Tagged: Tea

September 27, 2016

How to Grow and Dry Lemon Balm (Cidreira)

I also dry my mint and make mint tea. I enjoy mixing both cidreira and mint for wonderful mix of flavor. Follow the same instructions for drying mint as you do the lemon balm.

Buy this beautiful custom Galo de Barcelos Mug at Lisbon Blue shop

Growing your own Lemon Balm tea is easy and you’ll get to enjoy herbal organic tea all year long with these easy steps! This tea is perfect for you to enjoy on a quiet afternoon, a lazy Sunday, when you need a little comfort, or when you have an upset stomach.

“A member of the mint family, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) (Cidreira in Portuguese), has a lovely lemon flavor and the ability to gently calm the nerves and lift one’s mood. Native to the Mediterranean, lemon balm’s medicinal and culinary use dates back over 2,000 years. Avicenna, the 11th-century Arab physician, wrote that lemon balm “causeth the mind and heart to become merry.” http://www.thekitchn.com

Notice the beautiful Vintage made in Portugal Vista Alegre tea cups that were my mothers.

The final results after they dried in my kitchen for 3 weeks.

I planted in the spring from a small pot which I transplanted into my vegetable garden but you also grow it in a large pot all summer long. They require vertually no maintenance except watering which makes this so easy to grow.
How to dry the lemon balm leaves for tea:

Once the stems grow to about 1 foot in height and before they start to sprout seedlings trim the plant at the stem bottoms. Place in a bowl of very cold water and rinse 2 or 3 times to wash thoroughly.

Place leaves in a salad spinner or shake off the excess water gently not to break leaves. Place on paper towels to absorb water and turn them over. Replace the paper towels until all the moister is absorbed from the leaves. Let dry for a few hours or overnight on the paper towels.

Grab each piece gently by each stem and create a bunch tied with food safe twine or string. Hang in your kitchen or in a cool dark place for 2-3 weeks until the leaves are completely dry.

When leaves are dry break of the leaves and place into a food safe mason jar, a clean jar from your pantry or a food safe tin for storage. Close the lids tightly. You can place the leaves in zip lock bag but the leaves may break easily, that’s why I prefer a jar. The tea will store until the next summer when you’re ready to make a fresh new batch.

Make Lemon Balm tea by boiling about 2 tablespoons of the leaves in 2 cups water for about 3 minutes and let seep on low heat for another 5 minutes. The longer it seeps the deeper the flavor. However don’t took too long since the tea will get bitter. You can adjust the boil time to your preference.

Desserts / Holiday Recipes / Photo Gallery / Recipes

August 18, 2016

Cranberry Lemon Scones

Invite your friends over for these Cranberry Lemon Scones and enjoy the company! They’re a perfect breakfast or anytime treat.

I served mine with Lemon Balm Tea (Cha de Cidreira) which is my favorite tea. My mother made this tea just about every day and grew her own lemon balm in her garden. She dried the leaves to make tea all year long. I also grow my own now and make tea on a regular basis. It’s a soothing calming tea and good for when you have an upset stomach as well.

“A member of the mint family, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has a lovely lemon flavor and the ability to gently calm the nerves and lift one’s mood. Native to the Mediterranean, lemon balm’s medicinal and culinary use dates back over 2,000 years. Avicenna, the 11th-century Arab physician, wrote that lemon balm “causeth the mind and heart to become merry.” http://www.thekitchn.com

How to dry the lemon balm leaves for tea:

Cut the branches and trim off the larger stems. Wash and dry them and lay them out on paper towels or newspapers. Place in a dry place for about 1 week or more until the leaves are dry and brittle. Break the stems and leaves into small pieces and place in ziploc bags or a jar. Store in your cupboard.

When ready to make tea, boil 1 tablespoon of the dry tea leaves per 1 – 2 cups of tea for about 5 minutes. Let seep for another 5 minutes or longer depending on how strong you like it

Cranberry Lemon Scones

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 stick cut into chunks (8 tablespoons of very cold butter)

1/2 cup sour cream

1 egg

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 teaspoon of coarse natural sugar

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix all dry ingredients and cold butter food processor or mixer until well blended.

(do not over mix)

Add remaining egg and sour cream to mixture and pulse until well blended and crumbly.

Add the cranberries and lemon zest and give the processor a few pulses just to mix slightly.

