| Join us on Facebook or for exclusive updates, travel specials, giveaways & more! Click here to get your FREE subscription to The Heart of New England newsletter (and get your free desktop backgrounds!) Bring the heart of New England into your home with beautiful, affordable, high-quality New England prints. Visit our New England Art Gallery today! Click here for more on New England gardening |
| ©The Heart of New England online magazine ...celebrating the unique character & culture of Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont! Contact| The Heart of New England HOME | Search Click Here to Get Your FREE Newsletter Today! |
| The Heart of New England Celebrating the unique character & culture of Maine ~ New Hampshire ~ Vermont |
Liberty Tea
By Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor, University of Vermont
On a summer tour of Strawbery Banke historic gardens in Portsmouth, NH I
visited one garden that featured plants used for "Liberty Teas." These were the
true tea plant substitutes the colonists began using more than 200 years ago
after the Dec. 16, 1773 dumping of the black tea from ships into Boston harbor
in protest of taxation. The black tea, also known as “bohea,” came from a plant
(Camellia sinensis) of tropical climates. Although commonly called “teas," since
these beverages don’t contain tea leaves, they are more accurately called
“tisanes.”
Faux teas
One of the most common of these faux teas, or true tea substitutes, was the
native American shrub New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus), also known then
as Indian tea or Walpole tea. Leaves of raspberry also were commonly used
for these colonial teas, as were sweet fern and spicebush. Bark from some trees
such as sassafras and willow were used. Little did the colonists know that
most the oil in sassafras bark is safrole -- a compound now banned by the FDA
as a food additive as it causes cancer in laboratory animals.
Flowers used for tea
Common flowers used for the Liberty Teas were sweet goldenrod (Solidago
odora), red clover, chamomile, roses, and violets. Leaves of herbaceous plants
such as bergamot (bee balm or Oswego tea), lemon balm, chamomile, and
mints were brewed as many are today. Many herbs were brewed in the 18th
century including lavender, parsley, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, lemon
verbena, and sage. Native Americans introduced the colonists to many of these
plants, which they often brewed to use medicinally.
Lavender, bee balm, fruit teas
One of the most commonly used was the lavender-flowered wild bergamot
(Monarda fistulosa). While most of our current garden bee balms are of a
different species (Monarda didyma), any bee balms can be used for teas. The
wild species though, found in wild areas and along roads, usually has the
highest oil content, so use it sparingly. Try a small handful of flowers and
leaves per pot of tea. It combines well with lemon and honey.
Even some fruits were used in colonial teas, including those of dried
strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and apples. Rosehips, rich in vitamin C
and used today in teas, were used then as well. Some were combined, such as
strawberry and apple. “Indian lemonade tea” was made from boiling the
berries of the red sumac.
Combination teas
Often ingredients were combined, such as a common tea recipe of that time
including equal parts sweet goldenrod, betony, clover, and New Jersey tea. If
you want to try to make a simple Liberty tea, take leaves from the sweet
goldenrod just before it comes into bloom. Otherwise if you wait too late,
leaves may become bitter.
Goldenrod tea
Also known as anise-scented goldenrod, its leaves smell of anise when
crushed—one way to identify it. Other ways to identify the sweet goldenrod
are that is grows 2 to 4 feet tall, has smooth or slightly hairy stems, and lance-
shaped leaves to 4-inches long with parallel veins. Leaves have solid margins,
and translucent dots. Flower clusters are branched and plume-like.
Individual flowers are in rows on the upper sides of the plume branches.
You either can dry the sweet goldenrod stalks, hanging upside down in a well-
ventilated area out of direct sun but warm, then strip the leaves when dry; or,
you can strip the leaves and dry them in a single layer on trays. When leaves
are crisp and fully dry, you can use or store in tight containers. Steep a
teaspoonful of dried leaves in a cup of boiling water for five minutes, or to
taste. Try combining these leaves with those of peppermint or spearmint.
