Catnip Tea Recipe



Catnip is known by a number of names, including catswort, catmint, and even field balm. It's a perennial in the mint family that's best known for its ability to drive cats wild, but before you use all your catnip on kitty, consider the medicinal uses of catnip that you might be able to take advantage of.

Catnip contains nepetalactone, a natural sedative that can help you relax and get to sleep at night. It's also a muscle-relaxer and antispasmodic that can be used to treat stomach cramps. It may even help lessen the symptoms of migrane.

The next time you're having trouble settling in for the night, or your stomach is bothering you, try a cup of catnip tea. I'm sure kitty won't mind sharing a little of his stash with you.

Catnip Tea Recipe

1 tsp. Catnip leaves (dried) - or 1 tablespoon fresh catnip
6 oz. Boiling water

Pour boiling water over catnip leaves and steep for five to seven minutes.

I usually add a pinch of dried lemon balm to my catnip tea. Lemon balm has a mild lemony flavor that's a nice compliment to catnip. A little honey is nice too.

For more catnip information, take a look at:

Growing Catnip
Catnip and Termites
Make a Catnip Mouse

Comments

  1. Very cool! Thanks! I'm researching inorder to create a selection of Tea for my Cafe/herb shop I want to start.

    This was very informative!

    ReplyDelete
  2. DCM,

    Great! Glad I could contribute. I hope your shop is a success.

    Sara

    ReplyDelete
  3. if you're serving catnip tea at your cafe, be sure to warn people it may impair their ability to drive! or simply install some plush leather sofas inside, along with some tranquil tunes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ooh, I can hardly wait to visit.

    Sara

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous1:37:00 PM

    Is it as simple as it sounds? If I grow the herb in my garden, is there a particular part of the plant I need to trim to make tea, ie. flowers or leaves? How long must they be dried before use in tea? Appreciate any help!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Bloominthyme:

    It's pretty easy. You can use catnip in tea either fresh or dried. If you use it fresh, triple the amount to a tablespoon.

    For tea, use catnip leaves. If you're growing it in the garden, pinch back the blooms to encourage leaf growth.

    When you dry catnip, make sure it crackles when you crush it (a sure sign the moisture's gone). That way no moisture will get into the jar to cause mold growth.

    An afternoon in a dehydrator or warm oven, or a couple of days in a warm attic should do it.

    Oh, if you haven't tried fresh catnip, it can smell surprisingly like skunk (mildly). The odor dissipates as the herb dries or when boiled.

    Good luck.

    Sara

    ReplyDelete
  7. newtothebuisness12:02:00 AM

    Thank you i just put my leaves up to dry, and am going to make some in a few days

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous12:23:00 PM

    Can you use the catnip sold in pet stores as tea?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Joan,

    I don't know, but someone reading this may. I wouldn't think cat friendly catnip would contain anything toxic, but it might be old ans heavy on seeds and stems.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous4:28:00 PM

    i have allergies to cats and use an inhaler if symptoms are bad, but only when the house is closed up.i am going to try some catnip tea and see if it helps..tks for info

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous6:28:00 AM

    My mother always gets migraines and I always get stomachaches, but both of us have trouble sleeping. Going to try some catnip tea. Thank you so much!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Given that you're going to drink this, I'd avoid the commercial-grade pet catnip, because you don't know what chemicals have been applied to it either during the growing period or afterwards to preserve it.

    Also, for catnip tea, everything that I've read says that you will have better luck if let your water cool just a bit, so that it is hot but not boiling.

    Finally, mix it with peppermint tea to complement the relaxing qualities and to help smooth out the taste.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous5:35:00 PM

    How do I make sun tea with fresh catnip?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Try three cups of fresh (clean) catnip to eight glasses of water. Steep in the sun for four hours or so.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:24:00 PM

      Thanks for the input...I'll give it a try.

      Delete
  15. I just starting drying my catnip sunday gping to try tea

    ReplyDelete
  16. I know it's good for a baby that has colic. My grandson was crying all of the time and pulling his little legs up because of the terrible cramps in his tummy and the doctors would do nothing for him. At church one Sunday one of the lady's told me that I needed to fix him some catnip tea. I did and he slept all day and no more cramping and crying in the daytime or night. That was the first good sleep that child had in eight months. By the way, he is a healthy 25 year old man now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gerry,

      What a great story! Thanks.

      Sara

      Delete
    2. My mom gave me catnip tea as well when I wouldn't stop crying (per the doctor's orders) and it helped. Oh and I'm a healthy 32 year old.

      Delete
  17. I get terrible migraines from an Auto accident in 2007 and have been on Neurontin since then for them. This is the first I've heard of this tea and I will for sure be trying it! I am tired of being on medications and would love to have a natural remedy. Also have had bladder pains over the past few weeks and the Dr can't find a reason so this too will be good to try for that rather than the pain meds they have me on.
    My daughter also has asthma and always complains of her stomach hurting so I'm going to try it on her too! What a wonderful site!!! Thank you soooo much!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jamie,

      Thanks for visiting. Before you make any changes or additions to your current course of medical treatment, please consult your doctor. The information presented here is for entertainment and reference purposes only and not intended to supplement or take the place of sound medical council.

      Delete
  18. My catnip plant got too big flr mybherb garden now I can put it too use

    ReplyDelete
  19. I shake a whole bunch and have been to the doctor for it and he said that my nerves are hyper active. I use catnip tea and my nerves don't act up.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Can you put in your green tea?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You sure can! I've done it myself. Since green tea doesn't need the high water temps of regular tea, try brewing the catnip first and then adding the green tea a few minutes into the steep time. Although not essential, this method will retain more of the green tea's antioxidant properties.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Share some ideas.