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Greek Lemon Verbena
Makes approximately thirty-five 10 oz cups
Greek Lemon Verbena Tea (Luiza, pronounced loo-WEE-zah and meaning verbena) is made from lemon verbena leaves. Although the plant reportedly originates from South America, it has found a comfortable home in Greece for hundreds of years and the unique terrior of the Greek mountainsides allows for some of the finest lemon verbena in the world. Deliciously fragrant, it gets its name from the lemony fragrance of the leaves when they are crushed. Greeks drink Luiza Tea for not only its aromatic, citrusy taste, but for its health benefits. Louiza or lemon verbena is believed to aid in digestion. It is used to relieve agitation, for joint pain, insomnia, asthma, colds, fever and more. Lemon verbena has been shown to prevent muscle damage and boost the immune system. According to Susanne Fischer-Rizzi, author of the "Complete Aromatherapy Handbook," the scent of lemon verbena evokes the "morning when everything seems fresh, new and promising." Klio Organic Luiza has an ORAC 5.0 antioxidant value of 4,920 and 59mg of polyphenols per serving. It also contains high amounts of the phytonutrient Luteolin (5.8mg per serving); twice the amount found in a serving of artichokes and three times the amount found in a serving of celery, both considered to be among the best sources. This particular flavanone is considered a super nutrient and is the subject of significant research. Klio Organic Luiza is hand picked and sourced from Karditsa in the West Pindos Mountains. Be sure to also try it as an iced tea! Delicious and refreshing!
Brewing Instructions
Bring 10 oz of water (covered) to a boil, remove from heat, add a small handful of verbena leaves, cover and allow to steep for approximately 5-7 minutes. Strain into a cup and enjoy! You can crush the leaves with your hand as you add them to the pot to extract more flavor.
You can also use an infuser pot.