My herbal teas to keep you cool when the heat gets tough

You asked me if we can drink herbal teas when the sun beats down, so let me tell you my secrets.

You asked me if we can drink herbal teas when the sun beats down, so let me tell you my secrets. Of course you can, my dear. In fact, we have always done it this way in the countryside. When the midday heat gets heavy, a hot cup of herbal tea in the morning actually helps your body find its balance with the outside air. It sounds strange, but the desert nomads know this trick well. If you prefer something refreshing for the afternoon, you can make a cold infusion. My mother used to put a handful of herbs in a jar of well water, leave it on the windowsill in the shade for a few hours, and then add a few ice cubes. It is simple, it does you good, and it keeps you going through the dog days of summer.

For my summer brews, I always turn to three favourite plants that have helped us stay comfortable for generations. First, there is hibiscus with its beautiful ruby colour and tart taste. It is wonderfully refreshing and brings a bit of life back to you when the heat makes you feel sluggish. Then, I add some lemon verbena for its sweet, lemony fragrance that calms the mind, or a few leaves of peppermint. Peppermint is a true miracle of nature when the air is thick. It gives you that instant feeling of coolness on the tongue, even when the water is warm.

I do have one little piece of advice for you during these hot weeks. Avoid very strong, drying plants or heavy spices like ginger and cinnamon, as they tend to warm you up from the inside. We want to soothe the body, not light a fire. Just stick to these gentle, cooling leaves, drink them slowly under the shade of a tree, and let the afternoon pass by. If you ever feel truly unwell from the sun, put the kettle down and go see your doctor or pharmacist, but for everyday comfort, trust my old recipes to keep you smiling.

These are the three plants I always keep in my summer pantry to help us breathe a little easier.

First, I always reach for peppermint. My mother always kept a patch of it near the well because nothing wakes up the senses quite like it when the air gets heavy. It has this wonderful, icy kick that makes your mouth feel like a fresh breeze just swept through. Traditionally, we drink it lukewarm or even cold on those long, sticky afternoons. It does you so much good when your stomach feels a bit sluggish from the heat, helping you feel lighter and more comfortable after a simple summer meal.

Then, of course, there is beautiful hibiscus with its deep red colour. In the old days, travellers in hot countries knew exactly what they were doing when they brewed these tart little flowers. I like to steep them directly in cold water overnight in a large glass jar. By morning, you get a beautiful, ruby-red drink that is naturally sour and incredibly refreshing. It is my favourite alternative to those sugary sodas from the shop, and it really helps to quench that stubborn afternoon thirst.

Finally, I always keep a handful of lemon verbena close by. It has a gentle, lemony fragrance that instantly calms the mind when the sun is beating down. I love to brew a cup in the evening, just as the air begins to cool down on the terrace. It is a quiet, comforting ritual that has been passed down for generations to help us unwind and prepare for a peaceful night of sleep, even when the bedroom upstairs still feels like an oven.

Let me show you how to brew them cold so you can stay refreshed all afternoon long.

When the sun is high and the air gets heavy, you might not feel like holding a steaming mug. That is when my mother's old trick comes in handy. She always said that cold brewing is the gentlest way to coax the goodness out of summer leaves without waking up any bitterness. You simply take a generous handful of fragrant lemon verbena or a few sprigs of garden peppermint, place them in a large glass jar of cool water, and let them sit on the kitchen counter for a few hours. The water slowly turns a beautiful, pale golden hue, and the fragrance that rises when you open the lid is like a walk through the garden after a summer rain.

If you want something truly refreshing for the afternoon, try adding a few dried hibiscus calyces to the mix. They turn the water a deep, ruby red that looks so pretty in the glass, and the taste is wonderfully tart. We have always used these plants in the heat of summer because they help you feel lighter and bring a lovely sense of coolness when you feel completely dried out. It is a simple, traditional way to keep your spirits up and stay comfortable when the thermometer rises. Just sip it slowly throughout the day, perhaps with a little squeeze of lemon, and let the plants do you good.

Of course, if you ever feel dizzy or poorly from the heavy heat, do not rely only on my jar of herbs; go see your doctor or pharmacist right away. But for everyday comfort, this cold brew is my favourite companion. I always keep a jar in the cellar or the fridge, ready for when the neighbours drop by to escape the sun. It is simple, it is honest, and it keeps us all going until the cool of the evening finally arrives.