Contents:

• Which herbs are worth drinking in hot weather?
• Herbs in the summer kitchen

Hot days await us in the coming weeks. The heat, which some expect during the long winter months, others not necessarily, even though we associate it with longed-for rest and vacation, can take its toll. First of all, we must remember that on days when the temperature reaches at least 25 degrees Celsius in the shade, we need to keep our bodies hydrated. At such temperatures, we usually instinctively reach for cold juices, lemonades, and other drinks from the refrigerator and add ice cubes to the water. However, not everyone knows that some herbal teas, even those served hot, can regulate our body temperature. They not only have a cooling effect on the body but also hydrate and relax. In addition to the traditional brewing and drinking of a warm infusion, herbs can be prepared in a variety of ways. They can serve as the basis for making refreshing lemonade, as an addition to a meal, or as a bath. In this way, they can also help us cope with the exhausting heat.

Which herbs are worth drinking in hot weather?

In any case, most of us associate herbs with their warming effects. This is the case, for example, with popular winter infusions of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. However, it turns out that herbs also help during the summer heat when we need to cool down. Herbs with such effects certainly include:

• Mint – Thanks to its menthol content, which has a cooling effect even when brewed warm, mint not only quenches thirst but also reduces sweating. Fresh mint leaves can be added to water, lemonade, or tea, as well as fruit salads.
• Sage – perfectly quenches thirst on hot days and helps stop excessive sweating. It naturally regulates body temperature, and if you don't like its rather bitter taste, it can be sweetened with a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup.
• Lemon balm – has a pleasantly refreshing taste and fragrance, cools and relaxes at the same time, improves well-being, eliminates fatigue and improves concentration, which can be weakened in strenuous heat,
• Nettle – has diuretic properties, helps to cleanse the body of toxins and excess acid, thus reducing swelling that can bother us in the greatest heat,
• Yarrow – has thermoregulating properties, which means it cools on hot days and warms on cooler days,
• Lavender – has a pleasant, delicate and refreshing taste, perfect for making lemonade with added ice.

All of these herbs are moisturizing, invigorating, and refreshing. Plants such as horsetail, birch, dandelion, and elderberry also have a similar effect. In addition to traditional herbal brewing and drinking warm infusions, we can also prepare delicious refreshing drinks. Chilled herbal teas can be enhanced with lemon, honey, ice cubes, or frozen fruit. Such a hydrating herbal drink contains vitamins and minerals such as potassium, which we lose a lot through sweat. Herbal teas refresh and support the body's water balance and are not only delicious but also healthy. If we cannot consume herbs directly due to concomitant illnesses in hot weather, we can prepare a nourishing bath by adding, for example, fresh mint leaves or ready-made herbal teas.

Herbs in the summer kitchen

In hot weather, we should make sure our meals are light. It's worth adding herbs that have a positive effect on the digestive system. All sorts of ailments such as heartburn, indigestion, bloating, or a feeling of heaviness after eating make it even harder for us to survive hot days. Add dill , savory, coriander, marjoram, basil , lemongrass, or cumin to your dishes. Fresh basil also has wonderful properties—it refreshes, improves mood, and reduces tension and irritability. You can add it to snacks, summer salads, and water or lemonade.