This time we made a hot drink, a herbal tea which combines those healthy plants that remind us of Italy.
My blog-partner Jennifer Cauli —a talented food & travel photographer and a friend, also from Italy— and myself joined forces to create a series of recipes (and pictures) that would use the typical Italian ingredients, but also have a contemporary and healthy twist.
The combination of herbs we picked can support our body’s ability to naturally detoxify from chemicals, excess hormones, pollutants, etc…
Nettle is native to all Europe —I remember my grandparents picking wild nettle to make risotto, soups or even food for the baby canaries my Nana used to have. Urtica dioica, called ortica in Italian, is an herb with amazing properties! First of all, nettle leaves are extremely nourishing and a great source of iron and antioxidants, which has little to do with detox, but it’s something we —especially us ladies— should always remember! Nettle is also mildly diuretic which means that it can support the urinary tract and stimulate water retention. It can also work as an antihistamine, helping with allergic responses.
Another amazing herb that comes from Southern Europe and is largely used in Italian cuisine is liquorice. This herb can promote detoxification in the cells, help getting rid of the mucus after a chest infection, improve elimination with its mild laxative effect.
In the mix Jennifer and I also put fennel seeds, diuretic and soothing for the gut, and anise with its antimicrobial and antioxidative properties.
Cheers!
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11056414/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27141606/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711318305555
RECIPE
INGREDIENTS per 500ml water
3 g dried nettle leaf tea
3 g dried liquorice root
3 g fennel seeds
2-3 anise seeds
INSTRUCTIONS
Boil water.
Ideally you should also warm up the teapot (in the microwave for 1-2 minutes).
Put the blend of herbs into the teapot and add hot water.
Cover the teapot and let it infuse for 5 minutes.
Strain tea solids with a colander while you pour tea into tea cups.
Enjoy!
Cromo Nutrition 