Tulasi-Herbal-Tea

#TulasiHerbalTea #HolyBasilHerbalTea :
We had a habit of relishing either tea or coffee in the morning. Then we started taking milk mixed with horlicks or boost. When we were in Raipur, my daughter brought herbal tea bags of different herbs and flavors from Germany. Also I came to know about tea being prepared with a variety of herbs in different parts of the world through a TV documentary. 

 

We had Tulasi [ HolyBasil ] plants and pudina [ mint ] bed in my garden. So initially I started preparing green tea with either mint or tulasi. When green tea wasn't available in my pantry, I boiled a handful of Tulasi or mint leaves in water and started relishing the herbs infused water. 

We slowly widened our horizon and started experimenting with different leaves like, Bael, Keezhanelli [ Gale of the wind or seed under leaves ],  Moringa [ drum stick ], Guava, Pongamia, Neem, Peepal, etc.,... I used to prepare herbal tea from a single type of leaves for three to four days continuously. Then I will go for the next type of herbal tea for another three or four days.

Now due to Corona pandemic situation the government and doctors are advising the people to drink decoction [ kashayam ] made from ginger, garlic, turmeric and black pepper to increase body immunity against the virus and also to consume Vitamin C rich fruits like Lemon, Orange, Musambi [ sathukudi ], Nellikkai [ Amla ], etc.,...

Keeping the advisory in mind I have included them in my herbal tea preparation. Here I have prepared a herbal tea from Tulasi adding immunity boosting ingredients.

#Tulasi or #Tulsi is also known as #HolyBasil and the scientific name is Ocimum sanctum.
Tulasi leaves have a strong aroma and is an astringent. Some of the varieties taste bitter and some have clove-like aroma and spicy taste.

It has been used in Ayurveda and in other Indian system of medicine to treat asthma, bronchitis, arthritis,cold and flu for many centuries.
Tulasi is considered as an adaptogenic herb, plants that help to adapt the body to stress and boost energy. Other adaptogens are ashwagandha, astragalus root, Siberian ginseng and turmeric.
It contains Eugenol just like Clove oil, the substance for its pain relieving property.

Tulasi is also rich in antioxidant, anti inflammatory,
and has anti aging property.

Tulasi is a blood purifier and also helps the body to remove
toxins & wastes at the cellular level.

Daily 8 - 10 fresh leaves can be chewed to reap the health benefits of Tulasi.

Ingredients :
A hand full	Tulasi leaves
1/2 inch piece	Ginger
1/4 inch piece	Turmeric tuber
1 -2 cloves	Garlic
1/4 Tsp	Black pepper crushed
1 small	Lemon

If turmeric tuber is not available then 1/4 tsp turmeric powder can be used.

Honey or jaggery can be added to make the drink more tasty.

[ I prefer to drink without sweetner ]

Method :

Wash tulasi leaves [ holy basil ] in water and keep over a cutting board to drain water.

Take a vessel and add 2 cups of water.

Heat on a stove over medium flame.

Smash ginger, turmeric tuber and garlic and put into the water.

Dab the Tulasi leaves using the back of a big ladle and tear the leaves with hand.

Then add the tulasi leaves and two pinches of crushed pepper.

When water starts boiling, reduce the flame completely.

Let it simmer for 5 to 6 minutes.

Then turn off the stove.

Now squeeze lemon juice into the vessel and put the lemon skin also into it.

Let it stand for two minutes.

Strain through a tea filter into tea cups.

Sprinkle a pinch of freshly crushed black pepper.

Serve hot.

If necessary add honey or jaggery for taste.

You might also like to try

Muskmelon Mint juice

Aam Panna - Raw Mango Juice

Muskmelon Mango juice

Green Tea with Mint

Green Tea with Tulasi

Mango milk shake with karpooravalli[omavalli]

Bael fruit - Vilva pazha juice

Mango milk shake with Tulasi

For other Juice, Soups and Porridge varieties

Refreshments

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Mango-Milk-Shake-with-Tulasi

#MangoMilkShake with #Tulasi : The Summer has gone and so the mango season also. We were getting steady supply of mangoes from the trees in my garden. We had enjoyed plenty of Langra mangoes this season. They are very sweet and without much fiber also. We relished either a big bowl full of juicy mango pieces or a full glass of mango milk shake for dinner till the middle of July.
I used to add herbs like Mint, karpooravalli [ omavalli ] and Tulasi [ Holy basil ] while making mango milk shake either individually or in combination. We have already seen one such combination, Mango milk shake with Mint and karpooravalli.

