FRAGRANT SIETE AZAHARES

Siete Azahares, or Seven Blossoms, is an herbal tea blend served in many Mexican homes for stress and insomnia made with plants known for their relaxing qualities. There are countless blends, however, virtually all Seven Blossoms blends will contain linden and passionflower. The tea blend can be found at most Mexican grocers and botánicas, however, making your own blend is simple, not to mention, it tastes more flavorful than pre-bagged varieties and is very fragrant!

I’ve created several blends over the years, making adjustments here and there depending on what I have on hand–such as drying my own orange blossoms when they’re in bloom here in Phoenix. So, if you don’t have all of the following blossoms, use your intuition using what you do have on hand and can find in your neighborhood. It’s okay if your tea blend comes out being Cinco Azahares :)

The following recipe is made using only dried ingredients. It stores well in a glass jar and makes a great gift for anyone feeling stress–which means you may be making a gift for yourself.

INGREDIENTS

1-part dried hops

1-part dried lavender

2-parts dried lemon balm

1-part dried linden

1-part dried jasmine or orange blossoms

1-part dried passionflower

1-part dried rose petals

METHOD

Decide how much you want to make, measure out your herbs, adding them to a bowl and mixing them gently with your hands. If you want to make a small amount, I would suggest using one tablespoon as one “part”.

Label and store your blend in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Prepare and serve just as you would any loose herbal tea (French press, tea ball, etc) and do your own research if you have any concerns about consuming any of the herbs based on your current condition.