TEA FOR TWO -- OR MORE ?

TEA FOR TWO -- OR MORE ?

Rachel Miller at left and Norma Kline, members of the Town and Country Garden Club,

stand beside the array of English bone china tea cups from Norma's tea cup collection. The tea cups were used by the club members to make their own cup of tea.

Miller presented the program, " Herbal Teas," at the club's February meeting.  She displayed and discussed a variety of herbal teas.  She presented the history of tea and its modern uses--for enjoyment and  for medicinal purposes.   For centuries Asian and Oriental cultures have used herbal teas for their healing properties.  She cited current scientific studies that substantiate the medicinal value of tea, such as chamomile for calming and peppermint as a digestive aid.

Members chose from an array of loose tea, such as chai, chamomile, cinnamon, dandelion, elderberry, ginger, lemon grass, peppermint, rose-hips, and rosemary.  Fruit teas were also available - apple, blueberry, cherry, lemon, orange, peach, pomegranate, raspberry and strawberry.

Miller encouraged members to grow herbs not only for their beauty but harvesting for making tea and for medicinal purposes, such as echinacea,  which is the beautiful coneflower,  E. purpurea,  highly acclaimed for its healthful properties.

Miller has been an herbalist for 17 years and grows organic plants at her home and business, Autumn's Boutique, in Mather.  Among her other plants are herbs for skin care - lavender, aloe, calendula, and yarrow-- using their benefical properties for soap, lotions, balms, and salves.