Now I would like to share another tasty and aromatic drink with Tulasi, Mint and mango.



#Tulasi or #Tulsi is also known as #HolyBasil and the scientific name is Ocimum sanctum.
Tulasi leaves have a strong aroma and is an astringent. Some of the varieties taste bitter and some have clove-like aroma and spicy taste.

It has been used in Ayurveda and in other Indian system of medicine to treat asthma, bronchitis, arthritis,cold and flu for many centuries.
Tulasi is considered as an adaptogenic herb, plants that help to adapt the body to stress and boost energy. Other adaptogens are ashwagandha, astragalus root, Siberian ginseng and turmeric.
It contains Eugenol just like Clove oil, the substance for its pain relieving property.

Tulasi is also rich in antioxidant, anti inflammatory,
and has anti aging property.

Tulasi is a blood purifier and also helps the body to remove
toxins & wastes at the cellular level.

#Mint [ #Pudina ] belongs to the genus Mentha of Lamiaceae family. Mints are aromatic and perennial herbs. Mint leaves have a warm, fresh, aromatic, sweet flavor with a cool aftertaste and widely used in lots of culinary dishes for its aroma. Pudina leaves are rich in nutrients. They help to relieve indigestion, could improve brain function, to tackle bad breath and subjectively improve Cold symptoms.



Preparation Time               : 15 mins
Making Time                     : 5 mins
Can get approximately 1 to 1 1/2 cup mango milk shake.
{ the quantity depends on the type of mango selected }

Ingredients :
1	Mango
1/2 cup	Milk
4 Tsp	Jaggery powder [ adjust ]
10 - 15	Tulasi [ Holy Basil ] Leaf
10 - 15	Mint [ Pudina ] Leaf
1 pinch	Salt

Note : Take more or less of Tulasi and Mint according to availability and your taste.

Method :
Boil milk and keep aside to cool down.

Take jaggery in a small bowl and pour hot water over it.
Mix with a spoon to dissolve jaggery in water.
Set aside.

Now wash mango in water two or three times.
Peel off skin and cut flesh into big pieces.

Combine mango pieces, milk, Tulasi leaves,
mint leaves and salt in a mixie jar.
Run mixie for a minute.

Now open the jar and add jaggery dissolved water.
Close the jar and run the mixie till all ingredients blend together.

Transfer into tall glasses.
Top it with tulasi [ holy basil ] leaves.
Enjoy aromatic and tasty mango milk shake.

You might also like to try

Bael fruit - Vilva pazha juice

Muskmelon Mint juice

Aam Panna - Raw Mango Juice

Muskmelon Mango juice

Mango milk shake with karpooravalli[omavalli]

For other Juice, Soups and Porridge varieties

Refreshments

Tulasi-Orange-Green-Tea

#TulasiOrangeGreenTea : I have already shared Green tea with Tulasi in one of my posts. Recently I have opened a tea box that was brought by my daughter from Germany. Each box has tea bags of different herbs and flavours. This particular one is orange & ginger tea bags. I started liking its flavour and the sharp taste given by orange peels.
Nowadays I have started  saving the orange skin after eating the fruit. I wash the oranges before peeling and then dry them in the Sun. I am preparing green tea daily using these dried orange peels along with tulsi and ginger. The taste of the tea is as good as the tea made from the tea-bags that my daughter brought.
Here comes the method of preparing #Greentea with #Tulasi [ #Tulsi ], #Orangepeel and #Ginger. 
Given Ingredients are just enough to prepare a cup of tea.

Ingredients :
1 Tsp	Green tea
10 - 15	Tulasi leaves
3 - 4 small pieces	Orange peel
a small piece	Ginger crushed
1 cup	Water

Method :

Boil water in a vessel and turn off the stove once it starts boiling.
Add all the given ingredients.
Keep the vessel closed with a lid for 2 minutes.

