Red Clover and Honeysuckle - An Herbal Sun Tea Recipe (2024)

Red Clover and Honeysuckle - An Herbal Sun Tea Recipe (1)

With Spring blossoming and slowly transitioning to summer, flowers and medicine herbs of all sorts are taking turns shining in the spotlight.

One of the easiest and best ways to enjoy Nature’s bounty is through a simple herbal sun tea – like this one with red clover and honeysuckle!

Red Clover and Honeysuckle - An Herbal Sun Tea Recipe (2)

Whether you’re looking for a Spring tonic – an herbal drink to help the body transition from Winter’s stagnation into Spring’s movement – an herbal remedy for an ailment, or simply a way to enjoy the wild flowers and herbs around you, an herbal sun tea is maybe the easiest option.

Simply – a sun tea is a material (root, leaf, flower, etc) combined with water in a glass jar that you let sit on your window sill for a length of time.

The warmth of the sun’s rays heats up the water, extracting the nutrition and healing from whatever material is within it.

Drink it as is, or strain and cool it in the refrigerator.

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Medicinal Benefits of Red Clover

Red clover grows wild in some of the most unforgiving situations – college campuses, construction sites, the sides of highways.

But it is a gentle but powerful medicine.

A member of the pea family, it’s three leaflets and red-purplish flowers are easily recognizable without any dangerous look-alikes.

As a member of the pea (legume) family, clover extracts nitrogen from the atmosphere and fixes it into the soil and is often used as a cover crop and soil builder.

Red clover is rich in protein (including all of the amino acids), as well as Vit B, Vit C, calcium, megnesium, thiamine, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, and iron.

All of the vitamins and minerals in red clover are water soluable, so a gentle sun tea extract in water is the perfect way to capture the medicinal and nutritional benefits of clover.

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Medicinally, red clover is considered an alterative. (For more herbal actions and the definitions, check out my post on the Top 18 Herbal Actions).

Alteratives help the body over time to remove metabolic waste products, and in doing so, absorb nutrients better.

It has often been used as a blood cleanser, and as a diuretic, keeps fluids moving throughout the lymphatic system and eliminates waste through the urinary system.

Is it any wonder that red clover is one of the first flowers to emerge every Spring – when humans need the most blood and lymphatic cleansing after a stagnant Winter of heavy foods?

In addition to being a cleanser, red clover is antispasmodic – helping ease the stomach contractions in a colicy infant (and is gentle enough for use on babies), and releases tension associated with stress headaches.

It’s antispasmodic and expectorant actions make it especially useful in treating colds, flus and dry, hacking coughs.

It’s tannins also help dry the upper respiratory system with a wet cough, postnasal drip and reduces inflammation – while nourishing the immune system and assisting in expelling waste.

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Medicinal Benefits of Honeysuckle

In addition to being delicious (!), honeysuckle is also anti-inflammatory and has been used to treat upper respiratory infections, colds, flues, and pneumonia.

(Are you starting to see a trend?)

According to Science Alert, honeysuckle has the ability to prevent the influenza virus from replicating.

So not only is this tea delicious, it’s a powerful flu ally.

It is also used for digestive disorders, viral and bacterial infections, fever, sores, urinary disorders, headaches, diabetes, arthritis and cancer.

I bet you didn’t know that when you were drinking it’s necter – sip by sip – as a kid!

You were so smart back then!

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How to Make an Herbal Sun Tea

To make this red clover and honeysuckle sun tea, harvest red clover and honeysuckle.

Don’t be greedy and leave plenty for the bees!

To make any herbal sun tea, simply put 1-2 cups fresh flowers or herbs into a quart-sized mason jar (I prefer the wide-mouth as they’re easier to clean).

Then cover the fresh plant material with a quart of fresh water.

If you’re on city water, you’ll want to purchase filtered or distilled water.

The chlorine in city water can effect the chemical constituents of the herbs.

Allow your sun tea to sit on a warm window sill for at least a full day.

If you want to drink your sun tea cold, simply strain out the plant material and put in the fridge or add ice.

But most of all, enjoy!

For more information on how to make herbal remedies, including herbal teas, check out Herbal Academy – the best online herbalism education!

Red Clover and Honeysuckle - An Herbal Sun Tea Recipe (7)

Red Clover and Honeysuckle - An Herbal Sun Tea Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make red clover tea? ›

Red clover can be infused in hot water to make a delicious herbal tea. To make, pour hot water over 1-3 teaspoons of red clover, and let steep for 10-15 minutes. This tea has a natural light sweetness to it, but you can add honey if desired. Because the flowers are edible, you can also use them to brighten up a salad.

