Wild Essence Growing Beside Us

On Returning to Simplicity and Homemade Teas from the Gifts of the Earth

I feel with increasing clarity that we are returning to what is simple, authentic, and close to nature.

We are beginning to appreciate preparing our own meals and crafting homemade goods from plants gathered with our own hands. Today, I want to linger for a moment over natural teas, which grant an extraordinary sense of connection with the place we find ourselves in.

Back during my stay in Vikend Naselje in Serbia, within a forest abundant with blackberries, I stumbled upon wild, flowering mint.

Mint – refreshes, aids digestion, and brings solace to the heart.

Drying it proved remarkably simple. A plain plate in the room and just a few days were enough for it to be ready for brewing. The joy of this first self-harvested infusion prompted me to look around more attentively.

In August, whole hillsides were covered in mullein, though its golden flowers had already finished blooming. Usually, it is the blossoms that are gathered for tea, but I decided to focus on the young leaves of the first-year plants. Mullein is a biennial plant and flowers only in its second season.

Mullein – soothes the respiratory tract and enfolds you in a soft, clean aroma.

Cut into fine pieces, the leaves took much longer to dry, and I completed the entire process after arriving in Prilep. The infusion turned out exceptionally gentle, with a distinct yet subtle aromatic accent, becoming another valuable experience along my path.

When I settled in Prilep, Macedonia, the time had come for the rosehips to ripen.

Rosehip – a true treasure trove of vitamin C, bolstering vital force and immunity.

I set the gathered fruits aside to dry slowly whole. After about three weeks, they hardened and became completely dry. Ground in a mill, they yielded a brew of deep, clean taste, which accompanied me with great pleasure over the following days.

Even while travelling, nature constantly shares her abundance with us. When we stay in one place for longer, we gain the space to draw from this bounty and create our own simple provisions that nourish the body and bring peace to the soul.

Ginkgo and Gaja