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Ahhh, honeysuckle. That sweet scent transports me back to my childhood and long, hot summer days. The vine didn’t grow in my yard. However, the flowering plants covered the neighbors’ fence, across the street. In fact, honeysuckle covered one corner section of their yard, creating a small “secret garden”. I’m grateful for the kindness of this dear couple. Looking out their window, they often spied me sitting quietly there in the corner, breathing in that tantalizing scent.
Later my grandfather, an avid gardener, nurtured a honeysuckle plant in his backyard. I brought home a start from that plant, as an adult with a yard of my own. Sadly, that plant did not thrive.
Now I have a honeysuckle vine, gracing a trellis near the front porch. It is a European variety, showing off cream colored blooms tinged with bright pink. Last fall, as I studied foraging for wild edibles, I discovered that fragrant honeysuckle flowers are suitable for tea.
I’ve patiently waited for spring and for my honeysuckle to bloom, so I can sip on my first cup of honeysuckle tea. Days of heavy rain finally gave way this afternoon to sunshine. To my delight, the first honeysuckle flower fully opened to the warmth.
Health Benefits of Honeysuckle Tea
Beyond its amazing scent, which has benefits as well, honeysuckle is a medicinal plant, used for thousands of years to boost health in a variety of ways. The flower has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Traditionally used in tea form, honeysuckle is available also as an essential oil.
Honeysuckle offers these impressive health benefits:
Powerful Detoxifier
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, honeysuckle tea is known as a natural way to remove heat and toxins from the body, making it an excellent tonic for the liver.
Heals Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Honeysuckle is an potent remedy for colds, flu symptoms, bronchitis, COPD, asthma, fever and pneumonia. The plant acts as an expectorant, helping to relieve congested air passages.
Relieves Digestive Disorders
This flowering plant is helpful in treating digestive disorders such as ulcers, diarrhea, nausea, bloating, Crohn’s disease, urinary tract disorders and pain and inflammation in the small intestine.
Improves Oral Health
Honeysuckle’s antibacterial and astringent properties improve gum health. Create a natural mouthwash by combining two cups of boiling water with half a cup of honeysuckle flowers and leaves. Let steep for at least five minutes. Remove flowers and leaves and allow mouthwash to cool completely before using. Gargle and swish in mouth daily.
Helps with Type 2 Diabetes
Studies show that honeysuckle decreases high blood sugar levels and reduces insulin resistance when used over a period of time.
Eases Arthritis and Auto-Immune Disorders
Honeysuckle’s powerful anti-inflammatory abilities bring relief to those suffering from arthritis symptoms. The plant shows promise in helping those with auto-immune disorders also, such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, bursitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Heals Skin Infections
Native Americans boiled fresh honeysuckle leaves and bathed skin wounds with the tea to prevent infection and speed healing. Today, honeysuckle oil is added to skin creams and ointments to help heal skin rashes, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. Honeysuckle slows the aging process as well, fighting free radicals that damage the skin and cause wrinkles.
Aromatherapy
I’ve recently learned about the benefits of aromatherapy. Inhaling the sweet scent of the honeysuckle flower relaxes and calms the body. Further, the scent stabilizes mood, relieves stress and helps to prevent depression.
Possible Side Effects of Honeysuckle Tea
There are a few possible side effects with honeysuckle. It is not recommended for pregnant women or for young children. Because it regulates blood sugar levels, do not use honeysuckle tea if you are already taking medication for this condition. And there are a few people who are allergic to this plant and may experience mild skin irritation. Talk to your doctor before drinking honeysuckle tea, if you have concerns.
Preparing Honeysuckle Tea
Preparing the tea is simple:
If using fresh flowers, add two or three large blooms to a mug. Pour boiling water over the flowers, cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey, if desired.
When fresh flowers aren’t available, add 1 – 2 teaspoons dried honeysuckle to a cup of boiling water. Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey, if desired.
I plucked that first honeysuckle bloom this afternoon, and added another that appeared close to blooming. After steeping in hot water for 15 minutes, I tried my first sip.
The freshly brewed tea was light green in color, with a delicate slightly sweet aroma. And the taste? Honeysuckle tea is similar to green tea, with a mild, earthy flavor. Although it doesn’t taste like honeysuckle smells, there is a distinct honeysuckle quality to it, a hint of flavor from that sweet nectar within the flower.
I enjoyed it very much!
Tastes Like Summer
For me, honeysuckle tea tastes like summer. Inhaling the scent as I made tea, sipping on the hot liquid, had the same effect as sitting in the secret garden created by those fragrant vines. I felt peaceful and full of joy, centered and whole.
I could easily see back through the passage of time, to my younger self, sitting happily in that corner garden, thinking big thoughts and watching the bees dance among the honeysuckle flowers. In my imagination, she turned to look at me. I raised my cup of honeysuckle tea in acknowledgement and appreciation.
She smiled.
Want to experience another wild edible tea? Try Sweet Violet Tea.
Check out Lowe’s Garden Center, for a variety of honeysuckle plants.
And you can order dried honeysuckle by clicking on photo below:
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Wow, I didn’t know honeysuckle tea had so many health benefits, I’m definitely going to try it out! Thanks for sharing!
Awesome!
I had no idea honeysuckle had so many health benefits! Can you buy it dried at the store?
Yes its available dried as well. You can order it through Amazon or find it in health food stores.
