tulsi tea latte
Sip Smart.
Explore local, seasonal herbs and foods that cool, hydrate, and energize.
Medicine Meal explores the intersection of food and herbs as medicine. The name comes from the Japanese Yakuzen culture, which is about creating delicious, healing meals using traditional Chinese medicine herbs and principles.
Hydration isn’t just about how much water you drink, it’s also about how well your body absorbs fluids and stays nourished on a deeper level. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this means supporting your Blood and Heart, especially during the summer when heat and activity can easily dry us out.
Summer is connected to the Heart and the Fire element in TCM. When in balance, it’s a season of joy, connection, and movement. But too much heat, whether from the weather or a busy life, can throw us off. Signs of imbalance might include irritability, restless sleep, brain fog, dry skin, and a kind of thirst that lingers no matter how much water you drink.
To stay healthy and hydrated, TCM recommends foods and herbs that nourish the Blood and Yin, your body’s fluids, and juicy vitality. The tulsi rose tea latte and lemon balm–infused water featured here aren’t only delicious, they support the Heart, nourish the Blood, and promote hydration that truly replenishes from within.
Cooling and Hydrating Herbs and Foods
Beat the summer heat with local, seasonal foods and herbs that cool the body, hydrate deeply, and support natural energy:
- Cucumbers – cooling and hydrating
- Melons – relieve heat and quench thirst
- Lemon Balm and Mint – refreshing and helps release excess heat
- Berries – nourish the Blood and gently boost energy with a subtle sweetness
- Rose – nourish Blood and calm the Heart (emotions)
Enjoy fresh or infused water to stay cool, energized, and well-hydrated all summer.
Fresh Lemon Balm Water
6 servings
Lemon Balm is my go-to garden herb to offset stress and overwhelm. As a nervine herb, it works to heal and balance the nervous system over time. In our modern, fast-paced culture, who doesn’t need that?
Lemon balm is one herb that I recommend people try to grow themselves. The fresh herb is substantially more effective for easing anxiety because it quickly loses its delicate essential oils once dried. And as a member of the mint family, it is easy to grow and will return each year with little fuss.
Preparation:
Fill a pitcher with approximately 6 cups (1.4 L) of cool water and add three 5” sprigs of fresh lemon balm. Set on a kitchen counter and steep at room temperature for 1 to 4 hours. Once ready, you will taste the subtle lemon flavor. The leaves can remain in the pitcher as you drink the infused water. Store in the fridge for 1 to 2 days.
Calm Heart, Cool Mind Tea
Makes a 2-cup batch of loose-leaf tea
This heart-centered herbal tea blend harmonizes the Heart’s Qi and calms anxiety. Tulsi is an adaptogenic herb traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, originating from South Asia, that soothes the nervous system. Rose resonates with the Heart energy, the center of emotional processing in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Milky oat tops and oat straw are traditional herbs to ease stress and emotional strain. This recipe can be simplified based on the herbs you have available.
Ingredients:
1 cup tulsi, dried
1/2 cup rose petals, dried
1/4 cup oat straw, dried
1/8 cup milky oat tops, dried
Preparation:
Blend the herbs and store them in an airtight container, away from heat and moisture, for up to 12 months. To make a cup of tea, place one heaping teaspoon of herbal tea in a teapot for every one cup of water. Pour simmering water over herbs and cover. Steep for 10 minutes. Strain and drink immediately.
Tulsi Tea Latte
Makes 2 servings
A satisfying recipe for both tea and coffee drinkers, this tea latte uses the Calm Heart, Cool Mind Herbal Tea recipe to the left. Delicious and fun recipes like this are my favorite way to incorporate herbal medicine into daily life. Keeping the medicine interesting is key for enjoyment and consistency in taking herbs.
Ingredients:
2 tsp Calm Heart, Cool Mind herbal tea blend
1 tsp lemon verbena, dried
1 cup (240 ml) milk or milk alternative
1 tsp honey or sweetener, optional
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Preparation:
Place two heaping teaspoons of herbal tea in a teapot and pour 1 cup (240 ml) of simmering water (200°F [93 °C]) over the tea blend. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Blend milk and honey in a frother or high-speed blender for 10 seconds. Divide tea into two mugs and top each with frothed milk.
