In December, 1773, there was a "tea party" in Boston and the American Revolution began.
Without mass communication, news of the event traveled slowly. It wasn't until May, 1774 that Chestertown, Maryland had an uprising of its own. Shortly after the Brigantine "Geddes" dropped anchor in the Chester River at Chestertown, a small group of angry residents boarded the ship and unloaded its consignment of tea into the river.
The use of "Liberty Tea", as it was known, was spurred by local newspapers, many urging the colonist to use native plants that were pleasant to the taste and before long patriotic ladies banished imported tea from their homes. They chose instead to brew tea from dried leaves, flowers, barks and roots of the more than 50 locally grown herbs.
The most popular teas were made from the mints, sage, balms, rosemary, chamomile and hops from the Rosa rugosa bush. Combinations of herbs were used to improve the flavor, along with honey, homemade wine and brandy.
The two most important substitutes for the mid Atlantic patriots were bee balm, also know as bergamot or Oswego tea (Monarda didyma, Linn.) and New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus Americanus). The New Jersey tea was compared quiet favorably in taste to the banned imported tea, and rapidly gained favor among the colonist.
Dried bee balm leaves, still popular as an herbal tea today, was often blended with mint, lemon balm, chamomile, rose hips and sage into a popular tea. Bee balm can be harvested both before and after flowering, with each cutting producing a different flavored tea.
A citrus flavored tea was made from the hips of the Rosa rugosa rose, the rosebush carried to American aboard the Mayflower. Make this tea with hot, not boiling water, to preserve the high vitamin C content. The hips should be allowed to steep 20 minutes on a warm stove to release the flavor. Rose hips may be used several times before losing their flavor.
To use herbs for tea use one teaspoon dried leaves or one sprig of fresh leaves per cup of boiling water. Steep up to but no longer than ten minutes. If a stronger tea is desired add more herbs. Judge the tea by the taste not by the color as most herb teas are pale in color.
Herbal teas should not be used by anyone with allergies to ragweed or other pollens. While they make an excellent substitute for coffee or regular tea, some have medicinal effects and some can be toxic in large doses. Always be aware of the amounts and types of herbs used before drinking any herbal tea.
