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Kawakawa Tea




Photo by Alessandra Zecchini©


Kawakawa tea!!!


I have many kawakawa plants in the bush around the house, the leaves are beautiful and make a lovely tea, and even an infusion used in Māori medicine for several ailments. The seeds can be used as long pepper (the plant is related to the pepper family) and if you like an extra tip, New Zealand bush inspired but created by an Italian (me :-), I use kawakawa instead of vanilla to flavour cremes and custards and panna cotta and so on. To give you an example have a look at my Flan with Kawakawa crème and Kahikatea berries!

But mostly I like to go into the garden/bush, pick a few leaves, wash them and pour hot water over them. One or two leaves per cup will suffice, the smell is truly delicious, and this is foraging at its best because everyone can do it!  And of course I like to add a teaspoon of NZ honey.

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Comments

  1. Priya SureshJanuary 23, 2012 at 9:07 AM

    Never had this tea,quite interesting..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gloria BakerJanuary 23, 2012 at 10:40 AM

    Love this dear Alessandra!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownJanuary 24, 2012 at 10:52 PM

    I always love the aroma of the herbal tea,it is so soothing and rejuvenating... I wish I could try this but unfortunately kawakawa plant is not available here,or may there with a different name.....

    ReplyDelete
  4. AlessandraFebruary 12, 2012 at 5:42 PM

    Hi GIll, I don't know if there are any New Zealand Kawakawa plants in the UK, maybe in a botanic garden?

    Ciao
    Alessandra

    ReplyDelete

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