Recipes and text excerpted from Asian American Herbalism: Traditional and Modern Healing Practices for Everyday Wellness by Erin Masako Wilkins. Published by Princeton Architectural Press, owned by Chronicle Books. Copyright © 2023 by Erin Masako Wilkins.
Disclaimer: Be sure to identify plants properly when foraging for wild plants. Exercise caution and seek guidance from experienced foragers. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before taking new herbal supplements or changing your diet, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, immunocompromised, or on medication. As always, seek outside help if something doesn’t feel right for you.
Find a Sonoma County Farmers’ Market near you:
Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay Community Farmers’ Market
bodegabaycommunitycenter.org/farmers-market
Community Center, 2255 CA-1
Sundays, 10am-2pm
Memorial Day through October
Cloverdale
thesantarosafarmersmarket.com
225 N Cloverdale Blvd
Tuesdays, 4-7pm
April-November
Cotati
Cotati Community Farmers Market
La Plaza Park W. Sierra and Old Redwood Hwy.
Wednesdays, 4:30pm-7:30pm
June-September
Forestville
Forestville Farmers’ Market
6990 Front St.
Tuesdays, 4:30-7:30pm
June-September
Guerneville
Russian River Farmers Market
sonomacounty.com/farm-farmers-market/russian-river-farmers-market
Downtown Guerneville, Fourth and Church
Thursdays, 3pm-7pm
June 6-September 5
Healdsburg
Healdsburg Farmers’ Market
West Plaza parking lot (one block off plaza)
Saturdays, 8:30am to Noon
April 12-December 20
On the Plaza Downtown
Tuesdays, 9am-12:30pm
May 13-September 30
Occidental
Occidental Community Farmers’ Market
occidentalcommunityfarmersmarket.com
Main St. between 1st & 3rd
Near Howard’s Station Cafe, Occidental
Thursdays, 4-8pm
May 16-October 31
Petaluma
Petaluma East Side Farmers’ Market
320 McDowell Ave.
Tuesdays, 9:30am-1:30pm
Check website for details on curbside pickup
Accepts CalFresh
Petaluma Walnut Park
Farmers’ Market
Walnut Park, 4th St. and D St.
Saturdays, 2-5pm
May 3-November 22
Petaluma Evening Market
Petaluma Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Dr
Thursdays, 3-7pm
June-September
Rohnert Park
Rohnert Park Farmers’ Market
500 City Center Dr. next to the library
Fridays, 5-8 pm
June-August
Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa Community Farmers’ Market
1501 Farmers Ln.
Saturdays, 8:30am-1pm
Wednesdays, 9am-1pm
Accepts CalFresh
Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers’ Market
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts,
50 Mark West Springs Rd.
Saturdays, 8:30am-1pm, year-round
Wednesdays, 8:30am-1pm March-December
Accepts CalFresh, EBT & Market Match
Mercadito Market
at Roseland Village
777 Sebastopol Rd.
Thursdays, 2pm-6pm
Sundays, 9am-1pm
Oakmont Certified
Farmers’ Market
sonomacounty.com/farm-farmers-market/oakmont-farmers-market
Oakmont Drive & White Oak Dr.
Saturdays, 9am-12pm, year-round
Sebastopol
Sebastopol Farmers’ Market
Sebastopol Plaza at Weeks Way
Sundays, 9am-1:30pm, year-round
Accepts CalFresh
Sonoma
Sonoma’s Tuesday Night Market
Sonoma Plaza
Tuesdays, 5-8pm
May-August
September hours, 4:30-7:30pm
Sonoma Valley
Certified Farmers’ Market
Depot Park, 241 First Street West
Fridays, 9am-12:30pm, year-round
Windsor
Windsor Farmers’ Market
701 McClelland Dr at Market St.
Sundays, 9:30am-12:30pm April-December
Thursdays, 5pm-8pm
Accepts WIC, EBT and matches first $10
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