Steffens is a Personal Chef based in Los Angeles. She specializes in Paleo, Autoimmune, and Whole30 cooking and believes food is the starting ground for practicing kindness to one’s body, mind and spirit. In addition to cooking for private clients, she also creates recipes and photography for Whole30. She shares recipes and kitchen tips at Savor & Fancy.