After two minutes strain through a filter into a tea cup.

Enjoy hot and orange flavoured Tulasi tea!

A spoon full of honey or jaggery can be added to make it sweet.




Other green tea you may like to try

Green Tea with Tulasi

Green Tea with Sweet Lime

Green Tea with Mint

Green Tea with Lemon

Green Tea with Tulasi

#GreenteawithTulasi : First I tried green tea with mint. I have many tulasi plants around my home. I thought why can't green tea can be prepared with tulasi leaves just like mint green tea.
#Tulasi is known as the Holy Basil in English. It is cultivated for its medicinal value and worshiped by Hindus in India. It has been used in Ayurveda for a very long time for its diverse medicinal properties.
Now to the method of making tea with tulasi.

Ingredients :
175 ml                                  Water
1 Tsp                                    Green tea
15 to 20                                Tulasi leaves, Washed
1 Tsp                                    Ginger soaked water*
1 Tsp                                    Lemon juice

* To make ginger water : crush 1/2 inch long washed n peeled ginger in 1/4 cup of water.
Allow to stand for an hour.

Method :
Boil water in a vessel.
Turn off stove when the water starts boiling.
Add 1 Tsp of green tea.
Dab the tulasi leaves using the back of a spoon or roll between palms giving slight pressure.

Then add to the hot water with green tea.
Keep the vessel closed for 2 minutes.
Now take a cup.
Add 1 Tsp of ginger soaked water and 1 Tsp of lemon juice.

Now strain the brew through a tea filter into the cup.

Mix well and the aromatic tea is ready.

This also a very refreshing drink just like green tea with mint. try it out.




Other green tea you may like to try

Tulasi-Orangepeel Green Tea

Green Tea with Sweet Lime

Green Tea with Mint

Green Tea with Lemon

Tulsi Rice

#TulsiRice : #Tulsi - #HolyBasil is a small shrub usually grown by people in India at their court yard or back yard in a specially made platform called thulasi maadam and is worshipped by Hindus.
It is a herb with strong tasty leaves with an aroma and all parts of tulsi are used in Ayurveda to cure many diseases.

Generally after rains we could see small tulsi plants grow abuntantly in our garden and on road sides also.
Last year when we set up our home at Raipur the monsoon had just then started.
After rains we found two small tulsi sapplings and allowed them to grow.
Now we have three big tulsi and 2 small tulsi from seeds of older one.

Daily we used to take 10 to 15 leaves in the morning before morning cuppa.
After the rains lots of tender leaves appeared and became bushy. So in order to consume more leaves I tried tulsi rice yesterday. It was very tasty with nice aroma of tulsi and pepper.

Now to the recipe

Ingredients :
Raw rice                            : 1/2 cup
Tulsi                                  : 1 cup
Cumin seeds                      : 1 tsp
Cashew nuts                      : 4 or 5
Onion                                : 1 medium size
Carrot chopped                 : 1 Tbsp
Green peas                        : 2 Tbsp
Pepper powder                  : 1/2 tsp
Salt                                    : 3/4 tsp [ adjust ]
Gingelly oil                         : 4 tsp

Method :
Wash tulsi leaves well and chop nicely.
Take washed rice in a pressure cooker.
Add 1 cup of water and close the lid with weight on.
Keep on HIGH for 3 whistles.
Allow the steam to completely go off and then open.

Immediately transfer into a wide mouthed basin.
Add two tsp of oil and keep under fan to cool down.

Now thinly slice onion length wise.

Boil carrot and green peas with enough salt till soft.
Transfer into a bowl. Keep aside.

Keep a kadai on a stove over slow flame with 2 tsp of oil.
When the oil is hot add cumin seeds.
After it splutters add cashew nut piece and roast till it becomes golden color.
Then add onions and saute well.

Now add cooked carrot and green peas.
Saute for a minute.

Add tulsi leaves, salt and pepper powder.

Then add the rice also.

Mix well. Turn off the stove and transfer into a serving bowl.
Do not keep on fire for a long time after adding tulsi leaves.

Have with a side dish of your choice.







Other tasty mixed rice varieties you might like to try :