Better With Age
I’ll be the first to admit that I enjoy drinking alcohol. Wine is my go-to but given the chance, I love experimenting with cocktails mixed with tequila, gin, or vodka. In my 20s and 30s, I rarely drank at all, but as I got older I started sipping on wine after I got home from work. It was more of a stress reliever than something I enjoyed, so I suppose one could say that wine was my gateway introduction to alcohol. It eventually evolved into a more sophisticated palate of harder liquor. That sounds rather funny, doesn’t it? I am not so sure alcoholic drinks are sophisticated in nature, so maybe I should simply say that my taste buds fancied some diversity. Either way, I know that my tastes evolved over time. I still enjoy wine when I am preparing and eating dinner. It’s a bit of an end-of-day ritual. My daughter worked at a winery and exposed me to many different types of wine and for that, I am grateful. She was also very talented at mixing drinks she concocted on her own. I often told her to “surprise me” with something and she never failed to impress. Nowadays, I like martinis, margaritas, and gin. Since becoming an herbalist, I have found different ways to incorporate herbs into my food and drink. So that, I must say, does feel more sophisticated, wouldn’t you agree?
Using Herbs as an Alternative to Alcohol
Spring has finally arrived making way for ample opportunities to celebrate a variety of holidays and social events, all of which are often celebrated with alcohol. But what if you don’t imbibe or simply want to pick and choose when you do without feeling like you’re sacrificing the “mood” alcohol imparts upon you? Well, I have a few suggestions that you may want to consider. Aside from the social aspect of drinking, alcohol is a suppressant and gives us that relaxed ahhhh feeling. Did you know that herbs are powerful plants with a plethora of therapeutic benefits including the ability to induce a sense of relaxation on the body? This should come as no surprise to you since we all know that lavender has a calming effect, which is why it is used in aromatherapy and even in teas. The herbs I will introduce you to are not hard to come by. If you don’t have an herbal apothecary nearby, you can purchase herbs online. In many cases, you can easily purchase tea bags from your local grocery store.
Unless you live in an eclectic, mindful, and progressive area of the United States, finding a bar that serves non-alcoholic drinks with herbs may be almost impossible to find, but you can make these drinks at home to enjoy after work or to serve as an alternative at a party or gathering. These drinks are a perfect alternative to day drinking especially on hot days in the summer.
Damiana
When I began experimenting with herbs, I discovered Damiana. It is absolutely one of my most favored herbs to use in creating cocktails. If you enjoy a floral taste, this is the herb you should acquaint yourself with. Damiana is generally labeled as an aphrodisiac, so it’s a great herb if you want to go ahead and get happy. I like to prepare Damiana as a tincture and add to sweet, bubbly wine. But if you are opting out of alcohol altogether, it is a great alternative when served as a tea or a mocktail. Sourcing this in your grocery store may be difficult, so you will probably have to order loose leaf tea from an herbal store or find specialty teas online. Buddha Teas sells them in easy to use tea bags.
Damiana Mojito – 2 servings
2 teaspoons of loose tea or 2 tea bags
2 teaspoons honey or agave
1 juiced lime or one ounce Limeade
4 sprigs of fresh mint
Lime wedge for garnish
Ice
Directions:
Brew your Damiana tea by steeping 2 tsp of dried herb or 2 tea bags along with some fresh mint in 2 cups of hot water.
Cover & steep for 10 minutes, then strain.
Pour strained tea, honey or agave, and lime juice into a shaker and shake well.
Pour contents into a bottle and refrigerate.
When ready to serve, add ice and garnish with fresh mint and lime wedge.
Relaxing Herbs
Passionflower and Skullcap are sedating herbs. They are used for their ability to relax the nervous system and to relieve tension and anxiety. Catnip and Lemon Balm have an uplifting quality that also helps elevate moods while calming the body. Nettle is an amazing herb that helps balance the whole body, which makes your mocktail good for you too! All of these herbs are can be found in a variety of tea blends online or at your local store. If you find that you enjoy the taste of these teas hot, you can easily turn them into your own mocktail to enjoy while socializing.
Nettle Tea Mojito – 2 servings
2-3 Nettle tea bags
8 ounces of water
1 ounce lime juice or juice of 1 fresh squeezed lime
1 cup lime seltzer
Several sprigs of fresh mint
Lime for garnish
Honey or agave to taste
Directions:
Brew your tea and mint together. Cover and steep for about 10 minutes.
Strain your tea.
Pour strained tea into another container.
Add honey or agave and lime juice.
Chill in refrigerator
When ready to serve, add lime seltzer and crushed ice.
Garnish with fresh mint and a lime wedge.
These tea blends make a tasty alternative to alcoholic cocktails and can be adjusted for larger servings. They pair well with summer parties and picnics because they are light and hydrating on hot summer days. Try experimenting by adding other flavored teas and fresh fruit. The possibilities are endless.
Check out my blog on how to make fresh mint water. This will save you time and make mixing teas and drinks super easy.
