Come into my kitchen, my dear, the sun is high and the garden is warm. Let us share a cool, traditional herbal brew of mint and verbena to soothe us in the July heat.
Come sit in the shade while I tell you about my morning harvest
Come sit in the shade while I tell you about my morning harvest
Pull up a chair, my dear, right here under the old lime tree where the air is still cool. The July sun is already high, and the garden is humming with bees. I was up at dawn, you know, before the dew could dry. That is the best time to gather the summer leaves, when their scent is still tucked inside them. I have spent the morning cutting long stems of lemon verbena and peppermint, and I have already hung up the first bouquets of wild thyme to dry in the pantry. My mother always said that a kitchen without drying thyme in July is a kitchen without a soul, and she was right. It does you so much good when the colder months arrive.
Now, let me pour you a glass of something fresh. In this heat, we do not want hot drinks, so I make what I call my sunshine brew. I take a handful of deep red hibiscus calyces, throw in a few bruised leaves of peppermint, and let them steep in cold well water right on the windowsill. It turns a beautiful ruby colour, like a sunset in a glass. People in the village have always used hibiscus to help them feel light and refreshed when the air gets heavy. It has a lovely tart taste that wakes up the mouth, and the mint brings a wonderful coolness that stays with you.
Drink up, do not be shy. This is how we survive the dog days of summer without losing our energy. Later, when the sun goes down, we will go water the tomatoes together and pick some fresh sage for the evening. But for now, just rest your feet, listen to the cicadas, and let this cool red tea soothe your parched throat. We have all the time in the world today.
My simple summer leaves that keep us cool when the sun is high
Come sit with me under the shade of the old lime tree, my dear. The July sun is high, the cicadas are singing their hearts out, and the air is thick with the sweet scent of warm earth. In these hot dog days of summer, I wake up with the birds to water my salad greens and pick my herbs before the heat wakes up. My mother always told me that the morning dew keeps the goodness locked inside the leaves. Right now, I have bundles of wild thyme hanging from the kitchen rafters to dry for the winter. But for today, we need something to cool our parched throats, and I have just the thing waiting for you in my earthenware pitcher.
We do not need fancy modern drinks when the garden provides so well. I have brewed us a beautiful, ruby-red infusion of hibiscus flowers, mixed with a generous handful of fragrant lemon verbena and just a few bruised leaves of peppermint from the damp corner by the well. People in the village have always used this simple blend to help them feel refreshed when the air gets heavy. It is a traditional recipe that my own grandmother used to prepare. It does you so much good, gently cooling the body from the inside out without shocking your stomach the way ice-cold water does.
Take a sip and let the freshness settle. The peppermint has that lovely, crisp bite that makes you feel lighter, while the lemon verbena brings a quiet calm to the afternoon. It is a slow, simple way to spend the hottest hours of the day, just watching the bees work the lavender. If the heat ever makes you feel a bit weary or out of sorts, remember these simple leaves from the garden. They have looked after us for generations, and they are always here to help us find our stride again.
Hang your thyme bouquets and let me pour you a glass of cold comfort
Come sit with me under the shade of the old lime tree, my dear. July is here, and the afternoon heat is heavy, but I have just the thing to make you feel better. In the mornings, before the sun gets too high, I am always out in the garden. That is when I gather the peppermint and the lemon verbena, while the dew is still fresh on their leaves. I throw them into a large clay pitcher with some dried hibiscus flowers, pour cold water over them, and let them steep slowly in the sun. It turns a beautiful, deep ruby red. It is a simple recipe my mother always made during the harvest, and it does you good when the throat is dry and the forehead is warm.
While we sip this cool brew, look at these bundles of wild thyme lying on the wooden table. I gathered them from the sunny slopes this morning. Now is the perfect time to tie them up with a bit of kitchen string and hang them upside down in the pantry. The dry summer air will do the work for us. We have always done it this way in the village. Come winter, when the cold winds blow and you feel a bit run down, these little grey leaves will be right there to make you stronger. A simple cup of thyme tea with a spoonful of honey always soothes the chest and warms the spirit.
Listen to the cicadas, they know it is too hot to rush. In the evening, when the air finally cools, we will go water the tomatoes together. But for now, just rest your feet and enjoy the breeze. Nature gives us everything we need to get through these hot days, we only have to ask her gently. Take another glass of this cold infusion, it calms the senses and makes the summer heat feel like a sweet friend.
FAQ
To make my traditional sunshine brew, you simply take a handful of deep red hibiscus calyces and a few bruised leaves of fresh peppermint, then let them steep slowly in cold water right on your windowsill. It turns a beautiful ruby colour, like a sunset in a glass, and it is the best way to cool down when the afternoon heat gets heavy. Trust me, letting it steep slowly without boiling keeps all the delicate garden flavours alive.
