1. Peppermint
Peppermint is well-known for its cooling sensation. Add fresh peppermint leaves to your water or iced tea for a refreshing drink. You can also make a peppermint mist by brewing a strong tea, cooling it, and transferring it to a spray bottle for a quick cool-down spritz.
2. Chamomile
Chamomile has calming and cooling properties that can help reduce body heat. Enjoy it as a chilled tea, or create chamomile ice cubes to add to your drinks for a soothing effect.
3. Hibiscus
With its vibrant and lush flowers, hibiscus is celebrated worldwide as a cooling beverage. Its tangy, sour, and slightly astringent flavor makes it a perfect choice for an iced drink, especially when sweetened with a touch of honey. If you're lucky enough to have Rose of Sharon growing in your yard, you can also enjoy its flowers as tea. Just ensure that your plants haven't been treated with chemical pesticides. To prepare Iced Hibiscus Tea, simply add ¼ cup of hibiscus flowers to a quart jar, fill it with boiling water, let it steep for 30 minutes, sweeten with honey, and chill in the refrigerator.
4. Lemon Balm
Known for its bright, sweet, and sunny taste, lemon balm belongs to the mint family and possesses uplifting and calming properties. Whether brewed as a regular tea infusion or transformed into a "Sun Tea," this aromatic herb offers gentle cooling effects with a hint of sourness and bitterness. To prepare Lemon Balm Sun Tea, fill a quart jar with fresh lemon balm or ½ – 1 cup of dried lemon balm, cover it with water, and let it sit in the sun all day. Once strained, chill the tea in the refrigerator for a refreshing treat that can last 2 – 3 days.
5. Rose
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, roses offer medicinal benefits as a cooling herb. Both the petals and rose hips are edible and rich in vitamin C. While rose petals impart a floral, sweet, and slightly astringent flavor, rose hips lean towards being tangy and sour. Adding a small handful of rose petals to your water bottle can infuse it with a gentle floral flavor, perfect for summer hydration. Alternatively, you can prepare Rose Petal Simple Syrup by combining 1 cup of rose petals, 1 cup of sugar, and 2 cups of water, boiling the mixture, letting it steep, straining, and refrigerating for later use in cocktails or sparkling water.
These herbs are not only cooling but also offer numerous health benefits. Incorporating them into your summer routine can help you stay refreshed and hydrated. Experiment with different herbs and find the combinations that work best for you. Stay cool and enjoy the summer with the natural power of herbs!
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