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HomeSurvivalFood and Cooking

Time For Tea

by Karen Magnuson Sherwood

Now is the time of year to be looking for plants to use for preparing winter teas. Remember, in a survival situation teas are going to be of great value to you in a variety of ways. They will provide vitamins and minerals for your body as well as warming it with hot liquids.

The plants you select for your teas can be used fresh for maximum nutritional value, or they can be dried for future use. When collecting plants for drying, tie the stems together and, later, hang them in a warm, dark place, free from dampness.

Attics provide ideal locations for drying herbs. However, survival situations don't always come equipped with these. In that case, branches of nearby trees are suitable on warm, dry days as long as plenty of shade is available. When the weather is less than perfect, the main beam of your debris hut makes a good place to hang bunches of plants.

After hanging to dry for about a week, test your plants for dryness. Take a few of the leaves or twigs and crush them between your fingers. If they snap and crumble readily, then they are ready to store. In case your plants still contain moisture (if they aren't brittle when handled) allow them to dry for several more days. Store your teas in air-tight containers away from direct sunlight. They can be used all winter long until new, fresh growth appears in the spring.

Remember, it takes only about half the amount of plants in the dried state as it does of fresh plants when preparing your teas. This is due to all the moisture leaving the herb as it dries, causing it to shrink.

Finally, make certain of your positive identification of plants when foraging. Misidentification of a plant, particularly in a survival situation, could mean the difference between life and death. If you are unsure of your identification of a certain plant, consult your Peterson's Field Guide.

One of my favorite teas to prepare is a combination of mint and spice bush. It makes a very refreshing tea that will warm you even on the gloomiest of days.

Spice bush can be collected at any time of the year, while mint must be collected before winter's freezing weather sets in. Here's the recipe:

Combine:
   
2 tsp. dried mint
   
1 tsp. spice bush
   
(use the shavings of bark from the twigs)
Pour hot (nor boiling) water over the mixture and let steep five minutes. Honey can be added to sweeten the taste, although the tea is very sweet in itself. Enjoy!!


From The Tracker magazine, Summer 1982, published by the Tracker School.
For more articles from The Tracker magazine, visit the Tracker Trail website.