Vegan Practically

Of all the herbal teas out there, I love mint tea the most. It’s refreshing whether served hot or iced. It’s light on the tongue. The minty aroma is soothing. To me, everything about mint tea makes me feel relaxed and calm.

If you’ve ever grown mint in your garden, you know that it takes off to the point of being invasive. So if you’ve got a garden full of mint and can’t keep up with it, I have one simple suggestion: mint tea. Or if you have a balcony garden like mine, with just a few herbs, definitely include mint (I like peppermint, but there are many varieties of mint). It’s resilient and grows fast. One or two plants will keep you in tea (and tabbouleh if you also have parsley) for the whole summer.

The mint tea I’m talking about is almost too easy to be believed. No drying out needed. Just grab a handful of mint, put it in a mug or a teapot or a glass, and pour boiling water over it.

It seems way too simple, I know. I first had it at a café in London, England. We had spent way too many hours on our feet and we were sort of lost (not totally, but in the sense that we weren’t really sure which way our hotel was or how long it would take to walk back). So we sat down on an outdoor patio and I ordered a mint tea. And they brought me a mug stuffed with fresh mint leaves on the stalks, water poured over it.

I have been making it that way ever since. It’s great hot or cold, and either way it’s a soothing treat. And it looks absolutely gorgeous and inviting. Of course there are other things you can do with mint. And maybe I’ll get to those some other Friday. But for today, I’m keeping it simple.

Cheers.