Summer Beverage Ideas; how to turn your water into health enhancing beautiful potions!

As the heat of summer approaches it's time to start thinking of ways to stay hydrated and cool. I often find myself more tired in the heat and therefore more inclined to reach for something loaded with caffeine or sugar to make it through the day. Since I started envibing herbs I've learned many tricks for health enhancing waters. I believe each of us has a unique pallet, flavor combinations I enjoy might not be right for you, so here are a few recipes and a lot of ideas for how you can make this your own.

Replace your Sodas with Healing Delicious Waters

Make your own delightful brews.

It's so easy Simply add 2 tablespoons any Infused Honey and 1 tablespoon of any Infused Vinegar to 8 ounces (1 cup) of water. To add electrolytes (like in gatorade) add a squeeze of lemon juice and a dash of sea salt. Don't worry you can't taste the salt if anything it makes it a little sweeter. The lemon juice will actually help cells absorb hydration!

My favorite/ go-to is:

Lavender Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger Infused Honey with lemon and salt. So good it is a mild pain reliever, helps you stay hydrated, and acts as a calming influence.

Another really good one and I use this for weight-loss:

Cinnamon Infused Vinegar, Rosemary Infused Honey with lemon and sea salt. Delicious! This blend helps ease mild depression, suppresses appetite, and balances blood sugar. (this one is also great with cayenne honey)

This drink is great even if you don't infuse your honey or vinegar! Though I highly recommend making at least one of each infusion… which herbs speak to you?

Herbal Vinegars

Infuse your herbs into vinegars! This makes it easy to incorporate herbs into your daily diet. Add to drinking water, simple dressings, sauces, soups, smoothies, or even pickle veggies with these delightful magic potions.

I believe the best place to start is with Apple Cider Vinegar (preferably with 'the mother') because of its ability to heal by itself, when we use it as a base it truly becomes a healing medium. Just a little about the super power that is Apple Cider Vinegar minerals; potassium, calcium, copper, iron, chromium, magnesium, manganese, selenium, sodium, zinc, phosphorous vitamins; A, C, E, B1, B2, B6, B12 Used Medicinally; to support digestion, regulate blood sugar, for Liver support, reduce infections, sooth sinusitis, improve skin, hair, and nail health, and much much more.

*To make a vinegar infusion place 1 cup fresh or ½ cup dried herbs into a pint sized glass jar, cover with apple cider (or any other) vinegar to fill. Place a piece of wax paper or plastic over the rim of the jar to protect your metal lid. Set in a sunny window for 2-4 weeks shaking occasionally. Strain, discard (compost) used herbs and store your infused vinegar in a cool dark place. Keeps up to 3 years. Easy!

Our Favorite Herbal Vinegars

Dandelion Root- adds its mild laxative properties to vinegars natural antiseptic qualities. Anti-inflammatory effect on the intestines, a remedy for ailments of the pancreas and liver. It is a diuretic and has been useful in lowering blood pressure. Dandelion vinegar is potassium rich. Dandelion root is quite bitter but this preparation seems to bring out the best of bitter meets sweetness.

Sage- adds a delicate flavor to meats and tenderizes them too! Splash some into soup or add to any salad dressing too as it eases nerves.

Peppermint- settles the stomach, eases cramping, diarrhea, and gas.

Rosemary- treats maladies of the mind, relieves tension headaches, and eases dizziness.

Lavender- useful for fighting anxiety, relief from headache, and calms nerves.

Thyme- like sage thyme vinegar is great as a meat tenderizer. Very energetic be prepared for a boost of raw energy. When applied to the body or surfaces it deters fungal growth. (This is one of my favorite cleansing vinegars especially in kitchens and bathrooms.)

Cinnamon- used to aide weight loss and balance blood sugars.

Lemongrass- my favorite to brighten a glass of water this infused vinegar is an antiviral that supports immunity and repels pests through sweat. We love this for gardening in the evenings to drive away gnats. *Caution this will work topically to drive away bugs but it can also make you more easily sun burned.

Bonus* All these Herbal Vinegars make excellent salad dressings! Replace your store bought sugar crap with basic, yummy, health enhancing dressings! Add oil and/or honey and BAM salad dressing!

