Sharing a Remedio Casero: Mami’s Eucalyptus Tea

It’s funny how one slowly starts becoming just like one’s mamá. You notice it when you start blurting out your wisdom in dichos or when you scold your child with words that ring in your head like ghosts from the past. But little did you know that even those remedios caseros (home remedies) you thought were a pain to swallow or deal with as a child and that your mom or abuela so lovingly administered, actually became engrained in you and are now part of your own maternal and spousal arsenal.

This week my husband was supposed to spend quality time with Camila and I as we embarked on a staycation in Los Angeles, but a nasty cold and cough knocked him out and forced us to change gears. Seeing him coughing up a storm and miserable with  a head cold I remembered that my mom used to make me a hot tea from eucalyptus leaves she would cut from the row of trees that lined the park in front of our house. Those eucalyptus trees fill a huge part of my memories of El Salvador as I clearly remember the smell of the air they infused and the sound of the wind coming down from the volcano and bristling through their leaves.

With that memory, I headed out to find eucalyptus leaves to recreate my mom’s tea to help alleviate my husband’s cold.

Eucalyptus leaves — used internally in low doses — have antibiotic properties and act as a decongestant and a system stimulator. We  infuse the tea with honey, lime juice, and cinnamon to soothe the throat and give an immune boost. In my new version, I decided to also add echinacea to increase the healing and immunity boost. It also tastes delicious.

Here’s how to make my mom’s healing eucalyptus tea…I hope she doesn’t mind I share!

To make two cups of eucalyptus tea you will need:

– 2.5 cups of water

–1 cinnamon stick

–1 teaspoon of eucalyptus leaves (found at most health food stores or off the branch of the tree!)

–2 teaspoons of echinacea herb

–1 lime

–1 tablespoon of natural honey (raw honey preferred) or more to taste

Directions

–In a saucepan, add the cinnamon stick to the water and bring to a rolling boil.

–Turn off the heat and mix in the eucalyptus and echinacea. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes.

–Strain the liquid while still hot.

–Squeeze lemon juice in the water and stir in the honey. You can add as much honey as you like because it helps to soothe and coat the throat.

–Drink hot or warm to maximize the effect.

I also firmly believe that the intention we put into the foods and beverages we prepare can help heal. Yes, very much like the move and novel Como Agua Para Chocolate, add some healing thoughts as you prepare the tea and make it even more amazing.

And now that I’ve shared mi mami’s soothing and healing tea recipe, you too can share some caring goodness during this cold and flu season thanks to Kleenex – the brand of tissues we’re addicted to in my house! And, did you also grow up calling any tissue a “kleenex?” Yeah, me too!

When you buy a specially marked  box or bundle of Kleenex you will find a special code you can enter on the site here and share the care with someone who could use a little extra care and amorcito from you. They will get a Kleenex Share Pack or a Care Pack and you will shine bright. Nothing like sharing to show how much we care.

Next week I will bring you some of my favorite remedios caseros that were recently shared by many Latina bloggers using the hashtag #KleenexSWS on Twitter.

How about you? What’s your go-to home remedy during this cold and flu season?

Note that if you suffer from high blood pressure, epilepsy or are pregnant then you should avoid high doses of eucalyptus or ask your medical practitioner. This article is in no way to be used as medical advice.

Disclosure: Thank you to Kleenex and Latina Bloggers Connect for this sponsorship.

Note that if you suffer from high blood pressure, epilepsy or are pregnant then you should avoid high doses of eucalyptus or ask your medical practitioner. This article is in no way to be used as medical advice.