Hawthorn Tea

I had wanted to harvest and use hawthorn for the last few years but I thought it had to be complicated, like making a jelly and simmering it for hours. I forgot that I could just make tea. After going on a weekend retreat in mid August I remember being so struck by the hawthorn when I came back out on the Sunday. Driving along the country road and all overhead were tall hawthorn trees cradling the road with bright red berries. 

I was reminded of hawthorn again when I attended a Celtic chanting workshop in September, where we drank hawthorn tea sitting around in a circle in a bell tent before we began. I had heard and read that hawthorn opens and heals the hearts - but I could really feel it that morning.

Making tea is the simplest way I know how to work with herbs and hedgerow medicine. It is simply steeping the plant, flower or berry in hot water. There are many ways to make hawthorn tea - some people simmer it away for hours on a low heat. But what I did was steeped it for longer and simmered it for less. See below for a rough recipe. 

Ingredients:

2 generous handfuls of fresh hawthorn berries

4 cups water 

Honey to taste

Method:

Wash the berries and place them in a saucepan. 

Pour the water over the berries and bring to the boil. 

Allow to cool and steep overnight.

The following day, bring to the boil once more, then simmer for a few minutes.

Strain and add honey or any sweetener of your choice to taste.

If you don’t drink or share all the tea in one go, you can place the strained and cooled tea in the fridge for later.