Té de Cedrón
If you enjoy herbal teas, you will really enjoy this fragrant lemon verbena tea – té de cedrón – which can be enjoyed hot or over ice. In Mexico, people drink it as a sleep aid and to help reduce indigestion but we drink it because it has a bright delicious lemony flavor.
Our version is delicately flavored and lightly sweetened with real honey. You can also prepare it with agave nectar, stevia or sugar although it is great without any sweetener too.
In Mexico, it is common to find lemon verbena grown in pots in patio gardens. It is easy to grow and can be used to cook a wide variety of dishes in addition to preparing tea. Lemon verbena is especially good when used to add a delicate lemony fragrance to fish. Learn how to grow it here.
A few leaves are all you need to prepare your tea. You can double or triple the number if you prefer a stronger flavored tea or will be serving it iced.
Enjoy!
Lemon Verbena Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lemon verbena leaves
- 4 cups water
- 4 tsp. honey or sweetener of choice optional
Instructions
- Place the 3 lemon verbena leaves in the 4 cups of water.
- Boil for 15 minutes.
- Serve hot or iced with a teaspoon of honey in each glass for sweetness.
Kittygayle McMoon says
Thank you very much for this site! I grow Lemon Verbena every year and often am not sure what to do with all of it. Even though I am not in a “frost-free” climate, mine comes back as if it is a perennial! Weird… This has given me another idea for it. Also, can’t wait to try the cactus salad; sounds yummy to me!
Douglas Cullen says
We’re glad that you like the site! You definitely have to try the cactus salad. It’s delicious!
Becky says
Do you dry the leaves or use them fresh for the tea?
Christopher Sullivan says
Would not recommend it. It came out bitter and the honey didn’t save it.
Cecilia Virginia Maravilla says
Hi my name is Cecilia, we come from Michoacán , Mexico and my father brought a plant many years ago , we drink it for any occasion, we come from a family of 12 kids. And all of our kids love this test , it reminds them of their childhood, I moved to Arkansas and I haven’t been able to grow this out here .
Sue Cutter says
Cecilia, I bought a lemon balm plant from a local nursery in Illinois in the spring & have grown it in a pot all summer. Do try again!
I haven’t yet tried to overwinter my plant, but it should be possible.
Do try again!
Christopher Sullivan says
Would not recommend it. It came out bitter and the honey didn’t save it.