Homage to Herbs Event, opens a new window
It’s time to Get Greauxing with the St. Tammany Parish Library. On the third Tuesday of every month at the Slidell Branch, Ty Carter from Cultivating Culture will present information and demonstrations about different aspects of gardening. This month we’re getting herbaceous with Ty’s Homage to Herbs. She is going to teach us about making tea; how to blend herbs and spices to create popular favorites or new exotic blends. Herbs aren't just for adding flavor to foods and beverages, they can also be used as medicine in tinctures, salves, and poultices. Please consult a doctor or medical professional before using any herbal medicines.
Spilling the Tea
Tea has a very long, interesting, and sometimes unsavory history starting in what is now Western China. Prehistoric humans are credited with discovering tea and it's invigorating properties, by possibly chewing the leaves. By the Shang dynasty (1766 - 1050 BC), tea was being consumed for medicinal purposes. It became even more popular during the reign of the first Qin emperor, since the first portion of the Great Wall of China was being constructed. The first Tea garden, a garden that grows plants that make tea was planted around 53 BC by Wu LiZhen that eventually became reserved only for the emperor. The drink became more refined during the Tang dynasty (618-907) AD with the rituals being written out and organized by China's Father of Tea, Lu Yu. As movement with other parts of the world became easier more people became interested in this exciting beverage, especially Japan. Trading routes were developed throughout the East and eventually into Europe. In 1610, the first shipment of tea arrived at The Hague in the Netherlands, beginning Europe's long and storied history with tea.
Herbs as Medicine
People use herbs to assist with all sorts of common and benign medical issues, like stomach-aches, head-aches, sinus problems, etc. There are various ways medicinal herbs can be used besides in teas, like tinctures, salves, oils, compresses, powders and poultices. If you've never heard of tinctures or poultices, you aren't alone. Many of these practices predate modern medicine, but seem to be making a resurgence in popularity. As previously mentioned, please consult a doctor or medical professional before using or making any herbal medicines.
Homage to Herbs event on Sept. 16, 2025. Books discussing Herbs, Tea and Tinctures or herbal medicine.
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