I use the leaves from my lemon verbena plant to make a tea that I drink
every morning with breakfast and sometimes for afternoon tea. It makes a very pleasant refreshing drink just perfect to get me started for the day. I add the picked leaves, flowers an all, into a tea pot and just add hot water. Leave to brew for 5 minutes. 
During summer time, when lemon verbena is at its best here in Western Australia, I take a small cutting each morning, for my tea, straight off the bush. Picking it like this stimulates the plant to grow more and it prevents it getting too ‘leggy’. I also freeze the leaves to provide a year round supply. The plant loses its leaves in winter time and gradually grows back in the Spring.I am not keen on tea made from dried leaves. However I do prune and dry heaps of lemon verbena leaves to use in my craft work.
For example I make herb pot mats and little fabric
clothing protectors for my home and as gifts for family and friends. I also have a monthly market stall and an etsy shop where I sell them to crafty herb lovers.
 |
| leaves stored in my pantry with the rest of my stored goods |
 |
| dried leaves stored in repurposed rice sack |
 |
| herb pot mat containing lemon verbena and other healing herbs |
Hello Ruth, love lemon verbena, my last plant died awhile ago. Another will take its place eventually. It does have a lovely fragrance.
ReplyDeleteDear Deb. I am so sorry for the late reply! I hope you find a new plant to take the place of the one you lost : )
DeleteHi Ruth, have you just started blogging? You've made a lovely start, I can almost smell those herbs from over on the east coast!
ReplyDeleteGina aka Georgie Girl
Thanks Georgie Girl!
DeleteRuthy, I must pick some of our lemon verbena. It must be as old as the hills as we would have bought the plant when we were in a herb group back in the 1980s. It is in an out of the way place and rarely gets any attention but I remember I used to make tea from it back in the day. So sad we get out of such good habits when life gets busy bringing up children.
ReplyDeleteHi Chel. Thanks for dropping by : ) I have only recently been picking mine often and the plant has responded by just flowering and flowering! Im gong to keep up this regular 'pruning' during the summer months while she has the energy for new growth : )
DeleteHi Ruth
ReplyDeleteLike your idea of lemon verbena herb sacks, what other herbs do you use in them?
And i just love your teapot, it reminds me of a ’portmerion’ bowl that my mother had when i was little.
We are just getting into spring here in the french alpes so i am busy planning my garden, last year i planted à bee mat with flowers and herbs to attract bee’s - would love to have some of my own one day.
Regards from Chamonix.
Hi Chamonix
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the purpose of the herb sack. For the pot mats I have used: lemon verbena, lavender, bay leaves, savoury, mint, rosemary, padded with washed raw West Australian alpaca fleece. The little potpourri sachets I make up ones for my home with lemon verbena, wormwood, rosemary and lavender, I sell ones called Scarborough fayre and use parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. I also make dream pillows that have rose, lavender, eucalyptus, calendula and rosemary again padded with fleece.
I know the Portmeirion range! I used to live in North Wales and also visited the village there often. This little pot and tea cup was given to me by a dear friend and it is a British design made for Kew Gardens. I love it. Its very sweet : )
The bee mat sounds absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful gift to make for the bees.