Recipe For Chamomile And Apple Tea

This chamomile and apple tea is quite refreshing when served chilled.  However, if you want a hot tea that will help you to relax before going to bed, just warm this up.  It is as good hot as it is chilled.  In addition, chamomile is an herb that has long been used as a sleep aid.  Chamomile is sometimes called the "earth apple" due to its apple-like scent, which makes the inclusion of apples in this tea very appropriate.

Ingredients:

2 ounces dried chamomile

2 cloves

3 green cardamoms

½ apple, unpeeled and sliced

1 cinnamon stick

Your choice of sweetener:  honey, light brown sugar, or maple syrup

Step 1:  Place all of the ingredients except the sweetener of your choice into a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Step 2:  Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Step 3:  Remove from heat.  Pour into a chilled container and let stand for another 5 minutes.

Step 4:  Strain and pour into a pitcher.

Step 5:  Rinse the apple slices and cinnamon stick and add to the pitcher of tea.

Step 6:  Sweeten to taste with honey, light brown sugar, or maple syrup.

Tips:

•To warm, simply place in a teapot in which you can gently warm the tea.

•You can also use fresh chamomile instead of dried.  Just use twice as much as you would the dried chamomile.