Violet Tisane

I drink a lot of tea and tisanes, (a non-tea herbal drink). I’ve been amassing recipes, searching for ingredients I can grow in my garden. There are gazillion tisanes besides the standard mint or chamomile drinks.

Inspiration struck when I walked past a violet patch, its wonderful fragrance catching my nose and imagination.

I take delight in growing or gathering edible foodstuff. I must have been a medicine woman in a past life, gathering roots and berries and making concoctions to soothe a bellyache or ease a sore throat. Or maybe it’s now that I really am on my way to becoming a herbalist. This all fascinates me.


I found recipes for violet syrup, jellies, tisane and a LOVE POTION.

“In some countries people wear a violet leaf in their shoe for 7 days to find a love and treble that in terms of leaf and days on occasions, depending how desperate they are I suppose. Mixed with lavender flowers, violets are said to be an aphrodisiac, whether in a tisane or just the smell is not clear.” (from Herbs-Treat and Taste.com)

I picked lots and lots of violets, gave them a rinse, and placed in a drying rack.

FRESH VIOLET LEAF TISANE
Ingredients
2½ oz violet leaves, freshly picked
1 pt boiling water

Method
Clean the leaves in cold water, then place in a stone jar. Cover them with the boiling water and cover the jar tightly. Leave to steep for 12 hours, overnight, or until the water is green. Strain through a muslin or fine cloth and store. Drink cold.

Use 2 TBL dried violets for one cup of tisane.

The jelly is so pretty but requires TWO CUPS of violets! Imagine the flavor!