Most plants such as these that the colonists used for their tea substitutes, as we
use today for our herbal tisanes, can be brewed and enjoyed safely in
moderation. Some, such as the berry leaves, provide vitamin C and other
healthy ingredients. Too much of these supplements, from drinking too much
of some herbal teas, can cause health complications.
Some warnings about substitute teas
Occasionally an herb may trigger an allergic reaction, such as those allergic to
ragweed drinking chamomile tea. Introduce such teas slowly to your diet to
check for allergic reactions. While mint is generally safe for most, it may
worsen symptoms for those with acid reflux. If you have health issues, or are
taking medications, its best to check with your doctor or pharmacist for
interactions before beginning brewing and consuming herbal teas. It is
generally recommended for children or those pregnant not to consume herbal
teas, at least without professional advice.
How to collect leaves for faux tea
When collecting leaves or flowers of other plants, first make sure you are
positive what plant you are collecting to use for tea, especially if collecting
from the wild. If not your property, make sure you have permission to collect.
If only a few plants are in a wild population, make sure not to harvest more
than a quarter of the plants so enough are left to multiply. Best is not to collect
along roadsides for safety concerns, and excessive dust, grime or road toxins.
If collecting from gardens, make sure no pesticides have been used on the
plants.
Harvest in mid-morning once any dew has evaporated, before temperatures
get too hot. Wash leaves or plant parts and drain or pat dry. If you cut many
herbs back early in the season by half to two-thirds, you can usually get
another harvest or two. If using fresh plant parts, unless you’re familiar with
their use and strength, start with a small handful per pot of tea.
Drying leaves
If you want to save your tea harvest for later, you can dry in a dehydrator, or
warm area with ventilation out of direct sun. If drying, make sure your plants
parts are completely dry. Raspberry or strawberry leaves, for instance, are fine
fresh or dry, but may cause gastric upset if wilted or only partially dry.
Place leaves or plant parts on paper towels, with another on top to protect
from dust and keep from blowing away. Allow to dry for about 10 days, or
until they crumble and no longer feel moist. Then store in tightly closed jars or
containers. Or you can store in plastic freezer bags with all the air squeezed
out. Don’t crumble leaves until using, as much as possible, to preserve the
most flavor.
Distribution of this article is made possible by University of Vermont Extension and New
England Grows -- a conference providing education for industry professionals and support for
Extension's outreach efforts in horticulture.
By Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor, University of Vermont
On a summer tour of Strawbery Banke historic gardens in Portsmouth, NH I
visited one garden that featured plants used for "Liberty Teas." These were the
true tea plant substitutes the colonists began using more than 200 years ago
after the Dec. 16, 1773 dumping of the black tea from ships into Boston harbor
in protest of taxation. The black tea, also known as “bohea,” came from a plant
(Camellia sinensis) of tropical climates. Although commonly called “teas," since
these beverages don’t contain tea leaves, they are more accurately called
“tisanes.”
Faux teas
One of the most common of these faux teas, or true tea substitutes, was the
native American shrub New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus), also known then
as Indian tea or Walpole tea. Leaves of raspberry also were commonly used
for these colonial teas, as were sweet fern and spicebush. Bark from some trees
such as sassafras and willow were used. Little did the colonists know that
most the oil in sassafras bark is safrole -- a compound now banned by the FDA
as a food additive as it causes cancer in laboratory animals.
Flowers used for tea
Common flowers used for the Liberty Teas were sweet goldenrod (Solidago
odora), red clover, chamomile, roses, and violets. Leaves of herbaceous plants
such as bergamot (bee balm or Oswego tea), lemon balm, chamomile, and
mints were brewed as many are today. Many herbs were brewed in the 18th
century including lavender, parsley, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, lemon
verbena, and sage. Native Americans introduced the colonists to many of these
plants, which they often brewed to use medicinally.
Lavender, bee balm, fruit teas
One of the most commonly used was the lavender-flowered wild bergamot
(Monarda fistulosa). While most of our current garden bee balms are of a
different species (Monarda didyma), any bee balms can be used for teas. The
wild species though, found in wild areas and along roads, usually has the
highest oil content, so use it sparingly. Try a small handful of flowers and
leaves per pot of tea. It combines well with lemon and honey.
