Sunday's Project: Drying Fig Leaves and Herbs

I'm really excited about today's project, as it's one I've dabbled with in the past, but haven't committed to doing the right way. I've been saying for the last few years, "this year, this is the year we'll really do it." So this year, we are. 

Today we will be hanging a few hooks in our house, stringing twine from one to the other, and beginning to dry some of our herbs, and most importantly, fig leaves. 

Every year I find that I let some (or a lot of) our herbs go to waste, and it always makes me sad. It just feels like such a waste. Especially when those herbs could be used in cooking or tisanes once the weather turns cold. 

What's a tisane? I asked the same question a few years back when I noticed them on the shelves at the bio. Essentially think of a drink that is made just like tea, but doesn't actually contain tea leaves in it. Drinks made with dried flowers, dried herbs, etc., but without tea leaves, are tisanes. So that post I did last summer on Fig Leaf Tea was actually a Fig Leaf Tisane. (Hashtag whoops.) Semantics aside, it was still delicious. 

So that brings me back to this project. The other day I made a delicious fresh fig leaf and fresh mint tisane that was out of this world. Drinking it made me feel like I was at a spa. And I thought to myself, now is the summer to dry all these leaves I've wanted to, so that once the leaves have fallen off of the trees outside I can still enjoy a nice tisane. I refuse to feel the pangs of regret at yet another winter of no fig leaf based tisane drinks, or having to buy dried herbs!

We're starting off small, as this is the first batch, but we should be able to get a couple of drying rounds in before the fall hits and the leaves begin to drop. In today's round we're drying fig leaves from a few of our local trees, as well as mint, rosemary, and chives from our terrace orchard garden. If our drying process yields enough by the end of the summer, I may have a small amount available to offer to some fellow fig-loving-tisane-drinking-readers, if you'd be interested. 

Never had a tisane? Try one out! You can make them with so many different herbs or flowers, dried or fresh, and many have some great health benefits if consumed regularly/properly. Always either ask your doctor before consuming, especially if you're pregnant, and do a quick Google search as some have cautions. Check out my fig leaf tea tisane from last summer here, or try adding a sprig of mint (about 10-12 leaves) into the tea ball with a chopped up medium sized fig leaf for the heavenly drink I had the other day. 

Check back for more updates on our drying process!

A la prochaine friends...

Honey 

Friday Finds: Bohemian Beach Babes

Friday Finds: Bohemian Beach Babes by outlawnotahero on polyvore

This time of year always makes me a bit homesick. Having spent half of my life at the beach, once the weather warms up I want nothing more than to grab my beach chair, a big bottle of water, and some yummy snacks to keep me company while digging my feet in the sand. Add some teeth rotting salt water taffy and some sea glass searching, and I'm a very happy girl.

This week I'm getting back to my bohemian roots and daydreaming about packing up this weekender bag from Nena and Co. for a little getaway to my parent's house. I'd love to start the day by doing some early morning yoga on this cool Magic Carpet Yoga Mat, followed by a nice big green juice. I just might splurge on this Aztec print towel from The Beach People, called "the Roundie," because life is too short for ugly beach towels. I don't typically wear jewelry on the beach, but I might make an exception for this gorgeous ring (which happens to be on sale right now FYI) from Satya Jewelry. Or maybe I'd just save it for dinner on the bay. I've also been coveting one of Satya's malas for the past couple of years, which would pair nicely. I've been in love with this dreamy Caftan from Emerson Fry since forever (well, at least since her last colorway), and I just can't say no to it in blue. This Bobbie Brown Beach Body Oil would be great for some post beach relaxation while getting Oswin dressed in these adorable Ikat Harem pants from Cleobella.  And even though this SHABD x Sakura Bloom sling sold out in under twenty minutes, I can't help but obsess over it and hope they choose to do a second collaboration (pretty pretty please). I'd use it to take Oswin out for a little early evening stroll on the boards and watch the sun set with a nice cup of fig leaf tea, made from the fig trees in my parent's garden. And since I'm never without my camera, an updated camera strap would a very happy mama make.

What are your favorite bohemian picks? I'd love to hear about them! 

A la prochaine friends...

Honey 

Fig Leaf Tea.

 

Happy Friday tout le monde! Here in SwitzerFrance the sun is out, the terrace doors are open, the birds are going a little crazy (like Hitchcock crazy, I'm getting a little nervous), and I've finally gotten around to trying out something I've been meaning to do for weeks now: brew up some fig leaf tea!

 

 

I love that my favorite tree in all the land can provide so many uses from it's little 'ole self - delicious fruits to be eaten raw/grilled/dried/cooked, branches that can form entirely new lovely little trees, and leaves that when minced up and submerged in boiling hot water can provide a little bit of variety (and added health benefits) from the customary cup of tea.

 

 

What's it taste like? I had expected it to have a vanilla taste, as anyone who has ever smelled fig trees on the breeze can probably relate to, but it definitely wasn't the dominating flavor. Overall it had a nutty taste with a hint of vanilla (more in the smell than the taste I'd say), and was even better with a little local honey mixed in.

 

{Cue wet blanket PSA} Want more info on how ingesting fig leaves can affect your health? Here's a great link on WebMD that talks about possible side affects or interactions that could occur if you have certain ailments or conditions. As always, if you have diabetes or some other pre-existing condition, it's always best to talk to your doctor before trying something new like this out. I'm not doctor, merely a fig tree enthusiast. So better to be safe than sorry. :) {End wet blanket PSA}

 

Fig Leaf Tea

 

Ingredients:

 

1 medium sized or 1/2 of a large fig leaf

Honey, sugar or agave nectar (optional and to taste) 

Boiling water to fill the tea pot of your choice 

 

Directions:

 

1. Pick a leaf off your own, a friend's or a public fig tree. (Note: I picked a large leaf and only half fit in the tea ball - looks like I have some leftover for tomorrow.)

 

2. Boil up the amount of water that it takes to fill your tea pot of choice.

 

3. On a cutting board, mince up the fig leaf. To do this I rolled the leaf up into a small tube shape, sliced in one direction, and then sliced in a diagonal direction. I didn't take the time to mince it up small, but feel free to do so if you'd like.

 

4. Fill up a tea ball with minced up fig leaf.

 

5. Put tea ball in tea pot. Fill tea pot once the water boils. Allow to steep for 15 minutes before serving. Add honey or other sweetener if you wish.  

 

 

Easy right?

 

So go on out there and cut off a leaf, start that kettle, and relax with this soothing cuppa. Keep in mind it may be more of an acquired taste, but weekends are for being a little crazy, right?

 

 

(And nothing screams wild and crazy like a pregnant chick in a sweatpants and chipped nail polish.)

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey