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Herbs & Cultures

Chinese medical traditions →Western herbal medicine →

Cooling sun tea

Herbs that steep in the sun for a few hours: a refreshing drink for warm days.

Traditional use

Time
4–6 hours in the sun
Makes
3 litres
Borage

With sun tea the sun does the work instead of boiling water. Borage and lemon balm give a fresh, cool taste; bitter orange and rose hip round it out.

Ingredients

  • 100 g fresh borage leaf
  • A handful of borage flowers
  • 75 g fresh lemon balm
  • 25 g bitter orange
  • 25 g rose hips
  • 3 litres fresh water
  • To taste: cinnamon tincture or a little honey

Step by step

  1. Put everything except the cinnamon tincture in a glass jar with the water.
  2. Cover and put the jar in the sun for 4–6 hours.
  3. Strain the tea.
  4. Only then carefully add some cinnamon tincture or honey.

Tips

  • Start with a few drops of cinnamon tincture: the taste quickly becomes overpowering and cannot be taken out again.

Registry

Herbs in this recipe

Read more about effects and safety on each herb’s page.

  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 67

    Borage

    Borago officinalis

    The seed oil, rich in gamma-linolenic acid, has been studied for eczema and joint inflammation with mixed results. The leaf was traditionally used to reduce fever and as a tonic.

    Western herbal medicine+2
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 85

    Lemon balm

    Melissa officinalis

    Traditionally used for restlessness, sleep problems and a nervous stomach; externally for cold sores. Small studies suggest a mild calming effect, but evidence is limited.

    Monastic and folk knowledge+7Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Herb · № 123

    Bitter orange

    Citrus × aurantium

    The dried unripe fruit (zhi shi) and peel are used in Chinese medicine for bloating and sluggish digestion. NCCIH warns that weight-loss products containing bitter orange (synephrine) pose risks to the heart and blood pressure.

    Chinese medical traditions+2
  • Caution

    Europe · Herb · № 89

    Rose and rose hip

    Rosa spp.

    Rose hips are rich in vitamin C; a hip powder has been studied for osteoarthritis with modest results. Rose water and oil are used in skin care and as fragrance.

    Avicenna's Canon in European universities+6Folklore
  • Caution

    Asia · Food · № 38

    Cinnamon

    Cinnamomum verum

    A spice made from inner bark. Research on health effects is preliminary; cinnamon is not a treatment.

    Ayurveda+8Folklore

Cultures and traditions

Where the herbs come from

The herbs in this recipe also appear in these traditions.