I took an Introductory Herbalism Course at the end of winter and just started the Intermediate Course a few weeks ago. The information is very dense and awesome. At the end of each unit there is an assignment to try a recipe or make something using what we have learned.

Unit 1 is a review of the Introductory Course, so I decided to start very simply.  I don’t have a lot of experience with herbs – other than cooking, so this is all completely new for me.

I brewed Sage Tea this morning.  Very simple recipe:

1 cup of boiled water (not actively boiling when poured over the sage) 2 teaspoons of fresh sage leaves (you can also use 1 tsp. dry)
Pour water over tea – steep 10 minutes and strain the Sage leaves out of the tea.

I tried the tea plain and it was pleasant, with a mild sage flavor. I added a small amount of local organic honey and brought it to work in a metal thermos to sip at work today. I like it!

My understanding is that Sage is good for calming digestive issues and anxiety and can be stimulating and cleansing for the liver and kidneys. It has also been reported to help sharpen the memory and relieve joint pain.

My experience is that I like the flavor – it reminds me of different green teas that I have tried. I would need more time to see if there is any marked changed in my digestive issues and anxiety/stress levels.