Coffee and Tea Substitutes

So I'm an avid lover of tea and coffee. But sometimes you get tired of the same old stuff. So here are some yummy recipes I came across (and tried) that are sure to make your morning coffee or tea a little more interesting.

Herbal Coffee

• Mix and grind together 1 cup of ginseng root, 1/2 cup of licorice root, 1 cup sarsaparillas root, 1 cup Irish moss, 2 cups of holy thistle, 1/2 cup dried orange peel, and 5 cups roasted chicory or dandelion root. 
• Use powdered malt in place of licorice root if you desire.

Corn Coffee

• Put dried corn in a pan. 
• Add boiling water and continue boiling for 5 minutes.
• Sweeten with maple syrup. 

*This was a favorite of the Iroquois Indians.

Apple Tea

*This is good to keep handy as you will use it to treat many illnesses, although you can drink it just for enjoyment.

• Wash and core several apples and slice, do not peel. 
• Put the apples on a greased, waxpaper-lined cookie sheet.
• Place in an oven on low heat, with door cracked open.
• Turn over to ensure they dry completely.
• When apples slices are dry, close oven door and roast until lightly browned. 
• Cool and store in tightly closed container.
• Place several slices in your teapot and fill with boiling water. 
• Steep about 10 minutes.
• Add honey as needed for sweetener.

*This is a really good tonic for the kidneys.

Fresh Lemon Balm Tea

• Take 20 sprigs of fresh lemon balm, 4 tablespoons honey, 10 whole cloves, and the juice of 1/2 a lemon. 
• Pour 4 cups of boiling  water over the lemon balm, then add the other ingredients.
• Let steep 10 minutes.
• Strain and serve.

Rose Hip Tea

• Gather and clean the rose hips.
• Chop in the blender.
• Air dry them before storing in a tightly closed container.
• To make the tea, pour 1 cup boiling water over 1/2 teaspoon of the crushed rosehips.
• Steep 5 minutes until color is bright pink.
• Add sugar or honey.
• For added taste, try it with cloves, or use cinnamon sticks to stir the tea.

Reference: Jude's Herbal Home Remedies