I’ve wanted to share this recipe for a long time. I usually make this tea when I feel a cold or flu coming on, so thankfully it’s not needed often in my house. Today, however, I’ve had several cups. I feel nostalgic for my best friend who first introduced me to it and kindly gave me handfuls to keep. She brought it from Turkey where it’s called Ihlamur, and I made sure to remember the name so I could ask for it if I ever ran out. Fortunately, she has restocked me several times.
Ihlamur is the Turkish name for linden blossom (sometimes called linden leaf or linden berry when the small seed pods are present). Linden trees grow in many places, including parts of the U.S. When picked at the right season, the small fragrant flowers and accompanying leafy bracts are harvested and dried for tea. My friend showed me the tree and the timing for picking, and she explained that the tiny seed-like pods often come off with the leaves, as you can see on the plate above. I’ve thought I spotted a linden in our yard a few times, but I often miss the harvest window.
Once you have dried linden blossoms and bracts, the tea is simple to prepare and keeps its delicate flavor without turning bitter. In fact, the brew often mellows and improves slightly if it sits covered for a while.
How to make Ihlamur tea:
- Bring water to a gentle boil.
- Add a handful of dried linden blossoms and bracts to the water and reduce to low heat. Let them steep on low for about 10 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and leave the leaves in the pot. For each cup, ladle out the amount of liquid you need and strain the leaves into the cup, keeping the remaining infusion in the pot for later servings.
For each cup, add a spoonful of good honey and the juice from one-quarter of a lemon. Serve warm. The honey and lemon brighten the linden’s gentle floral notes and make the tea very soothing.
If the brewed tea cools, simply strain out the leaves, cover the liquid, and refrigerate. Reheat gently on the stove when you want another cup. Properly stored, the infusion will stay pleasant for several days.
I hope you try ihlamur this season, whether for its soothing qualities or simply to enjoy a new, floral tea. If you find a linden tree locally and consider harvesting flowers or bracts yourself, check with an experienced arborist or local expert first to confirm the plant and safe harvesting practices before consuming anything you’ve gathered.