Mortar & KettleHERBAL TEA · №017
Blue Silk Throat Soother Easy · 6 min · Moderate · 1 cup a smooth blue balm for the throat A silken, sapphire-blue infusion that coats a raw throat in chamomile softness and cooling mint, sweetened by anise and tinted by butterfly pea. It calms the nerves while it quiets an irritated throat, a gentle immune companion at the end of a long day. INGREDIENTS 0.4 g butterfly pea petals (dried) 0.9 g chamomile flowers (dried) 0.25 g anise seeds (lightly crushed) 0.15 g dried mint 0.05 g marjoram (dried) 300 ml filtered water Method Steep the butterfly pea and crushed anise seeds in just-boiled water. (4 min) Add the chamomile, dried mint, and marjoram. Steep, then strain into a silky, deep-blue cup. (2–3 min) The chemistry anthocyanins (C₁₅H₁₁O₆⁺) · blue pigment, protective apigenin (C₁₅H₁₀O₅) · floral, calming anethole (C₁₀H₁₂O) · sweet, soothing menthol (C₁₀H₂₀O) · cooling, herbaceous

Mortar & Kettle · MORTARANDKETTLE.COM

HERBAL TEA · №017

Blue Silk Throat Soother

Name: Blue Silk Throat Soother
Total time: 6 min
Yield: 300 cups
Ingredients: 0.4 g butterfly pea petals; 0.9 g chamomile flowers; 0.25 g anise seeds; 0.15 g dried mint; 0.05 g marjoram; 300 ml filtered water

a smooth blue balm for the throat

A silken, sapphire-blue infusion that coats a raw throat in chamomile softness and cooling mint, sweetened by anise and tinted by butterfly pea. It calms the nerves while it quiets an irritated throat, a gentle immune companion at the end of a long day.

Easy6 minModerate

FloralHerbaceousSweetImmuneCalming

Method

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Steep the butterfly pea and crushed anise seeds in just-boiled water.

▸0.4 gbutterfly pea petals▸0.25 ganise seeds▸300 mlfiltered water

4 min

Add the chamomile, dried mint, and marjoram.

▸0.9 gchamomile flowers▸0.15 gdried mint▸0.05 gmarjoram

Steep, then strain into a silky, deep-blue cup.

2–3 min

“A good steep is chemistry with the kettle on. Mind the minutes.”

THE MORTAR & KETTLE METHOD

The chemistry

SKELETAL STRUCTURES

4 compounds carry this recipe. Here is what each one does and, where we have it, what it actually looks like.

C₁₅H₁₁O₆⁺

anthocyanins

C₁₅H₁₁O₆⁺

The ternatin pigments of butterfly pea give this tea its silken sapphire color and lend antioxidant, immune-supportive tone to the cup.

ImmuneFloral

C₁₅H₁₀O₅

apigenin

C₁₅H₁₀O₅

The quieting flavone of chamomile; it binds to calming receptors in the brain and softens the tea into a bedtime balm.

CalmingFloral

C₁₀H₁₂O

anethole

C₁₀H₁₂O

The licorice-sweet heart of anise; it rounds the blend with natural sweetness and eases the throat with its warm, soothing character.

SweetCalming

C₁₀H₂₀O

menthol

C₁₀H₂₀O

The cooling crystal of mint; it opens the airway and leaves a clean, herbaceous chill that soothes a scratchy throat.

HerbaceousImmune