Herbal Honeys

My absolute favorite “medicine” is infused honey! These can easily be added to anything, food or beverage, but mostly we take a spoonful a day for overall wellness.

Honey- nutritious and rich in antioxidants, helps with blood pressure and cholesterol, reduces allergies, heart healthy, “less bad” sweet option for diabetics, promotes skin healing, relieves coughs, boosts immunity, promotes healthy gut and digestion. Vitamins; B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and some amino acids. Minerals; calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc.

*To make a honey infusion place 1 cup fresh or ½ cup dried herbs into a pint sized glass jar, cover with Honey (preferably local for added benefits) to fill. Set in a sunny spot outside for 24 hours with fresh herb or inside for 4 weeks with dried herbs flipping over occasionally. Strain, discard (compost) used herbs and store your infused honey in a cool dark place. Keeps up to 3 years.

Our Favorite Herbal Honeys

Ginger- great for supporting respiratory, circulatory, and reproductive systems. A delightful addition to any tea or smoothie requiring sweetness.

Garlic- our go to for sore throats or coughing, supports a healthy heart, and boosts immunity.

Onion- Blood cleanser, useful in detoxifying the body. I often combine garlic and onion for a super powerful herbal honey.

Lavender- a calming sweet addition to night time teas this honey promotes good sleep, and eases nerves. Supports the nervous system.

Cayenne- just delicious combines sweet and spicy! Helps to relieve pain caused by inflammation, aide digestion, speed up metabolism, and even helps promote weight loss.

Rosemary- great at easing mild to moderate depression. Increases cellular uptake of oxygen and is an uplifting stimulant. Supports the nervous and circulatory systems. Balances low blood pressure.

Thyme- stimulating to the mind and body, used as a wonderful pick me up when you need to be productive.

Sage- zinc rich this honey is used when you stink and you can't think reach for zinc! Reduces unwanted odors while sweating and is a helpful support for concentration and memory.

Nettle- We use this to ease allergies, it tastes best in green smoothies. Nutrient rich packed with vitamins and minerals, this herbal honey can support the whole body's natural ability to heal itself.

Other Fun Beverages

Our Favorite Tea Blends

Elderflower, Lemon Balm, Rosehips, and Mint- Great daily tonic or for cold and flu support. Combine 2 cups elderflower, 1 cup lemon balm, ½ cup rosehips, and ½ cup mint in your quart size jar. Pour just boiled water over herbs to fill and steep at least 15 minutes- up to 4 hours. Strain and reheat or serve over ice we enjoy both. Add a splash of lemon juice or infused honey to taste. This is a must for me when I start to feel something coming on, this blend works with a fever, has many antiviral capabilities, is replenishing to the entire body, and delicious! Keeps 1-2 days in fridge.

Hibiscus, Peppermint, Orange Peel, and Hawthorn- Heart tonic for strong blood and balanced BP. Combine 2 cups hibiscus flowers, 1 ½ cups peppermint, ¼ cup orange peel, ¼ cup hawthorn berries into a quart sized jar. Pour just boiled water over herbs to fill and let steep at least 15 minutes- up to 4 hours. Strain and serve, this one is best cold or iced. This is a nourishing blend for kidneys and heart, I developed this blend to control my Gene's high blood pressure. *Caution if you have low blood pressure or are taking prescriptions to control blood pressure please consult your physician before taking this in large quantities daily. Keeps 1-2 days in fridge.

A note about Juices: I don't often make my own juices though when I do I tend to make a beet, carrot, ginger juice or a greens, cucumber, lemon juice. Though I can highly recommend the 100% juices you find in the expensive organic juice section. My favorite of these to have on hand is 100% cranberry great for urinary health. To be clear this juice has no other ingredients so it is tart and requires a bit of help to make it useful and delicious.

8ozs water + 2ozs 100% juice + 1 tbsp honey (ginger) optional add lemon to taste. What is your favorite fruit juice? Check out the pure form, as I say it is more expensive but you can't just drink a glass either it needs diluting which makes it last much longer.

Please use this as a guide to experiment and create your very own delicious brews! Let me know what your favorite combinations are and which ones were the worst.

Pictured here is an immunity boosting honey with garlic, onion, rosemary, and cayenne! This was a phenomenal recipe we used it to spice up our beans and rice dishes. An excellent spicy sauce maker. Yummy!