Wow I had no idea honeysuckle was such a powerhouse! I live near Prospect Park, which is Brooklyn’s version of Central Park. There are lots of meandering paths through wooded areas, and tons of honeysuckle in bloom right now! I’ll have to see if I can find honeysuckle tea to truly enjoy all of its benefits.
Yes you can get it dried from Amazon or health food stores.
Honeysuckle tea sounds delicious- I love tea!! Who knew it had such great benefits too?
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
I found that out too. Wonderful benefits!
I love honeysuckle tea. I had no idea it will help me in autoimmune disorders. Thank you so much. I guess I should try taking it more.
It has so many benefits!
I have never tried honeysuckle tea! The benefits sound awesome! I’ll have to check this out.
Perfect!
very interesting!!! gonna try it 🙂
Wonderful!
oh my goodness shut the front door and drop the mic!!! I have been in love with honeysuckle my whole life and never did I ever know I could actually make a tea from it!!! Thank you for a beautiful article, stunning pictures, and great details! Can’t wait! Have a blessed day!
Lovely! I hope you enjoy it. I’ve loved it too since childhood. Such warm memories.
This is amazing! One of my colleagues has type 2 diabetes (and a sugar tooth that makes me panic sometimes), so I have to share this with him!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
Does this taste very floral? or mild? For some reason, floral tastes and senses are very strong for me and I wish I could tolerate. I need the anti-inflammatory benefits so hoping this is mild.
It’s very mild, like a green tea. There’s a tiny hint of Honeysuckle but it’s not strong at all.
I’ve never even heard of honeysuckle tea! Learn something new every day, love this post.
Nell | adventureswithnell.co.uk
Wonderful! Thanks for stopping by the blog.
I used to have a honeysuckle plant growing near my front door. I always loved when it was in bloom, but I had no idea that it was good for making tea, nor the benefits of doing so. I will have to try it!
Wonderful! And yes I just discovered the benefits too.
I love tea!! I have never thought to put honeysuckle in a homemade tea! Will have to be something I try =)
Wonderful! Hope you love it.
I love drinking tea but have never tried honeysuckle tea. I had no idea of its benefits. Can’t wait to try it!
It reminds me of green tea with a hint of Honeysuckle.
I had no idea honeysuckle had so many health benefits! That is SO COOL!! I’m pinning this. Thanks!!
Awesome! Thank you.
I love love tea and this is the first time I’ve heard of Honeysuckle tea. I have to look for it here in Canada. The benefits are amazing! Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome! I hope you can find it there. It’s available dried on Amazon.
Now I need to find a place in my yard to plant a honeysuckle! Thanks!!!!!
Yes! They love to climb…fences, trellises, poles.
Natures healing gifts. I love your memories of this plant…mine from my childhood that holds such affinity is Lilac 🙂
Amazing how scent stirs memories! Lilacs are another favorite that connect with my gardener grandfather.
There are SO many benefits that I didn’t know about! And as you say, it smells amazing too. What a bonus!
Yes amazing health benefits!
YUM! I had no idea!
It’s really good too!
Mmmmm I used to love these as a kid. Don’t see them anymore, but I may have to buy some and try it! Thank you for sharing!
Yes you can purchase dried honeysuckle.
I’m so on this
Awesome!! 😊
There are so many health benefits To honeysuckle tea. Who knew? Thanks for the ideas!
I’m finding so many plants have medicinal value!
I had no idea that honeysuckle had so many healing properties. I am exciting to try this tea!
Wonderful! You can purchase it dried if you don’t have a good source for fresh flowers.
I am going to have to try this. I had no idea of all the benefits.
It’s such a good Health Boosting tea
Very interesting. I have never heard of honeysuckle tea before.
It’s really good…and good for us!
I cannot wait to try this! Never thought of brewing tea with fresh flowers!
It’s really good! I make tea from a variety of fresh flowers and herbs.
Honeysuckle is amazing and I’m glad you share your foraging finds with us. In fact, when I was in the woods yesterday, I kept thinking how much you would enjoy all of the forest edibles. There was arnica, will strawberry, pine trees and more.
Sounds wonderful! I live in town and find edibles in my own yard. I imagine being in the woods there would be such an abundance of them!
I didn’t know about all the health benefits. I need to add this one to my teas. I love drinking tea.
Me too! Such a refreshing afternoon practice…and there are health benefits.
Wow, I never knew honeysuckle had such benefits… thank you for posting this. Putting it on my grocery list now
It’s a very pretty tea too!
Wow, such a gorgeous libation and so good for you too! Thanks for the reference to Lowes as well, I may grow some. 🤗
Honeysuckle does make a very pretty Tea!
I really enjoyed reading your post today!! Taking care of ailments without medicines is a great way to stay healthy. Thanks for sharing these!! Now, I need to get me some honeysuckle.
I love discovering all the healing properties in herbs and plants!
I was taking notes with this one. Going to try it and hope for some positive effects!
It’s amazing, the healing power in plants. I hope you feel those healing effects!
oh I’ve never heard of honeysuckle tea but now I can’t wait to try it!
It’s so good!
So many great benefits! And it sounds delicious!
It is so good! Very delicately flavored.
I love all the benefits honeysuckle has! I plan on getting some to plant in our yard as I love the flower as well! This post motivated me to “just do it!”
Awesome!! Enjoy your honeysuckle. 😊