Lemon verbena iced tea

One of the signature scents of summer has to be lemon verbena. I honestly think this is what sunshine smells like! Its lemony citrusy scent is energizing and invigorating. There is nothing quite like a giant cup of this cold refreshing lemon verbena iced tea after a long work day in the garden. Lemon verbena is a also packed with many health benefits which are honestly a bonus! Lemon verbena aids in digestion, stress reduction, decongestant, reduces bloating and is packed with antioxidants! There are so many other benefits it’s the kind of thing I want in my belly!

This lemon verbena iced tea is simple to make and have on hand! Sweetened with local honey, it gives it a wonderful depth and extra flavor plus all the added benefits of honey. I minimally sweeten mine- 2 tbsp of honey is a good place to start and depending on how sweet you want it you can adjust from there. I like to add some fresh lemon juice and a few slices of lemon. Although lemon verbena is citrusy it has a slight herbal note that pairs well with the extra acidity from the lemon juice. To let the flavors infuse well I like to make it the day before serving that way it can release all the flavors and chill over night.

I have way to much fun serving up this ice tea! If you have edible flowers in the garden it just makes this tea taste better, I kid… but it makes it way prettier. I used chamomile and borage flowers to dress it up!

There are a lot of herbs in the garden that I gravitate towards when we are sick- that are really good for us but are more pungent in taste. I love having lemon verbena in the garden it’s a refreshing and delicious tea to enjoy all throughout the summer!

Happy tea making!

-Tahiri