Herbal Love

Growing up in my father’s country Bahamas when we wanted tea my grammy would go in her garden and pick green leaves off plants. Then she would boil water, pour it over the leaves, and serve it to us shortly thereafter. My dad used the same method when we were ill. Herbs grew wild in our backyard and there was one that he pulled off the fence called cerasee.  He would gather it up; rinse it boil it and use the liquid like pot liquor and create a concoction I will never forget. All I could hear him say was man it is good for you drink it. He put so much effort into his preparation and recipe I knew I had no choice. Nothing prepared me for the first time though; it was the most bitter drink I have ever tasted then and since. If only he had honey on hand to sweeten it up. However, nothing was worse than the flu, so I drank every drop. He never ran to the store to get over the counter drugs, he knew herbs were medicinal. So now as a third-generation recipient of nature’s bliss I have incorporated herbal medicine in my household. My family and I have been blessed to discover and add to our diet herbs and my innovative versions of daddy’s tradition and now we offer them to you.