Scurvy Chaser Tea

(Ginger Rose-hip Tea)

As much as I'd like to claim that beer cures all that ails me and can provide all the cheer I could want on a cold slushy day, my body disagrees and so I must listen. Sometimes when it's snowing and icy out and you've been mostly cooped up with your child who is home from school because no one knows how to drive in snow in your state...you really need something that can give your system a little support, warmth, and enough calm to keep yourself from putting the kid in the dungeon.

This is the tea that can do all that. Ginger is warming to the body and will induce a sweat which makes it useful for feverish infections, colds, flu, and sore throats. It will ease digestion and muscle spasms as well. But what I love best about it is that it has the effect of lifting my mood as well. Rose hips are higher in vitamin C than Oranges and so are a useful fruit to have around in areas where citrus fruits don't grow. Rose hips are also anti-inflammatory making them good for joints.

Put a kettle of water on to boil. Meanwhile put your ginger and rose hips in a cheerful teapot. Get out a small strainer and line it with several layers of butter muslin*. When the water boils add it to the teapot and close the lid, letting it steep for ten or fifteen minutes. When done steeping, pour yourself out a cup, add the teaspoon of honey, and squeeze some lemon into it. Stir it. Now drink it. If it's not hot enough you may (of course) reheat it.

To get the most out of your dried whole rose hips you may wish to gently boil them for 8 to 10 minutes and then add that decoction to your teapot with the ginger in it. However, it is not necessary to do this to get benefit from them.

I like this without honey or lemon but if I'm feeling under the weather I add honey and lemon because it gives me even more of a boost.

*This is only necessary if you have whole rose hips with the interior hairs still in them. These can cause serious scratchiness and have been used in the manufacture of itching powder! If you are using dried pieces of rose hips then you may skip the muslin completely.