Anise Hyssop Sun Tea

Anise hyssop is a perennial herb in zones 4 9 from the mint family and a favorite plant of bees and gardeners alike.

Anise hyssop sun tea. Anise tea is an herbal tea prepared with the seeds and leaves of the anise plant which bears the scientific name pimpinella anisum. Several people thought it belongs to the carrot family apiaceae due to its hyssop name. It smells of a licorice scent. Its licorice seasoned leaves and seeds can be utilized in teas servings of mixed greens and cooking.

The leaves have a sweet licorice mint flavor and can be used as a substitute for anise seed in cooking. Not only can you use fresh hyssop in salads and soups but also the dried hyssop leaves and flowers infuse delicious flavors into both cold beverages and warm teas. Dried anise hyssop leaves also can be used in place of anise seeds to flavor cookies. Anise hyssop has a flavor like anise and has a place with a similar herbal family as hyssop yet it s anything but a cross between the two.

Allow to steep 3 5 hours. Fill the jar with water and screw on the lid. Anise hyssop is a little enduring herb local to the center of north america. Strain into a pitcher and serve over ice.

Anise hyssop agastache foeniculum is an herbaceous perennial with vibrant purple or blue flowers. The flowers are edible and used to give flavor and color to drinks soups salads and desserts. Make a flavorful hyssop tea using. Additionally dried hyssop lends itself delightfully to potpourris sachets and homemade skin care products.

It grows wild in northern regions of north america sprawling across open prairie land and creating vast stretches of lavender blossoms from june to september. A tablespoon of bruised leaves is steeped in near boiling water for ten minutes. Anise hyssop is not a true hyssop. It can grow tall and woody with flowers commonly blooming in lavender but there are also white pink and blue varieties.

Anise has been cultivated and widely used in the middle east and the mediterranean region for thousands of years both as a culinary ingredient and as an element in natural health practices. Garnish with a sprig of anise hyssop. It s a member of the mint family and has similar qualities. Fresh or dried the herb makes a delicious tea that pairs well with baked goods like scones muffins and biscotti.

The leaves are dried for the cold weather months or used fresh during the summertime. Anise hyssop has a long history of medicinal use by native americans. Pick anise hyssop bruise the leaves by rolling them between your palms and place in jar. Definitive guide to growing anise hyssop and preparing it for tea.

Store any leftover tea in the refrigerator. Prolific in the garden and extremely useful in the home for food and medicine anise hyssop is worth growing and keeping on hand here are 5 uses for anise. The tea is naturally sweet so extra sweetener is not necessary. Both the flowers and leaves have an intense licorice aroma and flavor.

Place jar outside in a sunny spot that will remain so for several hours. Even though its last name is hyssop it belongs to the family labiatae a type of mint.