Photo courtesy of Appleseed Media.
Many herbs are mildly drying–not necessarily desirable when your hands are already like sandpaper from washing. Luckily, March is a perfect time to start gathering mallow and violet. The leaves of both plants are demulcent (moistening when ingested). They’re common and abundant but mostly overlooked–considered weeds even by the uninitiated. And violet is traditionally called upon during times of emotional upheaval to provide comfort, so it feels like a mighty fine ally to seek out just now.
To enjoy the soothing properties and nutritional boost of mallow and violet right away, pop clean young leaves in your mouth for a quick outdoor snack; gather and add to a fresh seasonal salad; infuse leaves in hot or cold water (they will add a slight mucilaginous quality) and strain to drink or make into syrup. To have them on hand for the harsh winter months, harvest, dry and store the leaves. You’ll likely find endless uses for them. Mallow leaves can be used to slightly thicken soups. Mallow roots are also demulcent and can be cleaned, chopped and used in teas.
Here are a few recipes to get you started. If you’ve got your own favorite, do tell us all about it!
Viallowmint Tea Blend
1 part mallow leaves
1 part violet leaves and flowers
2 parts apple mint***
Cover with boiling water and steep 5-10 mins or place in the fridge to cool and steep overnight.
Love a cooling sun-brewed tea? We do, too. But caffeinated tea leaves are diuretic and can contribute to overall dryness. Adding a demulcent herb to the mix can help to balance that effect.
Soothing Sun Tea
Same as above, plus 1 part green tea. Infuse in the sun or in very hot water. Sweeten with honey. Refrigerate to store.
***Don’t have apple mint or violets at your place? We’ve got LOTS. If you’d like a start or two, send an email to [email protected]. We’ll put the items in the Ehler Rd farm stand for you to pick up at your leisure. No human interaction required! :) Starts are $2 each. Leave cash or request an invoice.
