Something to Freshen Up The Muslim Woman’s Day!

We hope – Insha Allah you are having a great “mid-week”! In some parts of the world is ALMOST the weekend and for some its the 2nd day of the week.  So, we wanted to give you a little pick me up! The ever versatile Mint!

Mint is loved and used around the world.

If you love the taste of mint, then you’ll be happy to know that this is one herb that’s so abundant – and it comes in so many varieties!  We would love to know what varieties are around your home! Share it with us here or on our Facebook page.

In many cultures, mint symbolised hospitality and was offered as a sign of welcome and friendship to guests as they arrived. In the Middle East mint tea is still served to guests on their arrival, whilst in ancient Greece, the leaves of mint were rubbed onto the dining table, which was a sign of their warm greeting. And in the Southern states of America mint is used to make wonderful

Mint was also often used as an air freshener and was placed in homes to clear and freshen the air and rid the smell of unpleasant odours from the room. The Greeks and the Romans used mint as a perfume and a bath scent, as well as using it in medicine and in cooking.  It’s uses haven’t really changed over the many decades where Mint has become part of our daily lives wherever we live.  It’s in the gum we chew, the candy we pass around, and included in many foods to give it that umph!

Mint has always been used medicinally to aid digestion and relieve indigestion. If you suffer from frequeamuslima mintnt indigestion, drinking a cup of peppermint tea after your meal may help.  But, if you have a tendency for ulcers you may want to avoid it or use a different variety of mint that is less ‘gassy’.  A mint infusion or tea can be used internally for colds, flu, hiccups, flatulence, or insomnia too.  Externally it can be used for chapped skin, as a rinse for oily hair, a facial tonic, or in a refreshing and stimulating bath.  Mint is aromatic, calmative, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, and is also a stimulant. (Goldberg)

The chemical compound menthol, which is obtained from peppermint oil, is well known for its healing properties on the chest and respiratory system.  So, make sure to stock up on mint, peppermint infused or fresh to brighten up your day.

Here is aMuslima’s favorite recipe – Moroccan Tea. (AHHH! YUM!) :

You will need a Tea Pot (that you can place onto the stove)

Ingredients:

  1. 1 tablespoon of Gunpowder Chinese Tea
  2. Fresh mint or dry mint

Preparation:

  1. Boil hot water (like preparing normal pot of water)
  2. Put Gunpowder Chinese Tea into Teapot  (don’t add the mint yet!)
  3. Once water is boiling hot
  4. Pour 1/2 cup (estimated) into the teapot where the Gunpowder Chinese Tea is.
  5. Then let sit for 1 minute
  6. Pour the water OUT from the tea pot (where the Gunpowder Chinese Tea is) into a small glass and RETAIN the tea water and RETAIN the tea leaves in the pot. (don’t throw any of it away)
  7. Then add Fresh or dry mint into the teapot where the wet tea leaves are.
  8. Add sugar
  9. we are now going to fill the teapot up with the remaining hot water (not till the top, leave space for the Retained tea water in step 6) then and ADD 1/2 of the retained tea water.
  10. **You should now have a teapot filled with tea (with a mixture of tea, mint, sugar)
  11. Now take the teapot and reheat on the stove till it boils. (Becareful of OVER Boiling)

Then serve!

Enjoy!

amuslima on moroccan mint tea
Serving Mint Tea the Moroccan Way

Sources

Peppermint. In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckman J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000:297–303.

Peppermint. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at www.naturaldatabase.com on July 22, 2009.

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