Nettle Cinnamon Herbal Tea Infusion (Iron + Vitamin C Tea)

Herbal tea infusions are awesome.  They’re nourishing, hydrating (they count towards your daily water intake) and they’re loaded with readily available vitamins and minerals. 

I started making this iron-rich herbal tea infusion during my 3^rd trimester when I was pregnant with Tiny Love.  I was close to being anemic at that point and I wanted to boost my iron intake with herbs and food (instead of taking a iron supplement).  Luckily, this did the job.

The stars of this infusion:

Nettle + Rose Hips + Cinnamon

Nettle: Highly usable vitamin K, high in minerals iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, potassium and zinc.  Amazing herb, promotes kidney function, excellent for pregnancy (should be in a pregnant woman’s daily diet), helps prevent anemia and boosts milk supply in breastfeeding moms.

 Rose Hips: Very high in vitamin C.  Also contains vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin E, calcium, iron, manganese, selenium and zinc.  They have a wonderful sweet taste.

Cinnamon: Has medicinal properties, is known for it's warming effect and aids in digestion.  It adds a wonderful sweet and spicy flavor to teas.

Nettle Cinnamon Herbal Tea Infusion (Iron + Vitamin C Tea)

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Iron is best absorbed when combined with vitamin C, so the addition of rose hips is perfect for this tea. 

Equipment: Medium-Size Saucepan w/ Lid (or steeping teapot), Medium-Size Mixing Bowl, Airtight Glass Jar/Container w/ Lid, Fine Mesh Strainer

·      2 parts nettle (buy nettle here)

·      2 parts rose hips (buy rose hips here)

·      1 part cinnamon chips (buy cinnamon chips here)

·      4 cups filtered water

·      Ice (optional)

·      Raw honey or fresh fruit juice (optional)

1.    Combine all dried herbs in a medium-size mixing bowl, store herb mixture in airtight glass container.

2.   Boil water in medium-size saucepan or in a steeping teapot.  Remove from heat once boiling. 

3.   Add 4 tablespoons of herb mixture to water (1 tablespoon per 1 cup of water). COVER, this ensures that you receive all of the nutritional benefits from the herbs.

4.   Steep 30 minutes to 4 hours for maximum benefit.  The longer you steep, the stronger the flavor will be.  If you don’t care for a stronger flavor, reduce the steeping time to 30 minutes. 

5.    Strain tea. 

6.   Sweeten with small amount of honey or fresh fruit juice if desired.  If you want to retain some of the beneficial properties of raw honey or fresh juice, add after tea has cooled some.

7.   Store extra tea in the refrigerator up to a week. 

Enjoy iced or hot.

Dosage: Drink 1 to 4 cups daily. 

Storage: Store herbs in an airtight glass jar with lid for up to a year. 

Where to Buy Bulk Herbs & Spices: I buy all of my dried spices and herbs in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Disclaimer: ALL information you read on Recipes to Nourish is purely for informational and educational purposes only.  I love to share and share with love, but I am not a health care practitioner.  This information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.  If you have questions about food, diet, nutrition, natural remedies or holistic health, please do your own research and consult with your health care practitioner. 

This post is part of Wildcrafting Wednesday @ Mind Body and Sole, Fat Tuesday @ Real Food Forager, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday @ Simply Sugar & Gluten Free, Hearth & Soul Hop @ Premeditated Leftovers, Traditional Tuesdays @ Cooking Traditional Foods, Allergy Free Wednesdays @ The Tasty Alternative, Real Food Wednesday @ Kelly the Kitchen Kop, Simple Lives Thursday @ GNOWFGLINS, Pennywise Platter Thursday @ The Nourishing Gourmet, and Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage.