Hello goddesses,
I’ve got a secret to share: I’m semi-obsessed with tea. Coffee is going out of flavor for me lately. I think it was too many days in the Mediterranean, sucking down espressos and Turkish coffees. Those thimble-sized cups of ultra rich coffee still taste great, but when I get cold, I want to suck down gobs of hot liquid. And my stomach cannot handle the acidity (or perhaps it’s the caffeine?) of multiple cups of Joe. So I’ve turned back to the silent step sister: Artichoke Tea.
I have a huge array of black and herbal teas sitting in my pantry. But I was introduced to a leafy tea this summer that I wasn’t quite prepared for: artichoke tea. I know, I know. It sounds really weird. But it has a soft, pungent scent – like a woodsy trek in the Fall. It’s super easy to prepare and it has a ton of health benefits.
Did you know artichokes grow in a vine-y, thorny bush? We eat the flower buds, but the stems are delicious and meaty. Don’t discard the petals after eating! Dry them and use later
Artichoke Tea Health Benefits
For Digestion: I have a sensitive stomach. I cannot eat fried foods day in/day out (thankfully, or I’d be ginormous). But even a little too much fat in my diet can cause my stomach to sometimes flip. Artichoke tea is a great digestive aid, as it helps increase bile in the stomach, which breaks down fat. Then it carries it all off to be flushed away out of your system.
For Liver Health: This same increase in bile also supports good liver function. Ancient Egyptians knew that artichokes implicitly supported good liver health.
Diuretic: Artichoke tea acts as a diuretic, which may help in preventing water retention (especially during those days of the month). It’s a little shared secret among us goddesses in the Mediterranean.
It’s also caffeine free (naturally), so you can drink it safely in the evenings.
Green and purple petals that are dried in the sun, steeped for a few minutes in boiling water to nourish your body
How to Brew Artichoke Tea
Brewing artichoke is rather simple. Once you’ve eaten the leaves (and if you are lucky enough to eat the stem), save them. Give them a good rinse. Lay out to dry to be used later. Once fully dried either in the sun, oven or dehydrator, keep them in a sealed container and consume within 6 months. Grab a small handful, add to boiled water and allow to steep until your tea turns a very light brown color. Sweeten, if you need (I typically don’t).
Enjoy!
Eat Like a Goddess, too, my friends!
Claudia
Have you tried artichoke tea before? Any thoughts? I would love to hear from you!
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