indIgenOUS CUISINE

tEA FOR COLD WEATHER

BY  itzel zagal

Autumn is here with its beautiful colors, and the celebration of Saint Michael the Archangel reminds us that the winds and cold rains have arrived, and it is time to bundle up and take care of ourselves. Therefore, I bring you a recipe for a tea that helps warm the body and feel better. Our ancestors treated themselves with herbs, and tea is a delicious and powerful way to protect and mend ourselves.
Ingredients:
- Apple (a few slices)
- Oregano (1/2 tablespoon)
- Garlic (2 cloves)
- Spearmint or mint (to your taste)
- Honey (1 tablespoon)
- Chamomile (1 tablespoon)
- Ginger (a few slices)
- Clove (2)
- Mullein (1/2 tablespoon)
Boil all ingredients in 2 litters of water and let it sit for 5 minutes. Drink at night preferably, but it can also be taken during the day, as desired. If you have any medical condition, please consult with your doctor before taking this medicinal tea.  Also avoid any ingredients from this recipe you are allergic to.
You can write to me with suggestions and gossip at itzelzagal@gmail.com. I answer all emails and as they say in my pueblo:
​if I don’t know it, then I’ll make it up!
 Itzel Zagal writes bilingual poetry, and short stories on issues related to migration, decolonization, gender, among others. She has published poems in ​Sol de Medianoche, Antología Muñecas, Cirque Journal, Antología Grito de Mujer, and Alaska Women Speak. She was nominated to the Pushcart Prize 2019 by Cirque Journal. She holds an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law and loves Aztec dance.