LEMON TREE TRUST: RECIPE: SIDRA HERBAL TEA

I recently learned of the’ Gardener to Gardener Seed Appeal’ run by the Lemon Tree Trust, a brilliant not-for-profit transforming refugee camps through the creation of gardens. In response to Covid-19, they’ve been asking for seed donations to enable Syrian families to keep growing in Domiz Camp in the Kurdistan region of Iraq . They also need straight donations to pay for supplies, new community gardens and materials like compost. See end of post to donate.

Their goal is to bring gardens and garden initiatives to every refugee camp and community of forced migrants in the world. Through the power of plants they are bringing food, dignity, purpose and community. All empowering ways to improve wellbeing and the environment.

This is Aveen, Operations Manager for the Lemon Tree Trust. She fled Damascus with her family in 2011 and now lives in Domiz Camp in Northern Iraq. Starting her own garden in the camp to remind her of home, she has gone on to help many others set up gardens and vegetable plots. I felt drawn to Aveen through her love of herbs, particularly the Damask Rose. She makes her own blend of herbal tea using Rose, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Lavender, Santolina and Mint, naming it after her late daughter Sidra. Pre Covid-19, the gardeners in Domiz would drink this tea together after a busy garden session. They are all missing this contact.

*Sidra Tea: Rose, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Lavender, Santolina and Mint*

Aveen says: “It is usual for us Syrians to grow medicinal plants in our home gardens. We have seen our fathers and grandfathers planting thyme, rosemary, lemon balm, sage, Damask roses and many other medicinal herbs for their wonderful taste and smell, as well as their healing properties. We trust them better than some chemical treatments and drugs, for example in my experience I prefer to use herbs to treat my children when they have colds and other ailments.

The perfume and taste of the Damask rose is unparalleled, perhaps it is because the scent reminds us of the past and the good memories of what we have lost in our country. Flowers and herbs are not only good for our health and wellbeing, they also help us keep the hope alive of one day returning to our beloved country.

Roses, trees and plants are a heritage for us and one of the most important things that we inherited and learned from our ancestors.

The Damask rose (Syrian rose) is bright pink in colour and its smell is so beautiful. I describe the rose as a bride wearing her beautiful pink wedding dress, surrounded by thousands who love her.”

Recipe

Sidra tea

Equal amounts of:

Rose petals, Lemon Balm, Rosemary

Add a little:

Santolina, Lavender, Mint

Method

Place the leaves and petals in a pot of water and bring to the boil.
Simmer over a gentle heat for 5 minutes.
Take off the heat and strain the leaves and petals, before leaving to cool a little.
Enjoy warm with sugar to taste if desired.

If you do not have fresh ingredients, use dried instead but steep in water for 5 minutes before bringing to the boil.

The verdict

Refreshing and delicious, especially with a little honey. Thank you Aveen for sharing your recipe. Coming soon, Khadija’s story and her delicious Rose syrup recipe.

To donate

If you would like to donate seeds for the ‘Gardener to Gardener Seed Appeal’ or make a straight donation to help build community gardens or buy supplies like compost, click here to donate