Even some fruits were used in colonial teas, including those of dried
strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and apples. Rosehips, rich in vitamin C
and used today in teas, were used then as well. Some were combined, such as
strawberry and apple. “Indian lemonade tea” was made from boiling the
berries of the red sumac.
Combination teas
Often ingredients were combined, such as a common tea recipe of that time
including equal parts sweet goldenrod, betony, clover, and New Jersey tea. If
you want to try to make a simple Liberty tea, take leaves from the sweet
goldenrod just before it comes into bloom. Otherwise if you wait too late,
leaves may become bitter.
Goldenrod tea
Also known as anise-scented goldenrod, its leaves smell of anise when
crushed—one way to identify it. Other ways to identify the sweet goldenrod
are that is grows 2 to 4 feet tall, has smooth or slightly hairy stems, and lance-
shaped leaves to 4-inches long with parallel veins. Leaves have solid margins,
and translucent dots. Flower clusters are branched and plume-like.
Individual flowers are in rows on the upper sides of the plume branches.
You either can dry the sweet goldenrod stalks, hanging upside down in a well-
ventilated area out of direct sun but warm, then strip the leaves when dry; or,
you can strip the leaves and dry them in a single layer on trays. When leaves
are crisp and fully dry, you can use or store in tight containers. Steep a
teaspoonful of dried leaves in a cup of boiling water for five minutes, or to
taste. Try combining these leaves with those of peppermint or spearmint.
Most plants such as these that the colonists used for their tea substitutes, as we
use today for our herbal tisanes, can be brewed and enjoyed safely in
moderation. Some, such as the berry leaves, provide vitamin C and other
healthy ingredients. Too much of these supplements, from drinking too much
of some herbal teas, can cause health complications.
Some warnings about substitute teas
Occasionally an herb may trigger an allergic reaction, such as those allergic to
ragweed drinking chamomile tea. Introduce such teas slowly to your diet to
check for allergic reactions. While mint is generally safe for most, it may
worsen symptoms for those with acid reflux. If you have health issues, or are
taking medications, its best to check with your doctor or pharmacist for
interactions before beginning brewing and consuming herbal teas. It is
generally recommended for children or those pregnant not to consume herbal
teas, at least without professional advice.
How to collect leaves for faux tea
When collecting leaves or flowers of other plants, first make sure you are
positive what plant you are collecting to use for tea, especially if collecting
from the wild. If not your property, make sure you have permission to collect.
If only a few plants are in a wild population, make sure not to harvest more
than a quarter of the plants so enough are left to multiply. Best is not to collect
along roadsides for safety concerns, and excessive dust, grime or road toxins.
If collecting from gardens, make sure no pesticides have been used on the
plants.
Harvest in mid-morning once any dew has evaporated, before temperatures
get too hot. Wash leaves or plant parts and drain or pat dry. If you cut many
herbs back early in the season by half to two-thirds, you can usually get
another harvest or two. If using fresh plant parts, unless you’re familiar with
their use and strength, start with a small handful per pot of tea.
Drying leaves
If you want to save your tea harvest for later, you can dry in a dehydrator, or
warm area with ventilation out of direct sun. If drying, make sure your plants
parts are completely dry. Raspberry or strawberry leaves, for instance, are fine
fresh or dry, but may cause gastric upset if wilted or only partially dry.
Place leaves or plant parts on paper towels, with another on top to protect
from dust and keep from blowing away. Allow to dry for about 10 days, or
until they crumble and no longer feel moist. Then store in tightly closed jars or
containers. Or you can store in plastic freezer bags with all the air squeezed
out. Don’t crumble leaves until using, as much as possible, to preserve the
most flavor.
Distribution of this article is made possible by University of Vermont Extension and New
England Grows -- a conference providing education for industry professionals and support for
Extension's outreach efforts in horticulture.
