Here in Indiana, it is officially cold and flu season. As I say, the “crud” is spreading, and let’s face it, nobody has time to be ill. PTO isn’t for aches, stuffy noses, and tissues, is it for adventures and fun?
The “Crud” Got You Feeling a Little Woorn Down?
When you sense the “crud” slipping in, what do you do? Like me, you can typically sense it when it first appears. Right before a disease like a sinus infection, cold, or even the flu or COVID-19 takes hold, I usually feel a bit exhausted and have a slight soreness in the back of my neck.
No Eye of Newt or Wing of Bat in This “Witch Tea”
I quickly make a batch of what I lovingly refer to as my “witch tea” to ward it off when I sense those warning signs. Even if I don’t put an eye of a newt or a bat wing in my pot, I always feel a little nostalgic about being a young child and making “magic potions” in the backyard with sticks, soil, grass, dandelions, honeysuckle, and other such materials in a bucket of water. (My friend, you really missed out if you didn’t pretend to prepare potions when you were younger.)
“Witch Tea” Is Meant to Be Shared with Friends
This weekend, we planned to get together with some friends for our usual coffee date at one of our favorite local locations. We had to postpone our coffee rendezvous because the “crud” ended up living with our friends. But in an attempt to cheer them up, I offered to prepare some of my “witch tea” right away.
Magic Ingredients for My “Witch Tea”
I took a picture of some of the ingredients while I was preparing it and posted it to Facebook with the message, “Making a little kitchen witch magic to help a friend feel better.” A number of comments asked for my recipe, so I figured I’d post it here in case it could make someone else feel better.
How To Make “Witch Tea” to Help You (or a Friend) Feel Better Fast
The ingredients and directions for making the “witch tea” that I use as a home cure when I’m feeling under the weather are listed below.
**DISCLAIMER: This is not medical advise, and I am not a doctor. See your closest healthcare provider if you’re ill. This is merely a home treatment that I have found to be effective. Obviously, if you have any allergies to any of the ingredients, do not prepare this. Your results may differ.
“Witch Tea” Ingredients:
Three quarts of cold water
Three to six tea bags of your choosing: I often use green tea, but lately I’ve also started using peppermint tea. I’ve also used herbal tea blends similar to those sold in stores. I seek out those that are marketed as immune-stimulating, cough-relieving, or throat-soothing. These typically contain echinacea and licorice root.
One large orange, cleaned and split in half or sliced. I don’t peel these. Citrus fruits’ rind or skin is rich in vitamins and minerals.
One large lemon, cleaned and split in half or sliced. Skin on once again.
Slice, chop, or grate one piece of fresh ginger (about the size of a palm) after washing it with cold water to remove any dirt residue and rubbing it with your fingers or a soft vegetable brush. It can be made easier to grate if you put it in the freezer first. Although I personally don’t bother, you are welcome to remove the ginger’s skin.
Slice, chop, or grate one piece of fresh turmeric after washing it with cold water to remove any remaining dirt and rubbing it with your fingers or a soft vegetable brush. Again, this is a matter of personal preference, and I don’t bother peeling the ginger because I like it.
One teaspoon of cloves
A pinch of pink Himalayan salt or sea salt
Use your preferred sweetener, such as local honey or maple syrup.
“Witch Tea” Instructions
Put your tea bags and cold water in a big saucepan.
Heat to high and bring to a boil.
Pour in all of the lemon and orange. Rinse well. Squeeze in the juice if you cut in half. Simply toss the slices into the saucepan if you sliced them.
Stir in the cloves, ginger, and turmeric. Add a pinch of pink Himalayan salt or sea salt.
Lower the pot’s heat and simmer it until the liquid has been cut in half or more. The tea gets a little stronger as a result. I’ll cut it in half if I want it to be particularly strong, which will leave me with around 32 ounces of “witch tea.”
Before You Drink Your “Witch Tea” Read This First
Add “witch tea” to your preferred mug. If you feel the need, you can strain it. I frequently eat some of the cooked ginger as well, but I generally just pour it in. There are a few things you should know before drinking the tea:
1) The ginger may make it hot and spicy. Since ginger is known to warm you from the inside out, this is not a negative thing. I don’t know the science behind it, but sometimes if I drink the tea too quickly, the spice will give me hiccups.
2) In “Marry Poppins,” Julie Andrews sings, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” Although my daughter has allergies and may find local honey irritating, I still like to use it for mine. When she sips tea, she sweetens it with (genuine) maple syrup. To be honest, without a sweetener, the tea doesn’t taste as good. I prefer not to drink it without honey. However, don’t “cook out” the advantages of the local honey by using store-bought pasteurized honey; instead, let the tea cool to a palatable temperature.
Here’s How to Help Your “Witch Tea” Get to Work
After finishing a mug or two, I cover myself with a blanket and go to sleep. I frequently sip this tea before bed, and as I allow it to do its job, I sleep soundly. With the tea, blanket, and sleep, I’ve found that the ginger creates “heat” in my body, which enables me to perspire away any bacteria that are bothering me.
How Often to Drink “Witch Tea” and How to Store It
One night of tea will enough if I catch it in time. I will make enough tea at once to drink a mug every night for two to three nights in a row if I am feeling especially exhausted. I simply store any leftovers in a mason jar in the refrigerator and reheat them one mug at a time, either in the microwave or on the stove.
Feel Free to Adjust the Recipe for Your Own Needs
I am not a doctor, once more. I might not always do things “right” in the kitchen because I’m not exactly what you’d call a culinary genius. I’m simply winging it, just like most things in my life, so feel free to modify the recipe to suit your needs, abilities, or expertise. I hope it makes you feel better! <3
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