On the way in the monastery garden
Tea herbs in Kloster Holzen
Herbal knowledge from the monastery
Tea is a pleasure. But it can also work in many different ways - depending on the variety. Certain tea herbs calm or cheer you up, others can stimulate digestion or provide relief from pain.
The variety of flavours of tea herbs offers the right thing for every mood and every taste - sometimes sweet and delicate, sometimes strongly bitter. You can discover some well-known and tried-and-tested, but also some interesting and lesser-known tea herbs at Holzen Monastery.
Wild Mallow:Lat.: Malva sylvestris
- Belongs to the mallow family
- Also known as cheese poplar, blue mallow, rose poplar or goose poplar
- Contains many mucilage substances and is therefore good for mucous membranes and the skin
- Has a wound-healing, softening, expectorant and soothing effect
- Gives the tea a beautiful red colour
- Flowers, leaves and unripe fruits are used
- Folk medicine: tea e.g. for colds and urinary tract infections
- Has an anti-inflammatory, calming and expectorant effect
- Recommendation: As the mucilage is largely destroyed by excessive heat, tea should be used as a cold infusion
- From ancient times: mallow was also used as a colouring agent
American Mountain mint: Lat.: Pycnanthemum pilosum
- Blongs to the labiate family
- Leaves and flowers are used
- Has a strong minty scent - therefore well suited for scented plantings
- Has an antispasmodic, relaxing, expectorant and invigorating effect
- Use in the kitchen as a substitute for mint
- Can be processed into syrup
- The plant was a valuable tonic for the Indians
- Tea is made to treat colds and upset stomachs
- Very easy to care for - no sprawling roots
Sweet lime mint: Lat.: Mentha species 'Hillary's Sweet Lemon'
- Belongs to the labiates
- Leaves and flowers are used
- Relatively delicate type of mint - underside of leaves somewhat furry - purple flowers
- Sweet mint - reminiscent of the flavour of bergamot or mandarin
- The leaves are best used fresh for preparations
- Very good dessert mint, but also for fruit shakes and drinks
- Has an antispasmodic, calming, relaxing, stimulating and stomach-strengthening effect
- Lime mint can be drunk as a tea for refreshment and a good stomach
MOROCCAN MINT: Lat.: Mentha spicata var. crispa 'Marokko'
- Belongs to the labiate family
- Most popular mint for the "HUGO"
- Leaves and possibly flowers are used
- As a syrup, addition to salads, desserts, jams, drinks...
- Tea: hot and with lots of sugar, it is a very revitalising drink
- The tea also tastes delicious as a cold drink and is refreshing on hot days or warms in winter together with other herbs
Lemon verbena: Lat.: Aoysia triphylla syn. Lippia citriodora
- Also known as lemon shrub or verbena
- The fresh herb is used
- Wonderfully intense lemony fragrance
- Has a metabolism-stimulating, mood-lifting and relaxing effect
- Also suitable for flavoured vinegars or oils, syrups, baths, etc.
- Tea to calm the nerves, colds with fever, constipation and cramps
- TIP: Flavour ice cubes with the leaves
Hemingway Mint: Lat.: Mentha species 'Nemorosa'
- Used for the classic mojito mint
- Belongs to the labiate family
- Leaves and flowers are used
- Provides a very mild but intense mint flavour
- Leaves and flowers can be used for drinks, syrups, desserts, etc.
- Take tea for gastrointestinal complaints, colds for relaxation
Chamomile: Lat.: Matricaria chamomilla
- Belongs to the composite family
- Also known as motherwort, cow parsley, apple herb or cowslip
- The flowers and herb are used
- Considered a traditional medicinal plant for inflammation, wound treatment, etc.
- Has an anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, antispasmodic, antiseptic, calming, stomachic and pain-relieving effect
- The flowers are used dried or fresh for tea
- Tea for colic, stomach ache, colds, cleanses the liver and kidneys, inflammation of the mouth and throat, etc.
- Inhalations with chamomile flowers for ear diseases and inflammatory diseases of the airways
- CAUTION if you are allergic to composite flowers!
Peppermint: Lat.: Mentha piperita
- Belongs to the labiate family
- Leaves and flowers are used
- Has an antispasmodic, liver-active, bile-stimulating, anti-bloating, cooling, expectorant, nerve-strengthening and germicidal effect
- Tea as a stimulant but also for gastrointestinal complaints, bad breath and colds
- Peppermint oil is used for toothache and is considered a powerful antiseptic painkiller
- Peppermint leaves in salads, soups, vegetables and stews or fish dishes
- Tip: Peppermint mask for oily skin (healing clay, yoghurt, honey and peppermint mixed together)
- CAUTION: No baths with peppermint - risk of burns!
Anise-Hyssop: Lat.: Agastache anisata oder Agastache foeniculum
- Also known as aniseed mint, aniseed herb or scented nettle
- Belongs to the labiate family
- Leaves and flowers are used
- Has an anti-inflammatory, digestive and mood-enhancing effect
- Particularly beautiful insect plant
- Tea for colds and sore throats, promotes perspiration
- Is taken by the Indians before visiting the sweat lodge
- Syrup or liqueur are very tasty and add flavour to drinks or desserts
- A powder can be made from the dried leaves, which has a fine aniseed, fennel flavour
White balm: Lat.: Nepeta cataria ssp citriodor
- More intense than lemon balm
- Belongs to the labiate family
- Leaves and flowers are used
- Has an anti-inflammatory, relaxing and antispasmodic effect
- Tea for feverish colds and nervous indigestion
- Loves well-drained, moderately nutrient-rich and loamy-sandy soil
- Is a native subspecies of catnip
Rose Monarda: Lat.: Monarda fistulosa x tetraploid
- Robust plant native to Canada
- Belongs to the labiate family
- Also known as Indian nettle
- Leaves and flowers are used
- A real highlight for "nose people" - a dreamy, gentle rose fragrance emanates from the plant
- Has a relaxing, antispasmodic, calming, nerve-strengthening, sleep-inducing, soothing and diuretic effect
- Wonderful for potpourris, "rose vinegar" or syrup
- Monard is used to flavour fine teas and is also helpful for nervous restlessness
LEMON-SCENTED ST JOHN'S WORT: Lat: Hypericum hircinum
- Belongs to the St John's wort family
- Young leaves and flowers are used
- The scent of the leaves is reminiscent of a mixture of lemon and eucalyptus
- Grows like a bush and should be cut back in autumn
- Has a cooling, relaxing, calming and expectorant effect
- A tea for relaxation and colds
Greek mountain tea: Lat.: Sideritis syriaca
- Belongs to the labiate family
- Needs a fully sunny, hot location - preferably soil mixed with scree
- Slightly bitter note with a subtle cinnamon flavour
- Leaves and flowers are used
- Has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, immune-boosting effects
- Tea for colds with inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, to strengthen the immune system