Pick some mint up at the farmer’s market? Do you have fresh mint growing in your garden? June is the perfect time to trim up your mint babies.
*See my mint tip after the recipe ????
Fresh sprigs of mint add a low-key flavor to homemade kombucha flavorings. Any berry (frozen or thawed), or fresh fruit (apples, strawberries, cherries – the possibilities are endless) typically pair well with fresh mint.
Blackberry is a favorite of mine to combine with mint. Blackberry is such a dark, dramatic fruit and is ruled by the Earth element for all of my fellow Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn). As you place blackberries in kombucha, asking for prosperity is appropriate.
- Blackberries – fresh or frozen and thawed (1+ tbsp)
- Mint – Fresh (1 sprig)*
- Hibiscus – dried culinary petals (3 petals)
*Dried mint can also be used in kombucha. Use it sparingly ????
Mint Gardening Tip:
To keep a mint plant healthy, cut it before it starts to produce a flower. This ensures the plant’s energy is held within the leaves, and not spent on the flower itself. As you can imagine, producing a flower uses a lot of a plant’s energy.
Mint is so tough and forgiving, I typically eye up the best mint cuts when they reach 9-10 inches, but it varies by mint.
Important Tip: Cut the mint directly above a lower group of leaves, right above the grouping, as illustrated.
And… Repeat. The mint shown is a “Chocolate Mint” variety. I typically cut 6 sprigs for each bundle.
Tie in a bundle and hang upside down to dry. I like using twine, leftover ribbon, rubber bands, whatever I have my hands on.
Dried leaf bundles can be used for tea, potpourri, and even smudging as a sage alternative. Mint is known to aid in prophetic dreams, so adding some mint to a bedtime tea brew can be a good idea when looking for guidance.