Thyme, Rose & Lemon Balm Tea Honey Recipe

I have been leafing through the pages of John Parkinson’s Theatrum Botanicum (1640), where “Tyme” appears not merely as a kitchen herb, but as a powerful remedy against cold and flu, chesty coughs and shortness of breath, and a range of maladies associated with cold and damp. This passage describes powdered thyme blended with vinegar and honey (an oxymel) as a remedy for diseases caused by excess, or perhaps overindulgences. 

"It is found by experience saith Aetius [of Amida], that if 4 dragmes of dried tyme in powther, be given in Oxymel fasting, to them that have the gowte it helpeth them, for it purgeth choller and other sharpe humours, and if one dragme thereof bee given fasting with meade, it dissolveth the hard swellings of the belly."

Inspired by Parkinson's powdered thyme oxymel, I have formulated a thyme, rose petal and lemon balm infusion, intended not as a strong medicinal electuary, but as an enriched honey to bring a little seventeenth-century apothecary warmth to your tea rituals! 

A fragrant herbal honey inspired by the warming virtues of thyme

in 17th century herbal tradition

This recipe makes 1 × 454 g jar

Ingredients

430 g raw clear honey
4 tbsp dried thyme (lightly crushed)
2 tbsp dried lemon balm
1 tbsp dried rose petals

Optional: 1 tsp finely powdered thyme for a slightly stronger herbal character

Method

1. Grind or pound dried thyme, rose and lemon balm to release the essential oils
2. Add one jar of honey to a bain marie and keep the temperature no higher that 40° degrees. 
3. Add the ground herbs to the warm honey
4. Keep the mixture warm for 45 mins, stirring every 15 minutes. The honey should feel warm and fluid, but not hot.
   
5. Pour into a sterilised 454g glass jar (or back into the original honey jar).
6. Seal the jar and allow the mixture to continue macerating for at least one month in darkness.
7. After one month, return the honey to the bain marie to bring it back to a warm temperature, not exceeding 40° degrees. 
8. Strain the warm mixture through muslin (cheesecloth) to separate the herbs from the honey.
9. Pour and seal your herbal honey in a sterile jar. 

How to enjoy

Stir one teaspoon of honey into warm herbal tea, or warm oat milk.

This tea honey is particularly lovely with Faerie Charm Tea, Contentment Tea, Awen Tea and Hearthgold Tea