Prodigal Gardens Medicinal Herbs and Wild Foods

Fresh Mint Lemonade

Herbal lemonades are a refreshing summer drink, and a wonderful way to sneak some nutritious greens into the family’s diet.

4 cups fresh mint, chopped

1 gallon water

2 cups honey (1 lb)

1 ½ cups lemon juice

1. Gently simmer chopped mint leaves in a covered pot for 10 minutes.  (Note: Covering your pot with a tight-fitting lid prevents evaporation of the volatile, aromatic oils in mint, keeping the flavor more intact)

2. Add honey, stirring until it dissolves.

3. Cover and let steep and cool for several hours or overnight.  (This makes a strong, potent tea, maximizing the calcium and other nutrients in the mint.)

4.  Add lemon juice and chill in the fridge.

Mints make a classy lemonade, but this same recipe can be made using any mild, nutritive herb.  Some of my favorites to make lemonade with are Red Clover, Lemon Balm and Comfrey.

Sparkling Mint Lemonade

You can make a healthy alternative to soda that actually nourishes your children (and yourself) rather than the sugar/caffeine beverages that so many are hooked on.  Herbal sodas are made by making a full-strength infusion, adding enough honey to make it syrupy-sweet, and then adding sparkling, carbonated water. 

Sparkling Mint Lemonade is made by following the above recipe for Mint lemonade. 

For a sweeter soda, increase the honey to 3 cups.

Chill, then add 1 cup sparkling water for every cup of Mint lemonade.  Mix the carbonated water in right before serving so it doesn’t go flat.