The first harvest is all about, well, harvesting. Many people associate this day with grains and bread, but there are lots of other things that are at their peak and ripe for harvesting this time of year too. One of our favorites that you might not immediately think about is herbal tea. We harvest wild plants and plants from our garden, dry them and make a new tea blend each year. (Naming them is obviously part of the fun…) Past names have included “summer thunderstorm tea” and “firefly tea.”
Herbs to Harvest for Tea
Try collecting a variety of herbs and then let children smell them and decide which ones they like together. Wash and dry everything and then crush them up in a mortar and pestle. (This step is wholly unnecessary, but always my kids favorite part!)
- mint
- lemon balm or lemon verbena
- chamomile
- bee balm
- anise hyssop
- beetsteak (or shiso- grows as a weed in much of the US)
- lemongrass
- ginger
- rose
- dandelion
- raspberry leaf
- hibiscus
- red clover
- spruce tips
- sumac
Of course, any time you are trying a new or unusual food consult with a physician about any potential allergies or counter indications.