Shape into a circle of 3/4 inch thickness on a slightly floured surface.

Sprinkle with the coarse sugar.

Cut into 8 equal pieces. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

Look at that beautiful golden color.

Light and flaky!

Photo Gallery

February 17, 2015

Portuguese Hot Toddy

A hot toddy, is an old time drink remedy to relieve symptoms of a cold and flu. It’s usually made of liquor, and hot water with sugar and spices and served hot.

My recipe is made using 1920 Portuguese Brandy but you can substitute it with your favorite brandy or whiskey. My mother often made this with coffee instead of tea and left out the lemon.

The recipe may be old fashioned but it works! Enjoy and stay warm!

Recipe:

1 oz 1920 Brandy

1 tablespoon honey

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 cup of hot tea (any favorite)

1 slice of lemon

1 sugar stick (optional for stirring)

1 stick of cinnamon (optional for stirring)

Preparation:

Pour the whiskey and honey into a cup. Add the hot tea and lemon juice.

Stir and add the lemon slice. Drink while still hot.

Coffee version:

1 oz 1920 Brandy

1 tablespoon honey

1 cup hot coffee

Recipes

July 15, 2011

Gorreana Tea Europe’s oldest tea since 1883

Gorreana Coupon | Exclusively on Azores Nation | European Fair Trade Tea.

Hi everyone. Did you know that Europe’s oldest tea company is in the Azores? I love tea! So when I received the email introducing me to the Gorreana Tea Co., I instantly knew that I had to share it. The teas are exotic and organic using no pesticides. Once available only in Europe now you can buy them online to be shipped to the US. (See shipping details below). I already on my Christmas list this year. If you have someone on your Christmas list that you have a hard time finding a special gift for because they have everything, the teas are the perfect gift!

“Originally only available to Europe’s elite, this rare tea has more recently only been available in specialty import shops at a limited number of locations outside of Europe. Finally, after five generations of continuous operation this Azorean family owned and operated tea plantation on Sao Miguel has their line of fair trade single estate teas available for shipment direct to tea drinkers around the globe.”

Gorreana Tea recognized internationally as “Cha Gorreana” is Europe’s oldest tea company. Family owned and operated since 1883, when Ermelinda Gago Da Camara and her son Jose-Honorato opened the factory selling the first production of teas grown under the Gorreana name.

Gorreana’s teas have remained a staple in European pantries for over a century. Grown in the lush emerald green hills of the Gorreana estate without the use of herbicides, pesticides or fungicides you can rest assured that only the finest fresh picked and packaged tea leaves makes its way to your cup of tea each and every time!

In 2010, Bertha Meireles-Hintze matriarch of the Gorreana tea estate was honored in Sao Miguel with the “Medal of Merit” for her business tenacity, and role in keeping the prestigious tea company a Portuguese family owned company. While celebrating Gorreana’s rich history of 125 years of tea producing in Portugal!

Visited by tens of thousands annually, Gorreana’s boutique factory and museum located in the county of Ribiera Grande is the perfect place to enjoy a cup of fresh picked tea while admiring the original ‘Marshalls’ machinery that dates back to the 1840’s. The scent of fresh flowers alongside sweeping ocean views takes you back to old Europe.

Current owners Hermano Mota and wife Margarida Hintze-Mota take pride in knowing that the same method of production has been in use at Gorreana since it’s founding in 1883. So enjoy a cup of Gorreana’s single estate teas today and taste 5 generations in the making! “Azores Nation”

Quote from website: “Gorreana’s boutique tea estate, we are pleased to now offer our exotic organic teas from Europe’s oldest tea gardens. There’s a reason why we have remained the oldest tea estate in Europe! Our teas do not compare in taste and quality to other teas you may find-since we are the standard for all other fine teas.

Family owned and operated since 1883 our teas range in variety and taste and can be enjoyed by the most discerning tea connoisseurs to first time tea drinkers. So treat yourself to a cup of fresh, spring picked -Portuguese grown teas, 5 generations in the making!

Shipping & Delivery Details…

At this time, Gorreana Tea ships tea to locations within the United States and U.S. territories, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. Additionally, Gorreana Tea ships tea to Canada. The risk of loss and title for all merchandise ordered on this Web site pass to you when the merchandise is delivered to the shipping carrier.