What tea is best for sun tea? ›

Sun tea is traditionally made using black tea such as Lipton or Luzianne. For your homemade sun tea, you can use any black tea you like or opt for herbal teas instead. The tea is often sweetened using sugar cane or brightened up with the addition of fruit.

What part of red clover for tea? ›

Dried herb (used for tea): 1 to 2 tsp dried flowers or flowering tops steeped in 8 oz. hot water for 1/2 hour; drink 2 to 3 cups daily. Powdered herb (available in capsules): 40 to 160 mg per day, or 28 to 85 mg of red clover isoflavones.

How long to brew herbal sun tea? ›

Cover the jar and set it in a sunny place for 6 to 8 hours. Alternatively, place the jar in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight. Strain out herbs and ginger, add lemon or orange slices, and sweeten tea if desired. Serve over ice.

What does red clover tea do for the body? ›

Red clover is an herb used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of health issues, such as hot flashes, osteoporosis, arthritis, and skin and hair disorders. Some research has found taking 40–80 mg of red clover daily may help reduce severe menopausal hot flashes.

Who should not drink red clover tea? ›

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Red clover is commonly consumed in foods. But it's possibly unsafe when used in medicinal amounts. Red clover might act like estrogen, which could affect hormone balances during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Don't use it.

How long do I leave tea in the sun for sun tea? ›

Place tea bags in gallon jar and fill with water; place cover or cap loosely on jar. Place jar in direct sunshine. Steep tea for 3 to 4 hours (do not exceed 4 hours)

Why don t people make sun tea anymore? ›

The Risk of Sun Tea

Bacteria thrive in warmth. Anywhere between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F is their sweet spot (also known as the temperature danger zone). Sun tea rarely gets hotter than 130 degrees F, giving bacteria a chance to grow while it steeps for hours in the sun.

What is the best time of day to make sun tea? ›

About 9am, fill your pitcher with the water, and tea bags. The reason for the screw on top, is so that ants don't get to the tea. Let the tea sit in the sun for most of the day, a prime full sun location is best.

How long does it take for red clover to work? ›

How long does it take for Red Clover to work? This may depend on what you are taking Red Clover for. Some studies have had effective results in as little as 4 weeks, others went on for 12 weeks.

Is red clover tea good for kidneys? ›

The benefits of red clover …

It's another great diuretic, meaning it helps remove extra fluids (water weight) and cleanse the kidneys. It's also great for removing mucus from the respiratory system, reducing inflammation, and cleansing the blood.

Can you dry red clover for tea? ›

Once flowers are fully dry and crispy, store them in an. airtight glass jar, away from direct sunlight. Red clover flowers can be used to make a sweet tea, as the phytoestrogen in the flowers can be used to.

What happens if you steep herbal tea too long? ›

Tea steeped for too short a time might end up weak and watery, while more delicate teas can become bitter if they're steeped for too long.

Does sun tea need to be refrigerated? ›

Refrigerate the tea as soon as it is ready and keep it refrigerated. Add sweeteners and garnish AFTER the tea is brewed. Waiting makes no difference flavor-wise and can prevent further bacterial growth. Do not use the tea if it appears thick, syrupy, or has a foul odor.

Can you leave sun tea out too long? ›

With that said, if sun tea is still your thing and you want to stick with it, there are some steps to reduce the risk of bacteria in your sun tea: Use a thoroughly cleaned and sanitized container. Opt for distilled water or boiled which would have killed any bacteria. Leave it out for up to 4 hours maximum.

What does red clover tea taste like? ›

It has a mild, slightly sweet taste with subtle earthy notes. Red clover is known for its potential health benefits, including improving circulation, promoting relaxation, and supporting healthy skin. This caffeine-free tea can be enjoyed any time of day, especially before bedtime for a calming and restful evening.

What part of red clover do you eat? ›

Both the flowers and leaves of red clover are edible but the flowers are more commonly used. You can eat them fresh or dried. They are high in protein and contain B vitamins and vitamin C. You should avoid eating the stems and any old or discoloured flowers.

Does red clover tea help with inflammation? ›

Lowers blood pressure: Red clover has special benefits that include lowering inflammation across the body, especially in the cardiovascular system. According to numerous studies, red clover tea can greatly decrease the tension in the arteries and blood vessels, which helps lower blood pressure.

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