Lemon verbena tea

Lemon verbena tea

Lemon verbena tea is an organic tisane made only with lemon verbena. The leaf gives a clean, fresh citrus smell, close to lemon peel, and the cup stays a pale green. The leaf is sliced, ready to steep.

Use 12 to 15 g per litre of water at 100 °C. Cover the cup and wait 5 to 8 minutes. Caffeine-free, lemon verbena tea suits morning, mid-afternoon or after dinner.

At Bird of Paradise, this tisane is sold loose leaf, in 50 g pouch, with CTT shipping in Portugal. Keep the leaf away from light, heat and moisture, in a closed tin, so the aroma lasts from one cup to the next.

Drink it plain, or with cake, fresh fruit or toast. To vary the habit, try the other tisanes in the shop.

The water should be just off the boil and the cup covered, so the steam does not carry off the smell.

The dose on the label is for one litre; for a cup of about 200 ml, use about a fifth.

Do not boil the leaf in the water: pour the water over it and wait, without stirring too much.